A Salute and a Big Thank You to Those in the Arena

It's not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better.  The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the who, at the worst, if he fails at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.

--Theodore Roosevelt

"Citizenship in a Republic"

Speech at the Sorbonne

Paris, April 23, 1910

The above text is one of my all time favorite quotes and today I dedicate it to the amazing entrepreneurs of Hibbing.  Despite the trials of the recession and other odds that can at time, seem insurmountable;  you keep going.  You give us cheery shops to buy gifts for others or something a little special for ourselves.  You provide inviting spaces to stop and refuel with delicious food on a cold winter day.  Your taxes and donations to community causes make our town a better place. 

And in a time when times are tough, your storefronts (still full) give people like me a reason to hope. 

It may seem like a small matter to those on the outside, but please know there are people who see the long hours you work and sacrifices you make to bring your dreams to reality and make our community a better place to live. 

I hope you all will have some time to celebrate the holiday with those you love and afterwards, I hope more and more people will chose to recognize your dedication with their dollars by shopping local. 

November 24: Small Business Saturday. 

See you out there. 

Note: For those of you interested in some additional perspective on the "shop local" movement.  I'd encourage you to check out the following links:

Buy Local Cartoon by Brad J. Aldridge

Don't Just Buy Local, Buy Personal by Jeff Haden