What was a moment that made you remember why you opened your business?

[ryanwanner]

Day in and day out, we work every aspect of our business. It's easy to get bogged down in the basics to not see everything good that we are doing.

For this week’s question, let’s talk about the why:

What is the moment that made you remember why you opened your business?

Mine would be right after a major forest fire went through our community. Overnight, our coffee shop became a hub for recovery teams, round tables with county commissioners, meeting central, and a place to commiserate. One day, I realized that every table in my dining room had architectural plans spread out on them: even with the long road of recovery in front of us, my community was going to be fine. The fact that my community chose my cafe to start the rebuilding process reminds me daily of why I started my business: my community. 

[theroyalctambo]

I am lucky enough that I get this alot!   During our tourist season where I run my show in my pub/hotel, the happiness people display and give feedback on after a good night, keeps me going. It's hard yakka to remember those moments in off season when we are quiet and money is tight and I am working harder for less dollars, but those moments keep me going.

[SVLFever]

I own a family entertaintment center that originally started as a 32 lane bowling center.  I am also a professional bowler and this is where I worked in college. Now I own the place.  We have hosted some major events, including the US Open, the World Youth Championships in 2016 and the National Special Olympics in 2010.  Watching all these competitors compete and hoist their championship trophy/medal over their heads, as well as watching a young boy or girl have their birthday party here, I am blessed to be reminded all the time why I do what I do.

[CareyJo]

How fantastic is that!?!  So cool!!!  I have several bowlers in my family, my grandma was an amateur bowler and her average was around 200 for decades.  It was the only thing my left-handed mom did right-handed.  My husband is a great bowler but I suck!  I spent many hours growing up, watching bowling on TV with my mom.

[CareyJo]

My best friend from high school spent about 15 years living in Monument with her family.  Her older sister and brother-in-law still live in Springs.  I remember that fire and the worry.  We get a lot of forest fires in MT and I have two sons and a husband that have fought forest fires.  One of them is still currently on duty as I write this.  So I get it completely.  On behalf of your community, thank you for being there for them and opening your doors.

[CareyJo]

In our line of work, it's when a customer comes to us after a bad experience with another service company and is so thankful that we helped them fix it right and then recommends us to others.

[Michael_L]

When a client sees their photos and says, "Wow, I didn't know I could look this good in photos!"  So many people have had a lifetime of horrible portraits, it's a thrill when they visit us and go away happy.

[Twpchair]

Honestly, it was a side job at first. I had both my sons diagnosed with cancer 45 days apart in 9th grade and 11th grade and I was a Physical Therapy Assistant and couldn't do it with 5 treatments a week for my mental health and break from it all when my husband got home from work my GF had a retail furniture store and just wanted to help “decorating” she didn't need help she knew I needed a break mental. 3 years later all cancer-free for my sons at least she asked you want to take over im ready to retire and off I went 1 year later grew and grew and moved to a location 10x plus the previous spot. So from getting out a few hours to owning a 12k sq ft retail furniture store and zero business experience! I am most proud of our 5* rating. Great staff I have!

[CareyJo]

So glad to hear your sons are well and so is your business! 🙌👏

[Lovewell]

Been having more of these moments lately! Little glimmers throughout the day. Reminders of why we do this. One day my sister (1/2) of this business was chatting with a woman and the lady out of nowhere just asked “well why do this? What about owning these shops has changed you?” Just this out of pocket beyond the surface level questions and I was sweeping at the time and truly it may sound dumb but just hearing the recounting of why we started this in the first place and truly the impact it has had on and because of this amazing community literally brought me to tears as I was sweeping the floor 😂 

More moments like this are happening where God/ the universe whatever you believe seems to be reminding us we are exactly where we are

supposed to

be! 

[CareyJo]

❤️

[elitesalonspa]

I am in the beauty business, I wanted a place where every person looked in the mirror and could see the beauty they have. We had a lady come in for a spray tan, after she got sprayed she asked to speak to the owner. With tears in her eyes, she told me that she has never felt so comfortable and important as she did that day. She had recently had weight loss surgery because her whole life she struggled with her weight. All the beauty salons she visited made her feel ugly and she said she knew she was being made fun of because of her weight. She wanted me to know just how amazing my spray tan artist was and when she found out that she was my daughter, she said she knew she had found her forever salon! 

[CareyJo]

💗💗💗

[topliquidation]

I remember starting my wholesale supply store online which was very difficult to start doing business with retailers. it was very difficult to gain my customers trust i almost gave up. But now, we have one of the biggest liquidation warehouses in LA .
buypalletsnearme

[MamiesToffee]

We started our business to pay our mortgage never thought 14 years later we would still be going. 

We started “Random Acts of Candy” due to everyone that helped us start our business. We brought our kids out on the day we picked to deliver basket of candy and tray for the office. Our kids learned so much going out to share with our community.

I think back on how this has helped our autism son very high functioning. He has learned to talk to people and has become a great sales person for our company. To see our son grow and customers comment about our son. Makes owning the business the best decision my wife talked me into! 

[CareyJo]

❤️

[pawffeeshop]

We wanted to create a safe space for everyone. We also wanted provide a spot where people could interact with cats whether they are looking to adopt or not. Some people can't have cats in their living situation or are traveling. Our coffee shop focuses on supporting other local business in our coffee, bakery, merch and more. I love the look on people's faces when they walk in and see the cats through the windows, amazed such a place exisits!

[AntasiaShabria]

Sure being reminded of the why isn’t easy for what’s going on in our hectic world but a moment of what remembering it is about community, we can see a lack of something without it, because it’s building things with our hands, witty intellect! And courage to speak what’s on our minds leading to our very own labor of love!