Day 20- Professional Support (the FREE kind)

Posted on December 20, 2012 by admin

A few people have asked me lately for a list of organizations and places to go to for FREE professional support. It is because of all of the support (free and otherwise) that I have had success and I am certainly grateful. Some of the organizations are industry specific. If you are using this as a reference, look for similar groups in your industry.

The River Falls Chamber of Commerce– RF Chamber logoThe CEO, Rosanne, of our local Chamber of Commerce has been a great resource. I interviewed her for many details on River Falls and the rising popularity of public Chamber events for my business plan. She also added me to their email list of events. I have attended many Chamber networking events and WeatherVane even had our Ice Cream Float A Go Go there. And I have to admit to stealing all of her connections on LinkedIn.

Small Business Development Center (both here in River Falls and in MN)–SBDC Logo The local Small Business Development Center is housed on the UW-River Falls campus. The director there, Steve, helped me early on with the business plan and introduced me to NAICS and SIC codes. His area of expertise is accounting so he helped me with templates for my financial projections. He is also the one who turned me on to the James J. Hill Reference Library in St Paul to get my demographics, industry trends, and even copies of other business plans that I saved on a USB stick and combed through as templates. The library is only open two days a week and the librarians LOVE to help. Just tell them what you are working on and they will supply the rest.

Also, a friend of mine, Lyle, works at the MN Small Business Development Center and he sent me a fat, free book called “Starting a Business in Minnesota”. I paged through that and found a lot of good info.

Pierce and St Croix County Economic Development Corporations– Both Corporations have revolving loan funds with a lot more flexibility and lower interest rates than banks. Bill at the Pierce County EDC also helped me on the early stages of the business plan and helped me brainstorm for funding. He also had traffic count studies and UW- River Falls student surveys that I included in the business plan.

UW-River Falls Career Center (available to alumni)– McKenna, a career counselor at UW- River Falls gave me awesome suggestions for my résumé. It was great working with her. She also told me about prezi.com to jazz up any presentation that you would normally use Powerpoint for. No more Powerpoint for me!

UW Extension– UW Extension logoThey somehow found me and asked me to participate as both an individual and business in the 2012 Agritourism Survey. Once they compiled the results, they sent them to me. This was extremely valuable information for the business plan. I also see they have an Entrepreneurship and Economic Development division. I will have to dive into that deeper.

River Falls Rotary Club– Years ago I was a guest speaker at one of the River Falls Rotary Club’s weekly meetings. I asked a Rotary member if I could speak again and they connected me with the person in charge of their meetings. So, sure enough, back last December I spoke about WeatherVane Creamery and provided cheese samples for their breakfast. As Empowering Taste got closer, I asked to be a guest of some of my colleagues who are members so I could introduce myself again and let everyone know about the event.

Various networking groups– Get business cards and go out and introduce yourself and what you are up to. You never know who you are going to meet. They could be the person you need. I have met potential investors, people who connect me to other people that I need to meet, and have gotten free consultations from people that I have met at networking meetings. Also, don’t forget to add everyone on LinkedIn!

University Professors– Pretty much any university professor that I have ever talked with has resources, whether it be an intern or an obscure financial grant. These are valuable people to know.

American Cheese Society– ACS LogoIt was through winning the essay contest that the American Cheese Society had that I got a full scholarship to their annual convention in Raleigh, NC and a year’s membership. At the conference, I had a list given to me by the Dairy Business Innovation Center of people to meet and introduce myself to of about ten people. I also went to the workshops and networked with people sitting around me, people who had good questions or contributions to the workshop, and even the workshop presenters.

Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board–Wi chz logo Ever seen this logo before? This is from the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, an organization that is paid for by Wisconsin dairy farmers. They offer free marketing materials and have wonderful resources of their own. They publish a directory of Wisconsin cheesemakers and you can be sure that I emailed each and every one of them at one time to introduce myself. The WMMB has also sent me support materials for public events like cheese cutting boards, slicers, cookbooks, napkins, bags, pens, etc for FREE. They also subsidize any advertising that I use their logo on. Pretty awesome.

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)– ofn logoI learned about these guys from Starbucks’ Create Jobs for USA campaign. These banks were created by the US Department of the Treasury to provide credit and financial services to underserved markets. They are more likely to lend to more risky ventures. We have at least two in Wisconsin that work with businesses- Impact 7 in Almena and the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation in Milwaukee. I am currently working with Impact 7.

The Foster Community Foundation– I include this one because, through this nonprofit alliance, I have gotten opportunities to partner in broader community events than if I wasn’t involved. Originally, for Town ‘N Country Day, we were going to do a joint fund raiser together. Nonprofits and for-profits make for great partners. Don’t underestimate it, especially if you have a shared vision like making the community a better place.

SCORE– While I haven’t used SCORE this time around, I have used their services in the past. The acronym used to stand for something _ _ _ Retired Executives. Here is from the SBA.gov website: “The SCORE Association “Counselors to America’s Small Business” is a nonprofit association comprised of 11,500 volunteer business counselors throughout the U.S. and its territories. SCORE members are trained to serve as counselors advisors and mentors to aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners. These services are offered at no fee, as a community service.”

Small Business Administration– sba logoI know I’ve used this website countless times for various things. Check it out.

 

 

 

WomenVenture– womenventure logoThis is an organization in St Paul that consults with women in business on a sliding scale fee. I haven’t used them, but they are probably worth looking into.

All in all, not a bad collection. I am now reminded of all the work and all of the places that I looked into that weren’t useful. Quite a journey indeed.

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Day 19- WeatherVane Creamery’s Advisory Team

Posted on December 19, 2012 by admin

Beginning yesterday, my blogs are being written on the road. Only, I am not on the road. See, I started house sitting for the next two months and they don’t have wifi. I am insistent on blogging every day in December. January will probably be spotty. Just a heads up.

So, here I am at Caribou Coffee in Woodbury, MN. Last night I was at Dunn Bros in Hudson but they closed before I was done so I drove to the Starbucks parking lot to finish. I have to laugh at that- me in my winter jacket with the car running finishing everything up and posting it. Right now I am here after a full day at my part time seasonal job at Eddie Bauer at Woodbury Lakes. I am relatively glazed over as I am also recovering from a cold. But the show must go on!

Tonight I am grateful for WeatherVane Creamery’s Advisory Team.

Advisory Team- Max Neuhaus (top left), Paul Rode, Kevin Pechacek, Leo Bogee (bottom left), Tasha Burilini-Olson (center)

Advisory Team- Max Neuhaus (top left), Paul Rode, Kevin Pechacek, Leo Bogee (bottom left), Tasha Burilini-Olson (center)

WeatherVane’s lawyer, Max Neuhaus, was an early supporter. He has advised on many of the investor issues and got us all set up as an LLC. He also did a killer job on introducing me at Empowering Taste. He’s a new dad, a River Falls native, and has an impressive résumé.

Paul Rode is the owner of Agave Kitchen in Hudson. More than one person told me that I *had* to meet him and that he would probably love to work with me. I got an introduction and soon we were meeting weekly to talk about the business plan and getting financing. The first time I meet him, he’s surrounded by a bunch of men in the Bullpen Cantina with a stack of bills in front of him. When I walk in the room, everyone scatters. The first ten minutes, he doesn’t make any eye contact. I sit down next to him and start talking about WeatherVane Creamery and what I am up to. All of a sudden, he looks up, looks me square in the eyes and says “You remind me of myself ten years ago.” From then on, he was on Team WeatherVane.

I met Kevin Pechacek, the owner of The WestWind Supper Club in River Falls, after a River Falls Chamber of Commerce event. I introduced myself and asked if he’d be interested in looking over the business plan and talking sometime. We did end up having a great conversation and I quickly figured out that Kevin is both the type of business person and leader that I want to be. He’s compassionate, loves to make a difference with his communities, and has a sharp business sense. The day I asked him if he wanted to join the team, he seemed very moved and said he’d be honored. That was quite a trip for me.

Leo Bogee and I met through my boyfriend, Shawn. Leo has started various businesses and has good knowledge about the food industry, incorporation strategies, and investors. The one thing that stands out about my first conversation with Leo is what he told me he could offer me: he said that crazy things would happen on this journey and to call him when my body started telling me that there was something wrong- like when I started gaining or losing weight. I thought that was an interesting and insightful way of gauging things. Leo is definitely wise and also is a wonderful team player. He plays 100% full out.

Last but not least, Tasha Burilini-Olson. Tasha was a big fan of WeatherVane Creamery at the get go. She was the marketing and retail manager at the Burnett Dairy Coop and she enthusiastically sent samples to do grilled cheese trials with and was excited that we were using their cheese in the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Competition. From there, I asked her a few questions about the business to help me with some points of my business plan. She was happy to share the information. When I had the rest of the team hashed out, I was thinking that I would like a woman to round things out and asked Tasha to join. She eagerly said yes and, as it turns out, is originally from neighboring town Ellsworth and was working on a store remodel for the dairy coop store. She was learning valuable things that I, also needed to learn. She is the perfect addition to the team.

So there you have it. The whole team. Mostly what stands out about all of them, and especially as a group, is how amazing and accomplished they are. To have them on my side is both an honor and humbling. And I was proud to introduce them all to each other on our conference calls and then in person at Empowering Taste. Who they are for me is Commitment, Team, and Love. Thanks, guys.

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Day 18- Tillamook Cheese

Posted on December 18, 2012 by admin

Yep, that’s right- Tillamook Cheese. I lived in Portland, OR for three years where I sold produce and some grocery items to chefs at Duck Delivery. For almost a year I was tormented by the grocery manager, Ron, about how Tillamook Cheddar, out of Tillamook, OR, beat out Wisconsin in the medium cheddar category. And for almost a year, I fervently defended my home state saying that Tillamook’s medium cheddar had a flavor profile more like a Wisconsin mild. And don’t get me wrong, I ate lots of Tillamook Cheddar when I lived out there and I visited the factory and even did the tour more than once.

Flash forward to a grocery trip to Econofoods in River Falls, WI months later. I am looking for some “good” Wisconsin cheese. Guess what I find? Tillamook! All the way from Oregon here in Wisconsin. Pure blasphemy!!! And there wasn’t any other farmstead or local cheese. Plus, you can imagine the markup in getting it from there to here. I was not used to those prices. Double blasphemy.

And that’s where the concept of WeatherVane Creamery *really* started to take place. That day a year ago at Econofoods. From there, I went to the James J. Hill Reference Library in St. Paul and researched the specialty dairy industry and realized what a good fit it would be in my business plan.

And for that, I am grateful. That fateful day amongst fateful days.

PS- During a cheese judging class at the American Cheese Society Conference, Tillamook Medium Cheddar was used to demonstrate flavor profiles. Master cheesemaker, Jeff Jurik, from the Caves of Faribault agreed that west coast cheese has a more mild flavor. Take that! I am justified.

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Day 16- My Family

Posted on December 16, 2012 by admin

It’s kind of funny to acknowledge my family because I think they are still scratching their heads wondering what to make of me and WeatherVane Creamery. I think their thoughts run the gamut from being inspired to bafflement and concern. Nonetheless, they support me and it is a comfort to know that at the end of the day, they will always be there for me. And it is their concerns that keep me in check because they are the ones who are removed just enough to be able to see things that I don’t and they are the ones who know me well enough to tell me. My father is impatient and says that if he was doing it, it would be done already. My brother is worried that I will go into major debt and ruin my local reputation. My mom and sisters are worried about my stress level. Many times their concerns even tell me when I am on the right track.

To my father: Thank you for being a self-made man and for ALL the suggestions, even the ones you don’t think I listen to. Also thank you for the nice couple of days in Florida last month.

To my brother, Dan: Thank you for having been there, for your concerns, for being straight with me, and for your moral support. It always surprises me how well we relate to each other and how you can say the thing I need to hear. And you won on the thoughtful birthday presents. I loved all of it.

To my mother: Mom, I know you worry, pray, and believe the most. Thanks for knowing that I can do it.

To my sister, Karen: Thanks for involving (my 13 year old) Benjamin in my business. I love making a difference for him and his classmates. Also, thank you for being an inspiration in your own right as a mother, wife, and strong woman.

And finally, to my sister Jessica: Jeeves, thanks for taking the pressure off of me by giving everyone someone else to be baffled and concerned by. And for the record, I am neither baffled or concerned. You are on an amazing spiritual journey and are also becoming your own and finding your path. I am grateful to be sharing an uncertain future and ever-changing present with you! And also thanks for these great family photos:

Dad and Mom

Me, Dan, Karen, and Jess (front)

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Day 15- Grateful For Me…Yesterday

Posted on December 15, 2012 by admin

This journey with WeatherVane Creamery has been quite the roller coaster. I think anyone reading this probably is aware of at least one setback or victory that I have encountered either personally or with the business in the past year and a half.

When I first rolled into town, I had such an invincible energy. I think I heard the term “Pollyanna” more than once. And for some reason, I forged ahead and did some crazy things that got a lot of people’s attention. I had a fundraising campaign to raise $100,000 and I flew out to Seattle to talk to Howard Schultz and from the American Cheese Society, I won a full membership and scholarship to their annual conference in Raleigh, NC. I also wrote a complete business plan and did all the research. I began building a brand. I had creative, innovative ideas for WeatherVane. I met with a wide range of professionals and other individuals who were inspired by what I was doing. I was always looking forward with vim, vigor, and optimism.

And since this summer, while it may have appeared to the outside that I had been moving forward with the same momentum, I have been recuperating from a certain exhaustion. And it isn’t all WeatherVane related, to be sure. During this time I have been grateful for all the good, productive days that I had in the past that have now been carrying me. Every time someone recognizes me from a newspaper article or I come across some research that I forgot about that suddenly is completely relevant, I am grateful. Whenever I share about that trip to see Howard Schultz, I am even kind of baffled. Who was that woman who went up to the microphone at the shareholder meeting with a folder containing a non disclosure agreement and a letter?

In the last two weeks I have been feeling like some of the exhaustion is lifting. And I recognize that no matter what, I have always been a very strong person. I just have high demands on myself. I have had to learn to be compassionate to myself and to give myself some leeway on those bad days. I am grateful for that lesson, too. This ride has been very crazy and I wonder what the Sarah who was just getting ready to leave Portland would think of the Sarah now. I don’t recognize myself anymore and that’s ok. I am chalking it all up to being a wiser and more compassionate person. And I would never have gotten as far as I have without all of the stages- the good and the bad. It’s all part of a master plan that I don’t have to understand. And for all of it- including, and especially, for the Sarah I used to be- I am grateful.

Me accepting the scholarship from the American Cheese Society in Raleigh, NC

Me accepting the scholarship from the American Cheese Society in Raleigh, NC

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Day 14- Blessed Be The Cheesemakers

Posted on December 14, 2012 by admin

It all comes down to good, Wisconsin cheese. As I was thinking about this topic and who I think are some of the top cheesemakers in Wisconsin, the following three immediately came to mind: Marieke Penterman of Holland’s Family Farms, Sid Cook of Carr Valley Cheese, and Joe Widmer of Widmer’s Cheese Cellars. All three of these cheesemakers are passionate about good cheese but for three different reasons. Marieke brings her passion and Gouda recipes from Holland, Sid brings innovation to his cheesemaking, and Joe makes cheese with traditional methods that might otherwise have gotten lost. What the three have in common is a passion to do something they love and to do it well. AND YOU CAN TASTE THE DIFFERENCE, I promise you. It is for this that I am grateful.

Marieke Penterman

Sid Cook

Joe Widmer

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Day 13- Plan B, Plan C, and Plan XYZs

Posted on December 13, 2012 by admin

And so the name ‘WeatherVane’ comes to be.

Today I was reminded of a big lesson that I learned this year- sometimes (most the time) the Universe has a different plan for me. It usually isn’t Plan A. This lesson has repeated itself over and over and over again and every time I want to yell “Enough already!” and every time I dust myself off, pivot a little to the right, and move forward. And while this process has gotten easier each time, it is always annoying and despite its persistence, always surprising.

Today I started off strong with another good bank meeting. I thought it went well. Later on, I followed up with one of the banks I met with on Tuesday. Another meeting that I thought went well. Apparently, it didn’t go as well as I had thought. I got turned down. The banker was politely apologetic. *shrug* I assured her that I could handle the news and calmly left. I even took the business plan back. And I think I did handle it well. I didn’t panic. My mind wasn’t racing. I just started thinking about Plan B and Plan C. Plan B was an old Plan B and needed a little dusting off. Plan C was a new original. I carefully played each Plan out in my head and turned each one around, imagining each angle. No angle was necessarily bad and I could see some pros and cons. I was amused at my own neutrality.

A few hours later I get a phone call from one of WeatherVane Creamery’s fans: a friend of his was talking up WeatherVane to some state officials this week and they want to help me find resources for getting funding. Hmm, this could be a game changer. Plan D?

A few hours after that, I get an email from someone on my Advisory Team. They might have an investor for WeatherVane. Yet another twist. Plan E.

Sometimes my days look like this and it is because of this phenomenon that I came up with the name WeatherVane Creamery. See, sometimes the wind starts shifting direction and I have to listen to it, sniff around its edges, and ultimately follow its lead. I have learned to trust this process and it has treated me relatively well. I stay true to myself, no matter if it makes sense or not. I just go as the wind blows. And for the ability to do this with relative peace of mind, I am grateful.

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Day 12- River Falls

Posted on December 13, 2012 by admin

I first want to acknowledge that I am taking liberties with the whole Day 12 thing with it being past midnight. Listen, the day isn’t over until I fall asleep.

Ok, so back to it.

You knew that this was coming at some point, right? Today (and every day) I am grateful for River Falls. I am going to focus on the personal reasons tonight and will get back to the professional ones at some point in the near future.

I came to River Falls in the fall of 1996. Wow, I am old. I came here to go to college. I chose UW-River Falls because of two main reasons: 1.) It was sufficiently far enough from home and 2.) there was a much smaller chance of me partying (ie. dropping out) here than UW-Milwaukee. That was mostly it. And also for the Ag classes (that’s short for ‘agriculture’ for you city folk). When I visited the campus prior, nothing really stood out to me about the community other than it was small.

Once I found my way off campus, a whole other world emerged. Somehow, I found the Kinnickinnic River. Check this picture of what is affectionately known as “The Kinni” to most locals.

Look! A fly fisherman and some horseback riders on the Kinni along the trails in Glen Park.

Besides the hiking, fishing, and horseback riding that takes place on this intimate class A trout stream, I have also canoed, kayaked, and cooled off in the Kinni. This river weaves through town and ends up at Kinnickinnic State Park where it connects with the St Croix River.

Oh! The St Croix River. That is another thing I love about River Falls.

A hot air balloon on the St. Croix River

When I lived on the west side of town, I would ride my bike the 5 miles to the St Croix River and cool off. I also love lounging in my innertube (the black rubber kind) on the beach while the waves carry me away. Insert alcoholic beverage here!

I also love the downtown. Our movie theater shows first run movies (I see the Life of Pi is playing this weekend- what, no Hobbit?!) for $3 a ticket. That’s right- you heard me. $3

There are also many thrift stores in downtown if you are into that sort of thing. I, personally, have to be in a mood. But just know that if you are into that, it’s worth a trip.

The Kinni runs behind Main Street and you can take this bridge, which is behind the movie theater, and walk along Lake George and do some bird watching.

PS- That’s our City Hall in the background

How about drinking? There are enough bars in a 4 block radius to give you alcohol poisoning in short order. Take your pick. Just don’t pee in the streets because, not only will you get caught by the police, but you will also get your name in our local paper, the River Falls Journal (not that it ever stopped me). If you were wondering why the River Falls Journal has such a huge readership, it’s because we want to know who is peeing in our streets.

Lastly, I love the people and the talent here. I go to a boxing studio and get trained by a professional fighter, Boyd Davis, at Peek A Boo Boxing. Or I can go do some time at the downtown clay studio, Kinni Clayworks, for $10 per hour. Speaking of art, we have a TON of amazing talent. I don’t even know where to begin. Poets, ceramic, glass, and jewelry artists… musicians. You name it. Also, there are a lot of natural practitioners and even a holistic dentist. How about a nudist organic farm?

Yep, I wasn’t kidding about that.

It just doesn’t get better than that.

Trust me, I barely scratched the surface. I didn’t even get to all of the activity on the UW-River Falls campus or the summer music series in the park or the RF Chamber events. It is for all of these reasons that I zeroed in on River Falls like a bullseye when I thought about coming home. This is home to me. And that is why WeatherVane Creamery must be here, too.

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Day 11- The Simple Things

Posted on December 12, 2012 by admin

Today I am grateful for the simple things. And also the not so simple. Mostly I am grateful for the blessings that have come my way. Like at this very moment I am in a super comfortable king sized bed in the bed and breakfast that I have been living at since August. My spacious room has a bathroom, jacuzzi tub, microwave, fridge, tv, dvd player, office, and windows on three walls. Outside, I am surrounded by a winter woodlands. Deb, the owner of the Servant’s Quarters, went totally nuts with the Christmas decorations inside and out of the house. She is a sweet woman and everything about this place makes me feel loved. And when life is in transition and the future is uncertain, this feeling is very important. It feels like a hug just when I need it. Tonight there were even homemade Christmas cookies in the kitchen which I ate more than my share of.

I even am grateful for my rusty 98 Ford Escort. I didn’t know how much I cared for that car until I started looking at dealerships at new cars. All of a sudden, I appreciated so much about the one I had including how crappy it was. I love how it is so crappy that I don’t have to worry about a new stain or dent. How I could be the person last year that told that poor college girl that she hit the right car.

I am always grateful for good food. I was happy to come home tonight to some farm fresh eggs and enough fresh produce for a good salad. AND those Christmas cookies. I love that I can whip up entire meals out of seemingly nothing. And I am equally grateful for peanut butter and jelly which has been a staple in these lean times. Except I am not as lean as I used to be because of said sandwiches. And that is ok for now.

Or how about getting a fistful of romantic comedies at the library?

Or saving money when I am the most broke I have ever been in my whole life? Actually, I am almost the same broke as another pivotal year, 2004, only with less debt. So, I’ve moved up in the world. I have been wondering if this is the big eye opener. Like, this is what it is like to live life with less nights out and lattes. Except I could have been living this lifestyle for years and I’d have a fistful of money saved from it. Note to self: this is the lesson. Don’t let this one escape. Use this one.

Cribbage games.

Family holidays with lots of food.

People who believe in me.

Warm socks.

Strangers who recognize me.

Fresh cheese curds.

Fresh. CHEEEZE. CURDZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Yeah.

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Day 10- Banks And My Silent Partner

Posted on December 11, 2012 by admin

For the past three days I have been working diligently on updating the business plan. According to my horoscope a few weeks ago, it said something about good fortune but that I had to make sure I watched the details. Damn. I used to watch the details back in the early days of the business plan but now that it has been “done” for several months, it feels a little overwhelming to go back and tweek and scrutinize something that I spent a great deal of time and effort tweeking and scrutinizing in the past. The thing is, WeatherVane Creamery’s location changed and all of the construction and layout plans needed to be revised to fit the new- and I mean brand, spankin’ NEW- location at 709 N Main Street in River Falls.

For those of you who didn’t already know, until financing is fully secured for WeatherVane Creamery, I don’t get paid by WeatherVane Creamery. So right now I am working at Eddie Bauer at Woodbury Lakes during the holiday season and am doing a few (any!) odd jobs to get by. I am also blessed to have a two month house sitting job that affords me two glorious rent free months. Needless to say, I am very grateful for all monies coming in. I even paid some bills in advance to prepare for this time so I am not as stressed out as I could be over the matter.

So it is time to talk to banks already! I honestly feel guilty that I haven’t had any big conversations with banks so far. Don’t get me wrong, I have had little ones and maybe even some medium sized conversations, but not the big ones. Basically, before the Empowering Taste event, I had no business talking to any banks, so the little conversations had to do. All my fundraising sentiments have been about how difficult it is to get a bank loan, and I haven’t actually gone all the way and gotten completely shot down yet. Just a little shot down (as much as I allow myself get shot down) from a very potentially pivotal bank that shall remain nameless. I assured that banker that I would not waste his time and that I would come back later when I had his concerns addressed. It was good feedback. You know, the blunt kind. I am meeting with him for the first time in person on Thursday.

Besides my own personal situation and the need to produce for my current investors, now is the time to go to banks because it is the end of the year. I learned from the Pierce County Economic Development Corporation last year that they have annual lending goals. If, towards the end of the year, they aren’t close to spending their budgeted lending money, they are more likely to lend. So here it is December, and I am hoping to catch anyone in that situation. And if they already met their goal, why then we can just resubmit everything in January when there is a big surplus, right? We’ll see and I’ll let you know if my theory is right. I also have a few other tricks up my sleeve, too.

But basically, here I am in the 11th hour. I have two meetings with banks tomorrow and one on Thursday. My eyes are sleepy and the thought of writing a blog was daunting. The plan is updated except for a few financial details and a paragraph or two. Tomorrow morning I have to organize it all together and head over to Office Max to make some copies for my meetings. My first meeting is at 2pm. Wish me luck!

And here I am at the end of my blog. What am I grateful for, you ask? Well, I’ll tell you what. I am grateful for my deserving partner who is sitting across from me right now, Shawn. As I type this blog, he is reading and updating the business plan. This might not seem like a big deal but this is our third night working across from each other working independently on MY business plan. And right now he is losing his voice and suffering from what will probably turn out to be a major chest cold. Shawn has made it possible for me to make incredible headway on my business plan this week. Miracles have occurred as a result of his help. And what you don’t know is that he had to fight his way to help me. He kept asking me how he could support me and I kept having a bunch of hissy fits and meltdowns until I finally agreed to let him help me. I am sure that there are a few of you out there who can relate. I didn’t want to burden him or have the time we spent together be spent on my big project.

And another thing, Shawn also single-handedly organized two of his northern Minneapolis co-workers and one mutual friend of ours to help at the Empowering Taste event. One helper, David, and I had never met until that evening. They all even left work early and carpooled together. And everyone was exceptional and motivated.

Thank you, Shawn, for your commitment, dedication, patience, talent, partnership, and love. Thanks for being on this journey with me and doing all of the things that you do and putting up with all that you have to put up with.
Love,
Sarah

Here I am with Shawn at the MN Cheese Fest this last summer

Here I am with Shawn at the MN Cheese Fest this last summer

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