Los Angeles, CA, Nov. 25, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This week the nation observes Small Business Saturday, a special day to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit and support the smaller shops that form the backbone of our local economy. But for entrepreneur-turned-philanthropist Phil Holland, it’s just another day at the office.
For the past two decades, Phil has been running My Own Business, Inc, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit he founded himself, which is focused on giving small business owners the tools they need to build stable, healthy businesses. This is done through the provision of free online courses which business owners can take, earning them a certificate. However, more than the certificate, many have found the knowledge and candid advice useful for their own business growth.
At My Own Business, the operating team is lean, but the demand for courses has been astounding. Phil recounts, "When I started, it was 20 local entrepreneurs sitting in a small room in Compton, CA. Today we offer our business courses online, and this year we reached out to our 20-millionth user. It’s amazing. Over 700,000 jobs created by these small businesses, generating literally billions in revenue which again gets pumped back into the economy and cycled round." Not bad for a small nonprofit.
One of the My Own Business course graduates is Angie Park, owner of Crossroads Café in Industry, CA, a small operation she started 6 years ago serving up fresh lunches to office workers. She recalls, "It’s been challenging, but fun. My Own Business has been so helpful for me. I really learned a lot. It especially made me think carefully about how to plan my business… got me on the right track. And I didn’t even have to pay for it!" Angie and her staff are now preparing to expand to a second location early next year.
When asked for his thoughts on Small Business Saturday and whether My Own Business will be doing anything special to celebrate, Phil responds, "It’s good that small businesses get noticed. I’ve been there before and goodness knows they can always do with the support. Will we be doing anything special? Well, every day is special for us. We do what we can."
About My Own Business, Inc
My Own Business, Inc (MOBI) is a leading provider of free business education to small business owners. MOBI exists to support the vital social and economic contributions of small businesses by nurturing entrepreneurship and helping individuals build their own business. Online at www.myownbusiness.org
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