Are You Just Making Donuts—or Building A Legacy?

Contributed by SBOC Member:

Pat Miller

Founder of the Small Business Owners Community

This content was first released in the new Small Business Summary Newsletter. Subscribe below to get insights like this straight to your inbox!

I don’t love showing up as “inspiration guy” all the time.

But when something sparks a fire in me, I want to share it—especially if it might help you, too.

There’s a quote, often attributed to Ben Franklin, that’s been rattling around in my head lately:

“If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing.”

It hits hard, right? It made me stop and ask myself:

Am I writing things worth reading?
Am I doing things worth writing about?
Or…am I just checking boxes and trying to get paid?

The Trap of Just “Making Donuts”

For small business owners, the first rule is clear: make money, make a profit, feed the family, pay the mortgage. All true. But if we’re not careful, this can become a trap.

When every day becomes a grind of “just getting it done,” we lose that extra 25% of effort that pushes us toward what’s possible. That’s where burnout happens—when our days blend into a monotonous loop of doing the same thing over and over.

It’s the “time to make the donuts” mentality. You show up in March, and then it’s April, and then it’s May…and nothing really changes. You’re not growing; you’re just maintaining.

The Spark of Curiosity

That’s why this quote matters. It’s a reminder to check in with yourself:

Where are you following your curiosity?
Where are you stepping out of your comfort zone?
Where are you taking a risk?
Where are you challenging the way you’ve always done things?

This isn’t just about money. Sure, making money is crucial—trust me, I could stand to focus more on that part myself. But what really drives me (and maybe you, too) is the idea of building something that matters. Something that breaks the rules and challenges the status quo.

I’m not here to play small. I want to create things that genuinely serve you and push the boundaries of what’s possible. And yeah, sometimes that means ignoring the “right” way to do things and trying something new. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. But it’s always worth it.

So, Where Are You Playing It Safe?

I’ll ask you what I’ve been asking myself:

Where are you stuck in a rut?
Where are you just “making the donuts” instead of building the bakery of your dreams?
Where could you follow your curiosity and do something worth writing about?

Maybe it’s time to shake things up. To stop playing it safe and start playing to win.

I hope this inspires you to think a little bigger, push a little harder, and take a real shot at building a business that matters.

Thanks for tuning into the Small Business Summary this week. Now go do something worth writing about.

And as always—Don’t Grow It Alone®.

Subscribe below to get insights like this straight to your inbox!

Contributed by

Pat Miller

Founder of the Small Business Owners Community

Pat spent two decades in broadcasting management and hosting. After leaving the radio industry, he spent time consulting small businesses and realized the support system for entrepreneurs was broken. Where could you find help for improving small businesses and building real connections with other like-minded people. In June of 2020, the Idea Collective Small Business Community was born.