Listening
I've had four hours of sleep in the last two days. There has never been a moment when I was reminded of my age more than today as I tried to do the most on the least amount of sleep. I have a headache. I'm dehydrated. And, my right foot hurts from standing on my feet for 12 hours over the course of the last two days.
Me and my kid crew standing in line for Dance Theater of Harlem’s annual performance of Harlem Mouse/Country Mouse at the Apollo Theater.
Such are the breaks when you’re a 42-year old mother of three learning how to do a job your husband has done for the last eight years. I mentioned last week that I have taken over managing our front-of-house team at Sugar Hill Creamery. As a result, I now work shifts at the store so that I can train new hires and assess how everyone who has been working with us works with customers and their colleagues.
Last night, I worked an event we held called SHC After Dark. I've been wanting to do an adult-vibey party that we stream online at the Lenox store, inspired by INCredible Coffee Youtube channel that broadcasts different DJs spinning in a coffee shop located in Japan. I'm always thinking of ways to program our space and bring exposure to what we're doing for those who don't know who we are. Hosting a monthly DJ'd party at the store that streams on our YouTube channel feels like the perfect way to check off both boxes.
Frame from a video I took of last night’s party
We hosted the event with KaratNYC who had Jam Jar Wines sponsor with free glasses of sparkling wine that some used to top up their scoops. We moved some of the dining room tables to the sidewalk to make more room for guests. We opened up our big window so the sound could leave the store and meet people as they walked by. We lowered the lights a bit and Kai the Universe spun a three hour set that had me feeling like Sugar Hill Creamery on Lenox Ave could be the next Boiler Room. The party was a whole vibe. While everyone was having a great time, I didn't get to enjoy it as a guest because I was scooping, restocking, and cleaning.
Zadie and her bestie, who is also one of my bestie’s kids, this morning selling toys at our neighborhood’s annual Stoop Sale event. Think: Flea market hosted on people’s NYC stoops
As I was squeezing my way through customers to fulfill online orders with pints, I thought, "Wow, how did I become the woman who manages restaurants?" At the end of the night, one of our Scoopers asked me about my college degree. He's approaching high school graduation and isn't quite sure what his next academic step will be or what he'll focus on when he enrolls. I told him that I went to art school twice, which I think piqued his curiosity because he has an interest in the arts.
In our conversation, I shared that the purpose of college was to deepen an interest, make friends, and to just finish. For most, a college degree gives many more options than a high school diploma. I'd like to add here that this young person was accepted to both Bronx Science and Brooklyn Tech high schools. If you know the NYC specialized school scene, you know this is impressive. But even he, a very smart and capable student, feels unsure about what his next step will be. He's happy making the money that he's earning at the store and doing some DJing of his own at parties that he and his friend throw. DJing is not his lifelong career path, but it is the thing that brings him joy right now.
On our way to see Harlem Mouse/Country Mouse, the kids stopped to participate in the drum circle next to the Lenox Ave store.
As we know, not being sure of what path to pursue in the future isn’t limited to high schoolers. I met with another scooper last week about her career after she graduates from college. She, a first generation youngest daughter, shared that her mother had been encouraging her to pick a career in an industry that pays. She wasn't too keen on her daughter's interest in the arts; there's no clear pipeline for a good-paying job when you pursue the many professions that the field has to offer. And her mom isn't wrong. But as I told the scooper who's in college and the scooper who I worked with last night, when you're defining your next professional step, follow your interests and see where they take you. I know several successful artists working in different mediums who have built their careers on this very approach.
I ended up being the woman who manages restaurants (for the moment) because I followed my childhood interest of being an entrepreneur. My current reality is truly an unlikely outcome given my academic training, but it's arguably the profession I've had the most success in. I think it’s because I listened to myself instead of doubling down on the predictable path that my education would suggest.
Taking a step in a direction that is interesting to you is the first action you need to get to your next professional destination. You don't need to have all the answers for what you'll do or how it will work. You just need to listen to what your heart wants and find a way to tell it that you accept the challenge of the unknown.
With courage,
Petrushka
Your Local Ice Cream Lady & Life/Business Coach