Wealth Beyond the Bottom Line: A Small Business Perspective
- Jeff Nelson
- Sep 29, 2025
- 2 min read
At Bolt Laserworks We're Rich in Ways That Count Most To Us
At Bolt Laserworks, no one would mistake Cathy and me for shrewd, high-powered business strategists. Like many small business owners, we’ve made our fair share of unconventional choices. We purchased our first laser equipment outright from personal savings rather than using traditional lease funding. We entered the laser business without a formal business plan. We even named our business after our retired racing greyhound, Bolt—a name more heartfelt than market-tested.
Our greyhounds have always accompanied us to work where they greet customers daily, serving as both companions and ambassadors. Our marketing and sales efforts can be inconsistent, and our pricing decisions often prioritize client value over maximizing our own profits.
Wealth Beyond the Bottom Line
Yet by a different measure, we are very wealthy. While we will never appear in Fortune or Businessweek, our work sustains us comfortably and rewards us abundantly in other ways. This business gives us the freedom to be creative, the satisfaction of offering meaningful products at reasonable prices, and the joy of building lasting relationships—with our customers, our community, and our peers in the laser industry.
Through our company, we’re able to contribute to our community by serving on local boards, supporting conservation and pet adoption organizations, and engaging in community events. We also actively participate in professional forums, where the exchange of ideas strengthens the entire laser engraving industry.
Most importantly, we value the opportunity to collaborate with clients on deeply personal projects. Every day we help create custom, heartfelt pieces that hold special meaning—an impact no financial balance sheet can fully capture.
So, if you’re chasing a business idea because you want to be a millionaire in five years, this probably isn’t the model for you. But if you want the satisfaction of working hard, creating things that matter, and being your own boss, the laser business just might be what you’re looking for.
BTW: If you’d like some unvarnished advice, I’m always happy to share. After all, we’ve built up quite a treasure trove of “what not to do”—and sometimes, that’s the most valuable kind of wealth there is - Wealth Beyond the Bottom Line.
Want to talk about your own project, idea, or keepsake? We’d love to hear from you. Give us a call at 800-438-2658 and let’s create something meaningful together.
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