As I grew up, I have never, ever, ever said, “I want to be a barista when I’m big.”  I went to school for a few different things, worked a few odd jobs, learned how TO manage a team (shout out to the one and only Larry Buffington), and definitely how NOT to lead a team (I’ll spare the innocence of the world’s worst boss awards.)

The way this little shack fell into my lap was nothing short of a miracle. The team that came with it floors me every single day.  They don’t complain. They work hard. They roll with the punches. They let me rearrange the cups and gently remind me I promised I wasn’t going to do that again. They tell me when my ideas are terrible and they test out ideas we think might work. They sub in just because their pal needed some coverage. We’ve grown to a little  family and I can tell you 100 percent that I truly love the people on the team.

But I’ve grown to love you guys too. Your smiling faces. Your generosity. Your pets. Your flowers, bakery, and garden veggies. The banter. Knowing your “usuals.” Bouncing ideas off of regulars. The feedback, but even more so, the encouragement. I’ve cried with some of you, I’ve gotten to pray for some of you, and lord knows I’ve said an abundance of things that I “didn’t mean that way…” and then we laughed until we cried. You’ve watched us melt with heat, and scream and flail as wasps come blazing in. You try our ideas. You’ve made fundraising a breeze and we’ve already changed our community. Together.

And over time, while not changing much, you’ve let me make the business “mine”- as I’ve added things that mean a lot to me: the loyalty program, coffee that gives back, spiced chai, cold brew, and Lotus. Really, though, Coffee Cabin belongs to all of us.

I look back at all these very first three months have taught me, and I can say two things for sure:

1. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my tiny team. Thank you Amanda, Karissa, Rebekah, Jessica, Alyssa, Tyler, and Hannah.
2. I’ve always wanted to be a barista when I grew up. I just didn’t know it yet.