Knitting together a business

This year, the week after New Year’s, I did an exercise calledpositive focus.  I took about an hour to read through my notebooks and page through my planner and identify all the things that happened last year that were good and happy.  They could be big things or relatively small things, and they could be in any category - home, family, work, business, friends, community - whatever.  It was a powerful and wonderful experience to take stock of these accomplishments and happiness's.  We tend to focus on what we did wrong or what didn’t go as planned.  Our brains are just wired that way.  But by forcing myself to focus only on what was good or what went right, I was able to completely rewire my attitude and see things afresh.

The business gurus also recommended I do a 10-year plan.  I don’t have a crystal ball, but I can add.  In 10 years I will be 68 years old.  Wow - where does the time go? When I opened Crazy for Ewe, I was 41 and I remember talking with Kathy Mueller, my very first team member, and we agreed that we didn’t want Crazy for Ewe to be one of those yarn stores that opened because we learned to knit a garter stitch scarf in eyelash yarn five minutes ago.  We wanted it to be in it for the long haul.  And here we are. So, do I still want to be running a yarn store when I’m 68?  Hell yes. What we do here is important.  

On the surface we sell yarn, but that doesn’t begin to touch it.  We have had babies, raised families, and celebrated every imaginable milestone. We have dealt with divorce, coped with cancer, and buried loved ones. Every single conceivable emotion has been shared in our community, and it has been better for that sharing. We have faced down a quarantine, stood fast against a pandemic, and we have survived together. Apocalypse?  Bring it.  We got this.  

If I were in an MBA program, I’d have to translate these feelings into a fully fleshed out 10 year plan with a vision, a mission, and a series of value statements. I don’t know that I’m ready to roll that out just yet, but I can share one important value statement that I think you already know.  

You are always welcome here

It’s not a slogan.  It’s our primary value statement.  Whether you come to buy yarn, to share what’s weighing on your heart, or to get a little guidance, encouragement, and company – we’re glad to see you.  There is always a place at the table and room for your voice in the conversation.  We see you, we value you, and we welcome you.  

And we do. 

Warmly,

Ellen

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