02/03/2026
I’m always a little surprised and honestly saddened by how comfortable some people are being unkind to small businesses (or any business, for that matter) when a simple human error happens or even not!
Mistakes happen. Miscommunications happen. Discrepancies happen. And when they do, a sincere apology is often given by a real person who is just trying to do their job. Yet sometimes, people can’t move past their own frustration, and instead choose anger over understanding.
No one is perfect. Not you. Not me. Not the employee who answered the phone. Not the small business owner who is juggling a hundred things at once.
Before reacting, it’s worth pausing and asking:
Is this truly that detrimental?
Does this situation deserve this level of upset?
Does this person deserve to feel shame or be treated poorly?
We live in a world where AI is taking over more every day but businesses are still run by humans. Humans with families to support, stress to manage, and lives that don’t stop just because they’re at work.
Small business owners especially chose this life. They pour their time, energy, money, and hearts into what they do. It’s not just a job it’s their livelihood. Their passion. Their risk. And most of all, their pride. They try their best because they care.
So please, be kind. Be patient. Be human.
Choose grace over outrage.
Choose understanding over assumptions.
A little kindness goes further than you think and it always says more about the person giving it than the mistake that was made