Return of the Blogger

So my last entry was July 2010, over a year ago, and while that hiatus may feel like abandonment, I am looking at it as more a hibernation, a time that was used to renew my energy and focus on why I am choose to write about this experience. This past Saturday I was lamenting that I "should" have started a journal from day one. Well, here i am almost 2,000 days into the journey, and as a wise person once said "start where you are at": December 3, 2011 Entry # 1 The Entrepreneurial Journey Day 1,975(approx.) In July 2006 I incorporated River Wave Foods. Driving to Schwabe, Williamson and Wyatt, my daughter Maya (then 10 yo) and I talked about what we should call this fledgling food company. Many names had been considered and then through the clamoring of endless possibilities River Wave Foods popped out and seemed so absolutely perfect, crazy that it was not more obvious. River Wave Foods, the translation of Kawanami , how could I have considered anything else?? It has been five years and slowly, River Wave Foods is growing. I wish that I had started to blog my experience from the beginning, documenting our growth and development as it happened. Now,it is all recollection and hind-site, seen through the lens of time and distance. But oh well here goes: Peggy at pasta GiGi mentioned our name to Heidi Hahn-Troxler who was organizing a December 3rd holiday bazaar to benefit Second Chance Companion, a non-profit organization that helps animals. It was to be held at Heidi’s house which is a replica of a Tuscan villa transported to the hills above Battle Ground Lake. Sometimes these events are a bust; low attendance, dismal sales, un-enthused interest in products. My attitude prior to these events is to adopt the Angeles Arriens “Four Fold Way”: o Show Up o Follow What Has Heart and Meaning o Speak Your Truth o Don’t Be Tied to Outcome This approach has been incredibly helpful in providing me with a mental framework to approach work,that for me is, unfamiliar, scary and at times overwhelming. Focusing on these four simple concepts allows me to move forward through the darkness. The other vendors at Heidi’s home were great. And many times that is what makes these events worthwhile. We were positioned in the kitchen next to Georgene and Kathy from Pampered Chef, great women who are interested in food and providing others with information and products to simplify and better life. The crowd was small but engaged. There was an awesome jewelry vendor, Giotti’s Restaurant , a Scentsey rep and a handful of local craft vendors. The PC ladies and I spoke about a collaboration: PC parties with food demonstrations. I think this is a fabulous idea. Anyway, it is those unexpected encounters that really provide the motivation and the energy to continue plugging away at a business that can feel like it is treading water waiting to expire. People sampled our products and bought, mostly other vendors but the response was great, enthused and interested. It was a worthwhile cause and I had the opportunity to meet some nice people in a beautiful setting. End of entry #1,