SOME gratifying news came out of the Small Business Association (SBA) last week: membership has shot to 1 000 and rising as more and more people are seeing themselves as self-employed businesspersons.

According to SBA acting executive director Lynette Holder, Barbadians were making a conscious decision to become self-employed instead of seeking work in traditional places.

Eastmond, who comes over as a very imaginative and positive leader, made an interesting observation: "The environment is conducive. I don't think it has to do with any fear of not being able to find a job or a lack of confidence in the economy."

I tend to agree; it has more to do with people acquiring the confidence to take risks, educated and calculated
risks, and boss themselves.

Today potential entrepreneurs have far greater access to coaching, training and seed money than three or four decades ago. The expanding economy of the island has also thrown up more opportunities for people to try out their business ideas.

Some will fly and some will fail but it seems that many new entrepreneurs have come to terms with the fact that failure is only failure when you don't get up, dust yourself off and go again.

They should also learn from the failures of predecessors who turned simple ideas into profitable businesses but lacked discipline and self-control, especially when it came to spending.

The hours of training that SBA and other institutions have invested over the years will hopefully produce a cadre of businesspersons better equipped to endure the inevitable tough times to enjoy financial independence.