Nurturing and Resolution

Nurture: encourage somebody or something to flourish; to encourage somebody or something to grow, develop, thrive, and be successful.

Resolution: a resolve or determination. (one of many definitions)

Businesses need to be nurtured, especially if they are in the start up phase, much like Bliss Organic. Kids need to be nurtured, much like mine. My life is full of nurturing. It sounds so simple, but it is hard to do. To encourage success means prioritizing and spending time making the right decisions. It means being mindful of the details but not forgetting the big picture. I have often made a resolution to myself to be more nurturing starting “next week”. I make the same promise about my kids. If I can’t make it to their soccer practice this week, I’ll make it next week. Then, next week arrives and I am making more excuses about allocating my time.

Needless to say, I do believe in New Year’s Resolutions. It’s a fresh start to the year, a time when you reflect on the previous year and decide to do things differently, better in the next year. With regard to both my business and my kiddos, I have made my New Year’s Resolutions already. I’m not ready to share, but there will be changes moving forward. I will be more nurturing and present. More detail to come later… in the meantime, think about what is important to you and prioritize it. Make it come to the top of your to do list. Nurture those things that make you happy.

Reality sets in.

So, I promised a yummy dessert recipe this time around… not happening. Instead I feel compelled to share something special – our one year anniversary. I looked at the calendar the other week and noticed that September 24 was arriving faster than I realized. It is this Friday that marks the anniversary of purchasing Bliss Organic Ice Cream. Oh, the excitement, nervousness, anticipation, fear and joy that went into the decision to venture out on my own. Back then, I had so many ideas and a strong vision of where I wanted the company to go. I guess I still have those ideas and the vision – but so much has changed. Reality has set in. I have learned a tremendous amount about running a food business – regulatory issues, distribution modeling, forecasting, working with buyers, ingredient management, etc. I am humbled by the details. Humbled and buried. Buried so deep that sometimes I’m not sure where to go next – but I hear that this is normal for a start-up company. Someone said to me recently, ”you don’t own a small business – it owns you”. Yes, this is true. I am owned by Bliss Organic – a company that challenges me, pisses me off, makes me proud, and most importantly, keeps me on my toes.

Balance? What balance?

I have never been busier. It’s summer and it's National Ice Cream Month, so sales are really picking up (yeah!). However, with everything on my plate it feels as if there is no end in sight. Not to mention: budgeting, sick children and dogs, delivery schedules, cooking, consulting projects, a neglected husband, paperwork, social plans, travel plans, working out, dishes, laundry, meetings, administrative tasks, production and cleaning the house. There is no balance in my life. I multitask and think about work when I'm with family and think about family when I'm working. Rather, my life is a BLEND of all the things that make me, me. I manage this wonderful little business, maintain a house and nurture two amazing, young children. Every now and then, I feel like I’m fulfilling my duties as a wife and friend. Mostly, I make to do lists and prioritize every aspect of my life. How else would I get dinner on the table every night?

hello

This blog is about a small, starting up, organic ice cream company. It's about the challenges of growing a business and balancing work, life, family and friends. It isn't about our daily grind, but rather the inspirations in business that allow us to be better people and better citizens in our community. It's about the choices we make every day that influence our environment and our surroundings.

And every now and then, it's about discovering a new organic ice cream flavor or dessert recipe that knocks your socks off.

Welcome, and come back often.