Risk. It's in everything we do. I've spoken to customers over the last few weeks and I've been gauging their opinions on all the economical turbulence being felt in the world. Many mention that this is what happens when companies and individuals decide to be risky. Some stated the irresponsibility of businesses to ignore potential disastrous consequences of their actions.
I often get asked why my wife and i took the risk we did. But i wonder how much risk I left behind. It just depends how you look at it: if I never moved from London and stayed at my job I could have risked my life dream of travelling the world, I could have risked becoming demotivated and losing a sense of worth. I could of risked everything by doing nothing.
We take a risk in every decision in life: the subjects we take at school, first job, the school to send your kids to, next career move, whether to buy a house and where. And so on. It's all around us and yet we perceive these as part of the crossroads life throws down. No choice but to make a decision..
I think risk is often a precursor to change and I think that is the biggest problem have with it.
There was an enormous amount of risk involved in creating cafe haven - most small businesses generally are doomed to failure, so what makes us so sure we won't be next? Nothing. There's no guarantees, nothing to fall back on, no one to bail us out. But this perceived uncertainty also provides us with a huge advantage: to gain easy entry into a market and do things no one else is doing. To be the first in the area to be creating high-end coffee, to be the first true modern day independent cafe in the Park with alternative food & drink and provide it in an ecletic setting, offering genuine character.
Cafe haven is a success. Not financially (yet), but in what we set out to achieve.
Taking risk means you're not part of the crowd but that you want to create/ control your life, change it and improve it. Doing nothing can carry more risks....reacting to situations you are not in control of - that's risky!
3 comments:
I just happened to stumble upon your website today, I was looking for the hours your cafe was open. I find it funny that this is what your blog is about this time cause as a person who enjoys coming to your cafe I often wonder how things are going. I think your cafe offers something that's unique and wonderful. I enjoy taking new people the to see there faces on their first experience cause I know my was one of happiness. ha! I think you guy will have no problem keeping your business up. If you go under I think it would only show that people in the area have no clue what GREAT coffee is, or aren't curious enough to find out. I wish you both the best,and I hope your around to have coffee with for many years to come. Cheers!
Thanks Venee!
The blog is very much about the current issues being thrown around in my mind. I don't want to bore people with a sales pitch so I decided a blog that offers customers of the cafe to understand our everyday challenges might be more interesting.
Rest assured, the cafe is doing well and we shall be expanding the kitchen in April plus we have a 2nd location opportunity with a fantastic gym/spa happening soon. Of course, all this means more money, more work and more risk!
But that risk is something I view as an opportunity especially when I have customers like you doing a fantastic service for me by showing the cafe to new faces.
Thank you so much! Have a great Christmas and wonderful new year!!
Michael
Hey Michael, I enjoyed your posting on risk. A good one for this time of year when people consider new dreams and plans for the new year, this time of economic upsidedown-ness in our world.....
As for me and my household, we're glad YOU and JULIE took the risk!
See you soon!
Post a Comment