In my last column, I posed the question “are you in business to make a living, or is this just a hobby?” In response to my point about the opportunities retail stores lose by keeping limited hours, I received several comments about how difficult it is for sole proprietors to be open as often as they’d like.
The second Thursday evening of every month in Kirkland is best known for the Kirkland Art Walk. Recently, the downtown galleries, restaurants and local coffee shops have added jazz to this monthly scene. Last month, I decided to roam downtown to see for myself all the evening now has to offer.
At a recent business networking event a nice gentleman (with a business that helps parents fund college educations without, as he said, “going broke”) approached me and pitched his business in the hope that I might get him coverage in the paper. Trying not to embarrass him, I explained I am a columnist (as opposed to a reporter) and have no influence over the type of business stories that get covered. I listened politely and thanked him for saying hello. But on the way home I realized that, although I couldn’t officially help him get his story in the paper, I could help him pitch his story in a way that might get results.
