Hurdles

It's funny how on my most exhausted weeks I show up here with something. Today, I feel like I have nothing for you. I'm tired but not physically wrung out like when I run a half marathon, take the kids to a birthday party, grocery shop for the week, prep for the work week ahead, and then write this email on the same day. Today, I'm tired, but I think it's more mental than anything.

This week handed me some curveballs.

Nick, Dom of Dom N’ the City, and I at Family Meal, an invite-only event organized by 8it for people who work in hospitality. Credit: 8it

It started with a slew of sick scoopers calling out because of nausea, headaches, and fevers. This resulted in staff scheduling musical chairs, which is like quickly solving a sudoku puzzle but with humans while you're driving.

We thought someone broke into our production space on Wednesday night and had to drive over at 10:30 PM, attempt to file a police report that never happened because they arrived 15 minutes after we gave up waiting for them…only to learn the next day that it was the fire department that pried open our door and left it completely ajar without notice because there was a water main issue on the top floors of the apartment building that the production space is located in.

We dropped two new flavors this week—the first, a complex and delicious plant-based flavor called Sage Advice, has been in the pipeline for a couple of months and is part of our Harlemites flavor series.

Photo of Tony Hillery, our featured Harlemite and the founder of Harlem Grown, a Harlem-based youth development organization that grows produce and our community's children through the work they do in the urban gardens they steward throughout Harlem. Every time Sage Advice is ordered, we will donate a portion of the sale to Harlem Grown. The flavor is only available July only!

The other flavor was one of the fastest collabs we've ever done—it’s a mamey-flavored ice cream that we made in collaboration with a YouTuber called the Fruit Hustler. Nick made a mamey custard and folded in a gluten-free oat crumble. People who love mamey fruit have been loving this flavor.

I just learned that Black Enterprise listed the store in their list of six Black-owned ice cream shops to visit this summer, and I gasped when I saw it. Side note: We don't have a PR agency, in case you're wondering why I'm often surprised by these listings. I've wanted to be on the cover of Black Enterprise since I was in elementary school, so seeing our brand under the masthead is one step closer to my 10-year old dream.

As I reflect on all the obstacles I've jumped over this week and how many times people have come up to me either in the store or in the street to say, "Congratulations on all your success," I'm reminded that success takes work and is work once you’ve achieved it…and it's not easy.

This is my thought for the week!

With every accomplishment, there is likely a curveball, and you have to take both in stride. Most people have no idea how hard Nick and I have worked to get here, and many may have given up or lost interest along the way. But when your vision is clear, the setbacks are only hurdles on the track. Yes, they take more effort to jump over, but your training (i.e., consistently showing up to imperfectly do the work) will get you over them and you will medal.

Here's to a smooth week ahead for us all.

Petrushka

Your Local Ice Cream Lady & Life/Business Coach