Navigating the passage is especially tricky for small businesses. Besides the number of competitors, rampant consolidation means those competitors are bigger. And there are fewer outlets to target. The more products on your roster, the more clout you have. But many small vendors tell similar stories about a variety of retailers.
Deep pockets count too.
Then there are the obstacles entrepreneurs create for themselves. Then come back and smile again. But just as our entrepreneurs found inspiration in mentors ranging from the Dalai Lama to Frank Perdue, you can learn from the pioneers in this story. The Letter Writer Back in 1990, Brooks O'Kane confronted a glass-cleaner ceiling. O'Kane saw opportunity.