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The State Of Small Business | Books For A Fresh Start

A survey of NFIB members in November 2020 reported "a historically high level of job openings."
National Federation of Independent Business
A survey of NFIB members in November 2020 reported "a historically high level of job openings."

Small businesses are looking for quality workers, but one in five may be closing their doors for good, and books that could inspire personal change in 2021.

Segment 1, beginning at 4:04: Small businesses in Kansas and Missouri are trying to hang on while waiting for additional assistance from the federal government.

Across the country four million small businesses didn't make it through 2020. For those Kansas and Missouri companies that did survive the question now is: How much relief will Congress authorize and how quickly can they get it? For workers, will they see a rise in the minimum wage once employers are back on their feet?

  • Brad Jones, Missouri state director for the National Federation of Independent Business
  • Dan Murray, Kansas state director for the National Federation of Independent Business

Segment 2, beginning at 30:47: A good read can also reveal a path for starting over.

From fictional characters dealing with real life issues to a personal memoir or a self-help guide, what you find in the pages of a book could be the motivation for a different you in the New Year.

The U.S. Department of Labor offers additional information on minimum wage workers and the effects of raising the minimum wage on employment and family income.

Kaite Stover's picks:
“Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times” by Austin Kleon
“Kill Reply All: A Modern Guide to Online Etiquette from Social Media to Work to Love” by Victoria Turk
“The New Bohemians: Come Home to Good Vibes” by Justina Blakeny
“The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V.E. Schwab
“Baba Dunja’s Last Love” by Alina Bronsky
“Honeymoon With My Brother” by Franz Wisner
“The Comfort Food Diaries” by Emily Nunn

Carly McCracken's picks:
“Get a Life Chloe Brown” by Talia Hibbert
“Good Boy” by Jennifer Finney Boylan
“We Should Hang Out Sometime” by Josh Sundquist
“Brave Chef Brianna” by Sam Sykes
“Grown-Up Pose” by Sonya Lallia
“The Garden of Small Beginnings” by Abbi Waxman

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.
Whether it’s something happening right now or something that happened 100 years ago, some stories don’t fit in the short few minutes of a newscast. As a podcast producer at KCUR, I help investigate questions and local curiosities in a way that brings listeners along for adventures with plot twists and thought-provoking ideas. Sometimes there isn’t an easy answer in the end – but my hope is that we all leave with a greater understanding of the city we live in. Reach me at mackenzie@kcur.org.