A few nights ago, I found myself making my twentieth lap around the cul-de-sac I live on, engrossed in an hour long phone call with a friend. Not only was the conversation rich, but the air was pleasantly cool and damp. Thankfully the mosquitoes had received the memo to leave me alone allowing me to be exceptionally invested in the conversation. On the twenty-first lap, he asked a question that caused a revelation.
"So Three Tree has been open for 5 years. How does it feel?"
"This one feels different," I told him.
"How so?"
"...I am not sure," I admitted.
Trying to extract more, my friend prodded further. "What do you think about when you think of Three Tree being open for 5 years?"
My wife and I actually started roasting coffee 6.5 years ago at our home. Three Tree Coffee had such humble beginnings that we often simply refer to the coffee shop's opening day as our anniversary, hence us celebrating 5 years this past weekend. Though the exact starting date of our business is vague, the mission is not. Three Tree Coffee began with a clear and direct purpose: to empower commodity farmers, end human trafficking and engage our community. This mission was to be the pulse of our work, the true north with coffee as its medium.
I am genuinely proud of the way we have carried out that mission. We still have room to improve, however, there were some very difficult decisions over the past 5 years that burdened the bottom line while fueling our mission. I can confidently say we are engaged in the humanitarian purpose of the business.
And yet, with the mission being so central to Three Tree's existence, I am surprised that it did not come to mind when my friend asked about 5 years, or at least not initially. What flooded my mind when my friend asked the question were memories of my employees over the years. Treasured moments of my life, such as:
- Attending numerous weddings where my friends took bold steps of commitment.
- Celebrating new life with staff who had children.
- Hugging employees who had suffered incredible loss.
- Coming up with ideas for a Saturday brunch.
- Intentionally drinking terrible shots of espresso with new hires.
- Gathering for employee dinners regularly.
- Traveling to latte art competitions.
- Discussing countless topics with many interns in the early mornings.
- Coordinating fun events, especially the murder mystery.
- Naming inanimate objects (our crew goes a little overboard).
- Meeting The Front Porch staff for the first time and seeing how much they care for each other.
- Brainstorming innovative ways to give our community something to look forward to during a pandemic.
- Witnessing my employees interact with my children.
- Dreaming with those in Three Tree who aspire to be entrepreneurs.
- Watching many of our staff leave to find their own purpose and accomplish their own missions.
Employees are typically seen as a means to an end. A business needs labor to accomplish its goals, whether money-oriented or mission-oriented. But little did I know that the most profound impact Three Tree would have is towards those apart of it, including myself. The culture we foster within has become just as integral to our purpose as the mission we are accomplishing outside our walls.
To those reading this who have been a part of the journey, this one's for you. I prayed for every single one of you by name today (it honestly took longer than I thought it would, but that's ok). I took time to remember you and the impact you had on this business and my family. And I celebrated the way this business has had an impact on you.
I am really looking forward to these next 5 years.
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