Tara Trenary

Nicole Rials, photo by Carter Gaskins The impact of small businesses on a community cannot be overstated. Not only do they contribute to the economy by creating jobs and revenue, they also bring communities together by creating a bond among the businesses and those who may choose to support them by buying local goods. According to the Business.com article “Why Are Small Businesses So Important?

Top: Good Energy Solutions electrical apprentice, Dalton Scarlett, installs a ceiling fan in a Lawrence home; middle: Good Energy Solutions service electrician, Chase Kufahl, fixes a faulty light pole at a Lawrence apartment complex; bottom: A team of solar service technicians replace a solar inverter on a church roof in Kansas City. Imagine a job where on any given day, things may not go quite as you’d expect. Running into critters in a crawl space.

Zak Barnes in his studio barn with his paintings Creating a career as an artist is not for the faint of heart. There are challenges that go beyond just passion and creativity, including hard work, lack of business and marketing skills, uncertainty in the market and financial instability. The art world can be competitive, with many talented artists struggling to make a decent living. Success depends not only on talent but also planning, perseverance and an eye toward business.