“If the only prayer you ever say is thank you, then that will be enough.” – Elie Wiesel
Being an entrepreneur is not for everyone. It’s for those with a very deep well of what we call “knowing.” Knowing that you will grow…but not before you’ve worn every hat, from chief cook to bottle washer, and every hat is well worn, indeed. Knowing that your deep well of passion for service and love of sharing something that brings joy and good quality to another human soul is an endless reservoir. Knowing that, as we say in our Jewish tradition, what comes from the heart, enters the heart.
Others may want us to fit a mold. But we entrepreneurial types are more inclined to break one. We hold a vision and it’s one that cannot be seen through words – only action – only by showing up with that vision an active work in progress, ever evolving into a reality for another to experience. So we go through trial and error. We figure out what brings light to eyes as they taste a bite or what prompts a person to open their hearts and share wonderful feedback, powerful stories of their own and more. And, of course, we learn how to embrace our challenges and to overcome them. Plainly, if it weren’t for all the loving support at every turn, overcoming challenges would not be so easily embraced by any entrepreneur, especially that unique breed that appears at local farmer’s markets. For all who come out to support each and every business at any such marketplace, know that your activity, large or small, is meaningful in more ways than one, to every entrepreneur.
So far, along our journey, we ladies have had the most beautiful and sometimes unexpected support. While we’ve weathered bitter cold, melt-worthy heat waves, heavy downpours and thunderstorms out on the field of the Richland Park Farmer’s Market, as we continue making our way through the first six months of our new “popup bakery” booth there each Saturday (and missing out on our Shabbat to do so!), we’ve had warm hearts spontaneously volunteer to help set up or take down. The women who “run the show” there became superheroes one morning, in particular. We had been baking until the wee hours and didn’t hear our alarm go off…it was 8:46 and we should have set up at 8:00 (market opens at 9:00). One phone call and they went into action, meeting us at the curb, carrying our gear and helping us to set up in record time. We could have lost an entire week’s worth of earnings but these women never gave that an ounce of possibility! And, once, when we were rained out, we received a call from a customer asking to buy up, literally, everything that did not sell. We’ve also received the most unexpected text messages filled with love and praise for the experience shared in our booth. And, more often than not these days, we’ve witnessed customers bring friends, family and associates over to experience our baked goods for themselves.
Most recently, we were asked to participate in a new farmer’s market at Delvin Farms, across from Arrington Vineyards. This new market is qualitatively unique. It reminds us of our hometown area of the Monterey peninsula. The pace is more gentle. The people have more time. And the number of locals texting others in their community, in order to share their support, is remarkable! One customer even took the pasta she bought from us and made for her family, over to her next door neighbor to try! The sense of community – close knit, small town feeling community – at Delvin Farms’ new Arrington Farmer’s Market is beyond palpable. Just one example from yesterday, when we received the following text, “Hi! This is Anie – one of the girls in the dresses from the market! I just wanted to let y’all know that we already broke into our goodies <3 <3 They are divine! Also, y’all are sooo kind. That’s rare to find in people these days! I wish you a very happy Shabbat this week!”
We share all of the above so that…when you hear us express our gratitude for all of your generous support…you know how much it means to us and how much it inspires us when we are up at 2 a.m. and packaging each product like a special gift…or scrubbing baking pans after many hours of work. Each time a new memory is created by someone in community sharing their heart in response to the secret ingredient of our endeavor, we have yet one more smile…one more inspiration to keep growing…one more blessing for which to express our gratitude.
Thank you.
With blessings and gratitude,
Aliza Wiseman / “Birdie” and Sterling G. Wiseman
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