Small Business, Big Life: Five Steps to Creating a Great Life With Your Own Small Business

by Louis Barajas, MBA, CFP
Thomas Nelson Inc., 2007, 199 pp.

As a 13-year-old, Louis Barajas was an integral part of his father’s small business, doing the taxes and bookkeeping and translating for his Spanish-speaking father. He understands the hard work, dedication and courage required to start and maintain a business. The first part of his book is dedicated to helping those who want to start a small business overcome their fears. The approach is to objectively break “courage” into four categories: knowledge, action, perseverance and faith. Combining these facets of courage with a strong foundation in truth, responsibility and awareness can help someone find the inner strength to start a business, according to Barajas.

Beyond that self-help, the book defines the ideal values of a small business venture:

Your Life Blueprint—defining the values, life focus areas and essential roles that are most important to you.

Your Vision—the source and purpose of leadership.

Your Business Blueprint—the functions required to operate your business.

Your Business Systems—the systems required to maintain your business.

Your Team—recruiting and building your team of employees.

This is a helpful guide for CPAs thinking of venturing out on their own.