From Financial Struggles to Business Wins

We continue March Meet the Maker Challenge with the question “Explain the challenges and wins of your business”

For 16 years of business there have been countless challenges but the first way to frame them was to believe everything is able to be figured out. Everything!!! Initially the biggest challenge was financial. Our business was born at a time when we both lost our jobs, and the majority of our income. We had to plan purchases of supplies with a squeaky tight budget. As the business has grown we have seem income that carves out funds for replenishing supplies and such. While we never returned to an income level we had prior to 2010, we have seen our business grow, committed to all cash , refusing to get into loans.

That biggest challenge to both of us in business is our mindset. We grew up believing you get educated, get a job in your field, take a paycheck to do your work, and that is it. But at the heart of the matter work is supposed to be a blessing, and utilize your skills. Work is supposed to fit you, fulfil your skill set and satisfy your soul. Some people call it “right work”. When we discovered the soap making business Steve found satisfaction seeing the work of his hands satisfy others with great soap that is moisturizing and offers more than just good smelling soap. Something deep in his soul echoed the words “this is what I love to do – i think its right work for me.” Its not that big executive salary, or the big perks of a corporate job. But it is hard work, lots of continuous learning, and connecting with our customers that brings benefits beyond what our corporate jobs once did.

Being able to pivot and change our thoughts has been a great win. Learning to think differently, and believe that we can always find solutions to puzzles is the victory.