Hi LC. Thanks for your reply. Our bookstore was located in a conservative city in the ultra "progressive" SF Bay Area. It's quite challenging to run a family business, but it's infinitely rewarding when you start to see and enjoy the "fruits" of your labor (like motherhood!).
We sold our bookstore a few years ago - shortly after I left because I did not want to work with my mom anymore (which is also the reason why it took me so long to say yes to managing the store in the first place!). We both love books, have business degrees, and value philanthropy, but we have opposing personality types, mindsets, methods, work styles, etc.
I now realize that our "clashing" styles are what makes us a complete partnership that produces "good fruit" (disciples, profits, etc.). For example, when our first business intern "graduated" out of our internship program, he wrote in his exit evaluation that he learned so much about business and life in such a short time and that he enjoyed how it felt like "a family". My mom and I "shared" him as an intern. I managed him in the store for sales and marketing projects. She managed him from outside the store for technical and online projects.
My mom had been searching for a business that we could run together for years before we decided on a bookstore. The opportunity to buy her favorite small bookstore "suddenly" presented itself when the owner became terminally ill but didn't want to close the store. The sister of a college friend who I tutored in accounting was in a position to get our bank loan approved (miracle!).
第一个我雇了进来fter being rejected by other retail managers in the business park. She was too "bohemian" for them. I interviewed her on the spot and had a vision of her managing a successful open mic event. 3 months later, she organized a successful open mic event as her last summer project for us before starting college. She and all of her creative friends performed music, poetry, etc. Her conservative parents (dad's a priest!) came in to celebrate her "graduation" with us. She constantly brought her abused friends in to work or volunteer there...and be healed. She plans to be a nurse.
The second person I hired came in as an abused, fearful tutor in a wrong romantic relationship but was scared to leave her job and dump her boyfriend. While working for us, she graduated into leaving the tutoring job, dumping her stifling boyfriend, becoming my assistant manager, marrying her best friend (who had a secret crush on her for years!) and having a baby with him.
The 3rd person I hired came in with her mom whose dream was to own a bookstore. It wasn't her dream but she was scared to tell her pushy mom, so I "fired" her even though I loved her as an employee. Hopefully, she has "graduated" into being more assertive about pursuing her own path. On and on...
All of the staff members who completed their "internships" with us graduated into their higher callings: started as a thief but graduated into a philanthropist, started as an abused psychology major but graduated into teaching overseas, started out scared of management responsibility (like me!) but graduated into dreaming of owning businesses, etc.
My mom and I have both moved on to positions that require us to officially teach and counsel people as we learn our own lessons (e.g., how to work well with clashing personalities!) in order to permanently graduate away from each other. ;-) I left managing our store to manage a nonprofit that teaches business skills to various underserved groups, including at-risk youth and the homeless. Now I serve in churches (Bible studies, youth ministries, food programs, etc.). My mom helps philanthropic corporations by teaching them how to pass their audits.
Like you, I visit my local library every other day (after not visiting for years because of an overdue fine)...where my mom donated books and I donate wisdom. They collect and give away food and provide shelter for the homeless. Last year, they initiated a "fine forgiveness program" to encourage people who've been away for a long time to return. The journey continues...
It's not a coincidence that you have a dream to start a family bookstore. It's probably a stepping stone to positively impact many people's lives, including your children's. Where are you located? How is your area "limiting"? The "limitations" may be the obstacles to overcome for your growth and the key selling points that differentiate your business!
Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly. - Psalms 112:5
If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord — and He will repay you! - Proverbs 19:17
Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. - Psalms 37:25
We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. - Proverbs 16:9
"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11
A third time [Jesus] asked [Simon Peter], “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time.
He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep."
(John 21:17)
JESUS: “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. When you produce much fruit, you are My true disciples. This brings great glory to My Father. You didn’t choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using My name. This is My command: Love each other."
Jara (not verified)says...
Hi LC. Thanks for your reply. Our bookstore was located in a conservative city in the ultra "progressive" SF Bay Area. It's quite challenging to run a family business, but it's infinitely rewarding when you start to see and enjoy the "fruits" of your labor (like motherhood!).
We sold our bookstore a few years ago - shortly after I left because I did not want to work with my mom anymore (which is also the reason why it took me so long to say yes to managing the store in the first place!). We both love books, have business degrees, and value philanthropy, but we have opposing personality types, mindsets, methods, work styles, etc.
I now realize that our "clashing" styles are what makes us a complete partnership that produces "good fruit" (disciples, profits, etc.). For example, when our first business intern "graduated" out of our internship program, he wrote in his exit evaluation that he learned so much about business and life in such a short time and that he enjoyed how it felt like "a family". My mom and I "shared" him as an intern. I managed him in the store for sales and marketing projects. She managed him from outside the store for technical and online projects.
My mom had been searching for a business that we could run together for years before we decided on a bookstore. The opportunity to buy her favorite small bookstore "suddenly" presented itself when the owner became terminally ill but didn't want to close the store. The sister of a college friend who I tutored in accounting was in a position to get our bank loan approved (miracle!).
第一个我雇了进来fter being rejected by other retail managers in the business park. She was too "bohemian" for them. I interviewed her on the spot and had a vision of her managing a successful open mic event. 3 months later, she organized a successful open mic event as her last summer project for us before starting college. She and all of her creative friends performed music, poetry, etc. Her conservative parents (dad's a priest!) came in to celebrate her "graduation" with us. She constantly brought her abused friends in to work or volunteer there...and be healed. She plans to be a nurse.
The second person I hired came in as an abused, fearful tutor in a wrong romantic relationship but was scared to leave her job and dump her boyfriend. While working for us, she graduated into leaving the tutoring job, dumping her stifling boyfriend, becoming my assistant manager, marrying her best friend (who had a secret crush on her for years!) and having a baby with him.
The 3rd person I hired came in with her mom whose dream was to own a bookstore. It wasn't her dream but she was scared to tell her pushy mom, so I "fired" her even though I loved her as an employee. Hopefully, she has "graduated" into being more assertive about pursuing her own path. On and on...
All of the staff members who completed their "internships" with us graduated into their higher callings: started as a thief but graduated into a philanthropist, started as an abused psychology major but graduated into teaching overseas, started out scared of management responsibility (like me!) but graduated into dreaming of owning businesses, etc.
My mom and I have both moved on to positions that require us to officially teach and counsel people as we learn our own lessons (e.g., how to work well with clashing personalities!) in order to permanently graduate away from each other. ;-) I left managing our store to manage a nonprofit that teaches business skills to various underserved groups, including at-risk youth and the homeless. Now I serve in churches (Bible studies, youth ministries, food programs, etc.). My mom helps philanthropic corporations by teaching them how to pass their audits.
Like you, I visit my local library every other day (after not visiting for years because of an overdue fine)...where my mom donated books and I donate wisdom. They collect and give away food and provide shelter for the homeless. Last year, they initiated a "fine forgiveness program" to encourage people who've been away for a long time to return. The journey continues...
It's not a coincidence that you have a dream to start a family bookstore. It's probably a stepping stone to positively impact many people's lives, including your children's. Where are you located? How is your area "limiting"? The "limitations" may be the obstacles to overcome for your growth and the key selling points that differentiate your business!
Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly. - Psalms 112:5
If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord — and He will repay you!
- Proverbs 19:17
Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. - Psalms 37:25
We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. - Proverbs 16:9
"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11
A third time [Jesus] asked [Simon Peter], “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time.
He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep."
(John 21:17)
JESUS: “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. When you produce much fruit, you are My true disciples. This brings great glory to My Father. You didn’t choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using My name. This is My command: Love each other."
(John 15:5, 8-8, 16-17)