Why Business Ownership Means You Eat Last (If at All)

I eat last, and when payroll is tight, I may not eat at all. 

When a client is upset at 10 pm, it’s on me to respond. Negative feedback can hurt the company for years. 

If business is slow, I dip into my savings. 

Getting a big client might take hundreds of hours; losing them could mean thousands more trying to replace them. 

Equipment breakdowns, delayed orders, legal issues—these are all my problems to solve. 

When the holiday season approaches, I’m the one ensuring every detail is perfect, knowing the future of the business depends on it.

Yesterday, I watched a well-dressed family of five walk into a small coffee shop. 

The three employees didn’t even look up to greet them, too focused on their tasks. 

The family stood there, waiting to be acknowledged, their smiles fading as they realized no one would help them. 

After a minute of being ignored, they quietly walked out. Five customers, gone just like that.

None of those employees had a stake in the business, so they didn’t care. But as an owner, I know the stakes are too high to let such opportunities slip away. Each lost customer represents lost revenue, missed opportunities, and perhaps even future recommendations that will never happen.

Business ownership isn’t just a job; it’s a deep responsibility. Every decision, every interaction matters. Only those with a true stake in the game understand what’s really at risk.