Ahem...tap tap...is this thing on? Anybody out there? If you've found me, lovely reader, then welcome to the start of this thing I might describe as Living My Dream.
My, that sounds serious...and completely ridiculous at the same time. It seemed absolutely necessary to type it in capital letters. Living My Dream. That thing, that crazy thing, that we've all been taught to strive for. You hear it all your life...follow your dreams...do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life...on and on in a constant stream of Facebook schlock. Is THAT what I'm going to do now? Suddenly I'm going to be THAT person, skipping through a field of daisies, actually Living My Dream?
Let me explain what the heck I'm talking about here:
April 12 was a gorgeous day here in Salem, Oregon. It was unseasonably warm: so nice, that Aaron and I decided to spread a blanket out in the very damp yard and pretend it was summer. His mother, Jan Irene, came out with a bottle of chilled wine and sliced strawberries for the glasses. I smiled up at the sun on my face, through closed eyes. Next to me on the blanket, Lady purred comfortably. And then, Jan Irene said, “Did you hear the kitchen store is for sale?” She had received an email with the details. The owners had been in business there for 34 years and wanted to retire. It was a store combined with a COOKING SCHOOL. They were looking for someone with “an entrepreneurial spirit and an interest in cooking and quality kitchen products”. (Hmmmm does that sound like anyone we know?)
It sounded perfect. Too good to be true. What I had always wanted, always dreamed of owning. I called the broker on Monday and set up a meeting.
Very quickly my life turned to meetings. I was racing around town on lunch breaks, before and after work, trying not to give my current boss a clue that I was planning a change of career. I met with the broker Gary, the current owners Carl and Jo, a CPA named Kyle. I compiled huge lists of questions, everything I could possibly think of about the business and what it would mean for my life if I became the new owner. I dreamed of what I would do when that business was mine; I wondered how on earth I could ever get the money.
And then, on May 1 at about 6pm, I made an offer to buy a kitchen store. And on May 1 at about 7pm, my offer was accepted. I have the message with the good news saved on my phone. Next time you see me, let me know and I'll play it for you. I cried, hugged Aaron, and took a couple of deep breaths. Dream time.
The blog, as you can see, is called Raising Dough. I plan to share every aspect of my journey into small business ownership, along with a good helping of cooking and baking along the way.
I hope you'll enjoy learning, planning, struggling, and dreaming along with me.
Exciting times ahead! I had better get busy...
Love to you all. Amy
My, that sounds serious...and completely ridiculous at the same time. It seemed absolutely necessary to type it in capital letters. Living My Dream. That thing, that crazy thing, that we've all been taught to strive for. You hear it all your life...follow your dreams...do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life...on and on in a constant stream of Facebook schlock. Is THAT what I'm going to do now? Suddenly I'm going to be THAT person, skipping through a field of daisies, actually Living My Dream?
Let me explain what the heck I'm talking about here:
April 12 was a gorgeous day here in Salem, Oregon. It was unseasonably warm: so nice, that Aaron and I decided to spread a blanket out in the very damp yard and pretend it was summer. His mother, Jan Irene, came out with a bottle of chilled wine and sliced strawberries for the glasses. I smiled up at the sun on my face, through closed eyes. Next to me on the blanket, Lady purred comfortably. And then, Jan Irene said, “Did you hear the kitchen store is for sale?” She had received an email with the details. The owners had been in business there for 34 years and wanted to retire. It was a store combined with a COOKING SCHOOL. They were looking for someone with “an entrepreneurial spirit and an interest in cooking and quality kitchen products”. (Hmmmm does that sound like anyone we know?)
It sounded perfect. Too good to be true. What I had always wanted, always dreamed of owning. I called the broker on Monday and set up a meeting.
Very quickly my life turned to meetings. I was racing around town on lunch breaks, before and after work, trying not to give my current boss a clue that I was planning a change of career. I met with the broker Gary, the current owners Carl and Jo, a CPA named Kyle. I compiled huge lists of questions, everything I could possibly think of about the business and what it would mean for my life if I became the new owner. I dreamed of what I would do when that business was mine; I wondered how on earth I could ever get the money.
And then, on May 1 at about 6pm, I made an offer to buy a kitchen store. And on May 1 at about 7pm, my offer was accepted. I have the message with the good news saved on my phone. Next time you see me, let me know and I'll play it for you. I cried, hugged Aaron, and took a couple of deep breaths. Dream time.
The blog, as you can see, is called Raising Dough. I plan to share every aspect of my journey into small business ownership, along with a good helping of cooking and baking along the way.
I hope you'll enjoy learning, planning, struggling, and dreaming along with me.
Exciting times ahead! I had better get busy...
Love to you all. Amy