I Don't Know Where I'm Headed, But I Promise It Won't Be Boring

Your heart will always tell you when it’s time to start a new chapter in your life. Trust your heart.

Turning the page onto 2023 is bittersweet for me. I'm ending a five+ year run of starting and managing Pat's Granola. 2022 was a tough year for small businesses like Pat's. And despite getting good media coverage and invitations to collaborate/partner, it wasn't enough to sustain the brand.

Looking back over this time, I reflect on what this has meant to me. The experience has opened my eyes and enlightened my perspective as to what true business ownership is. Its not glamorous (well, being on television was exhilarating) and quite frankly doing or thinking about the business is 24/7.

However, business ownership has shown me what a community of strangers who became friends is. Time after time, I've been reminded of the goodness of people and their willingness to help. And I've witnessed up close and personal just how far people stretch themselves to keep their dreams alive. 

This isn't my swan song...far from that. I've been able to create a business that provided numerous opportunities for me to see and be seen. When someone tells me that I've been a bright light, a creator with the biggest heart, an inspiration, a tireless advocate for small business and a mentor/teacher, I receive these messages and simply bow my head in humbleness.

As a "late stage" or "encore" entrepreneur, I've had the chance to create something from scratch, at a time when retirement age loomed. Funny, I rarely considered that age would be a factor in starting this business. In fact, it was a plus and also a frequent topic of conversation when I did presentations to people who were considering starting or growing their business. Being older, you draw on a lifetime of acquired wisdom and experience. The trick is to combine that with a youthful openness to continued learning and change.

Thanks to each and every person who came along and supported me in this extraordinary journey. I couldn't have done ANY of this without you!

If any of my journey inspired others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, I am truly grateful.

Love and joy,

Pat