I just have a lot going on right now. I mean, I have a lot going on inside of me. For years, I don’t think I had feelings-at the very least I did not give any credit to a feeling inside of my body. I just lived in my head, and not even in some deep academic way. I was just never taught or learned that there are deep connections between what is happening around us — whether emotionally, physically, or spiritually — and how those experiences can actually create a physical response within us
But, I guess it does.
If you would give me a license to be real here and not read any subtext into the following flow, that would be appreciated.
I’m just kind of sad right now, in a “business/fika” sense. You would think it should be just the opposite, I should be ecstatic my wildest dreams have come true.
I’m at the top of Everest…it should be all celebration and hype.
Instead though I feel like I just got home from a week long mission trip to Mexico when I was in middle school. You know when have done something new and exciting and you have solved problems, had an adventure and you did it all with your friends and now all of a sudden you aren't in Mexico anymore? Instead, you are back in school with snow all around you along with the realities of your situation and circumstances.
Well, we are wrapping up what might be one of Fika’s greatest chapters in our biography. I have built a one of a kind roastery in the middle of the woods. This is not some kind of pole barn. No this is all custom built. Lake Superior is in the view, the woods expand behind us for miles and miles. This building is beautiful and patiently built not rushing any detail, and some of my best friends built it too!
But, here I am sitting like a bump on a log—a Debbie Downer as they would say.
As I reflect on this, it might be the curse of the entrepreneur.
Let’s say that there is a spectrum of what makes an entrepreneur, an entrepreneur, and what makes a businessman, a businessman. Along this spectrum you will find a wide range. It’s not all black/white or either/or but rather folks in business or who own a business are a blend of each to some degree. Well, I lean pretty heavy on the entrepreneurial side and I will share with you a few aspects of that. With or without your permission I’m going to be speaking fairly anecdotally on this topic.
My definitions:
An entrepreneur is someone who can handle risk not for profit but for exploration, think outside the box, motivated by wonder and the unknown and has an ability to see “what could be”.
A businessman is someone who mitigates risk to move towards profit, thinks and operates within given systems and equations, they are motivated by an ambition to be efficient and profitable.
I wonder how I can challenge the business side of me to grow and bring some balance to Fika?
Challenge 1: Prep the soil and deepen the roots.
This idea is not necessarily related to entrepreneurship or businessship but it’s more reflected in me as a person and a value I have. I want Fika to have roots in this community and in the world as a business. I need to start to understand that it will take a business acumen to continue to build the strength of this business.
Challenge 2: The risk of learning.
Dreaming is easy and learning is hard. How can I pivot my acceptance of risk to focus not on new ideas or the next mountain to climb, but do I have the strength to keep learning the basics of business. What would this look like for me?
Challenge 3: Boredom is the next new thing.
Maybe just showing up and perfecting the thing at hand is actually the hot new thing. I have plenty of ideas, and while they give me energy and some fulfillment, they can bring anxiety to those around me. I need to learn to accept what I have in front of me and work on perfecting that, learning from repetition and the sharpening of the tool already in our hand.
Alright, I have listed three things I can work on.
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I actually feel a little better this afternoon after writing this down, sharing my thoughts and frustrations and being transparent with you all.
I’m reminded of this quote that I just heard. It comes from a coach who coaches mountain climbers (like people who climb Denali or Everest): "Something I tell my athletes: You don’t rise to the occasion - you fall to the level of your preparation. It’s about reps: reps done in the dark, reps done when you don’t feel like doing it, reps when you are unsure if any of it matters or maybe you are not motivated."
I think I can learn something from that. So here we go - join me in getting after those reps, and lets get prepared for what is to come next!
