I know a couple of business people in Geraldton who are doing it tough at the moment. They run a couple of small businesses, and I know they've been doing it extremely tough lately with the economic downturn. But they love Geraldton's potential and have chosen to keep pushing forward.

Recently they were mistakenly attacked on social media over something that was not true... and people piled on without getting their facts straight.

And now their hearts are broken.

You see, it's hard being in business at the best of times. It's even harder being in business in regional Western Australia, in one of the most isolated cities in the country, in the middle of a massive economic downturn. It's tough wondering if you're going to lose your house, close your doors, say goodbye to all your staff who rely on their wage to pay their bills, and deal with the humiliation of failing very publicly.

Social media has given everyone a very public voice. Often the loudest voices are people with no skin in the game though... no experience running a company, nothing on the line themselves, and nothing positive to contribute.

Should business owners be held accountable? Sure. Should they be lynched by angry mobs when someone accuses them of something, regardless of whether there are any facts to back up the assertions? Err... no.

Do you want to run all the entrepreneurs out of Geraldton? Because that's how you run all the entrepreneurs out of Geraldton.

The next time you feel the need to attack a business person online, potentially hurting their ability to feed their own family, consider the following:

Most business owners in Geraldton are not rich. Most would earn a lot more money and have a lot more spare time if they just went and got a job.
Business owners are just regular people like you and me, who are having a go. They're often risking their homes, and most of the time they will fail.
Most business owners want Geraldton to prosper. They're not trying to rape and pillage the town. They're trying to improve it for everyone.
Without small businesses thriving in Gero, we'd lose a LOT of jobs.
They have feelings. Not all business people have skin as thick as a rhinoceros. If someone's business is a labour of love, then it really hurts to be publicly attacked.

As the world's economy shifts more towards digital products, automation, and the future becomes uncertain for many, we need to collectively encourage those among us willing to have a go. There's been some great ideas and fantastic businesses that have come out of Geraldton in the last decade or so.

Our entrepreneurs are our most valuable resource moving forward, creating jobs, stimulating the economy, and potentially changing the world for the better.

Why not send a local business a word of thanks or encouragement? You have no idea how meaningful a little thank you or pat on the back is to someone doing it tough in business.

I, for one, am thankful to all the business people in Geraldton who are having a go. I know it's not easy, but I'm grateful there's so many out there who are able to ignore the naysayers, and are rolling their sleeves up and trying something new.

I have started around 5 businesses now, and most have not been very successful. But I don't think of them as failures, just as learning opportunities. So if you're thinking of starting your own business, remember that even if it doesn't turn out as you had hoped, you haven't really failed, you've just given yourself a very intense, hands on, education.

Surround yourself with a handful of positive peers you trust.

Do your best each day.

Get enough sleep.

And don't read the comments.