The Business of Growing Up
I grew up in a soft pretzel factory. Crawling through a maze of cubicles as my personal playground, I was infused with the tastes of foodies and the wisdom of successful professionals.
Raised by two social entrepreneur parents, I was surrounded by sweet smells and creative ideas. Nurtured in a think-tank like environment, I learned many impactful lessons. One, never just eat anything cool you find in the fridge, because it could be a product for your dad’s sales pitch the next day. Two, keep moving forward. My creative mom and dad met 23 years ago; an artist and an actor joined together to start a pretzel business in a studio apartment with one credit card and zero seed money. They truly did the impossible. Over time they’ve faced many challenges, whether it’s a production disaster, a delivery debacle, or an employee mishap; they keep reaching for their dreams. My parent’s truly demonstrated the strength of resilience.
The third lesson is to take the road less traveled. I took my first business trip when I was a mere 2-month old, joining my parents for a trade show in California. From then on, I was paraded to countless meetings, QVC appearances, food expos, restaurants and interviews. The pretzels grew in popularity, and soon they were sold in grocery stores across America. I don’t know a single kid my age who was raised among pretzels, feeling as if I was always on the clock. In fact, I would never be the person I am today without fearless, motivated parents that were brave enough to take an unknown route.
The latest lesson I’ve learned is to be okay with failure. Over the years, I’ve seen my parents struggle so much, tackling the hardships of running a business and raising 3 children. I’ve observed them at their lowest, dealing with the challenges entrepreneurs face. It’s in these moments of struggle that they rise out of the ashes. Six years ago, my parents sold the Kim and Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels business. I felt as if I had lost a sibling; they always called it their “first child.” I remember tears streaming down my face as they told me that a chapter in my life was ending. Every positive memory of twisting pretzel dough at my birthday parties and waiting tables at their Pretzel Cafe came rushing back to me. They let go of one chapter, and moved on to the next. After successfully selling their pretzel business, they found a new passion, and gave birth to The Crave Bar.
This ice cream food truck goes to festivals, events, concerts, and street fairs. People discovered this decadent chocolate masterpiece with a chocolate-covered caramel pretzel stick, slick vanilla ice cream, and crushed pretzel chunks, balanced with a sprinkle of salt. The word Crave seems fitting because people keep coming, as I’ve seen in my time working the truck. The diversity of the customers has pushed me to connect with people of vibrant backgrounds. I love demonstrating my passion for the product, with pride for our family accomplishment.
My parents’ courage under pressure has cemented my own bravery for new endeavors. I’ve cultivated the guts to speak in front of hundreds of people through my community engagement and youth organizations. I desire to use my entrepreneurial spirit to impact people globally and it would be wonderful if I could give them all a Crave Bar.
