One Village Coffee has grown organically and it has always had an experimental factor to our development, but with out the team this would not be possible. The relationships and partnerships we develop along the way are the key factors to growth and sustainability. When looking at our relationships and our team it was clear certain people belonged in specific positions and I had to get out of the way. Any one on our team would tell you this is not an easy task for me to accomplish. I might have a bit of OCD or mania that provides my neurotic nature with just enough fuel to keep me “hands” on. However, any expert in the face of growth would tell you, “if someone can do it better than you than have them do the job.”
What was left providing me with a high level of anxiety, because without stuff to do, I needed to find new opportunities to build relationships in the coffee culture. The part left was the area most enter in first: Coffee Shops. Most people get into this business because of their passion for the brew, I entered this world because of my passion to create community and possibilities for new categories of business. Ways to build equity, while solving social issues like poverty in small villages around the world.
I believe in the power of groups of individuals and organizations working together to raise value in the exchange of goods and services while providing tools necessary for economic growth of human capital in overlooked and under resourced community’s like what I experience in Nigeria.
Long story short, I have contemplated firing myself for the past several months for the sake of the growth of OVC’s Mission. Recently, I had a conversation with a friend who is the President of a local insurance company in my town. He is in his early 30′s and has a lot of wisdom, his answer was simple after I asked him what he thought: “I do not think firing yourself is in the job description”.
Since then I have come to believe I have personal weaknesses in the area of competition, this was found out after a recent Volleyball match in my junior high gymnasium. I looked at pictures of my fellow classmates from over 15 years ago. In that moment, it seemed evident: I am one of those guys who has been given a lot and when my whole person is on the line. I tend to give up.
Addendum: Since stepping down from One Village Coffee I have found hope in the possibilities of a better future and this is why I started blogging again: to share those stories with you.
