For as long as I can remember, I've had an entrepreneurial spirit. But looking back, I realize it was never just about making money. It was about creating something, serving others, building relationships, and being part of something bigger than myself.
I think I was around 12 years old when I started my very first little business venture. I would head out, pick berries, package them into different-sized containers, and walk around the local campground selling them. It wasn't anything fancy. No business plan, no marketing strategy, no fancy equipment. Just a kid with an idea, a willingness to work hard, and the courage to go knock on a few doors/ campsite with no fear to start a conversation or take a no.
But looking back, that little experience taught me something I've carried throughout my entire life: Business is about people, being fearless, and putting in the work. Over the years, my entrepreneurial journey has taken me in all kinds of directions. From compost and topsoil to hay delivery, labor services, running a pet food delivery franchise, writing a book and now building Sparked Promotions. Different businesses. Different industries. Different challenges. But through every single one of them, a few things have remained constant: my belief in service, community, relationships, and genuine human connection all with the willingness to take a few risks and try some crazy ideas.
I've always believed that the greatest businesses aren't necessarily the ones making the most money or being the biggest and flashiest. They're the ones making a meaningful difference in the lives of the people around them, giving experiences and value to each of their customers and always remembering where they started.
And that's why I'm so passionate about locally owned small businesses and entrepreneurship. When you walk into a locally owned business, you're often walking into someone's dream. You're supporting a family, someone's years of hard work, countless sacrifices, and an individual who had the courage to take an idea and turn it into something real. You're supporting and proving to someone who spent days, if not weeks, or years fighting the fear and every day opening their doors and answering their phones.
Here's something I believe we don't talk about nearly enough. Small businesses are stronger when they work together. Recently I have had the pleasure of connecting with groups such as BNI and a few other business communities because of how strongly I believe in businesses coming together and working with each other. Imagine what happens when local entrepreneurs stop looking at every other business as competition and start looking at one another as potential partners, supporters, and community builders.
We begin referring customers to one another. We share opportunities, knowledge, resources, and experiences. We celebrate each other's successes. We help one another navigate the difficult seasons. We create connections that extend far beyond a single transaction. And when those relationships grow, something incredible happens. We're no longer just building individual businesses. We're building a stronger local economy, a more connected community, and opportunities for everyone to succeed.
That's one of the many massive parts of why I created Sparked Promotions. I wanted to build something that reflected the values I've carried with me since I was that young kid selling berries. Something that brings local businesses together, encourages people to discover what's available in their own backyard, and creates opportunities to give back to the community that supports us.
In my opinion, I genuinely believe marketing should be about more than advertisements, clicks, and impressions. More than plastering your name on bus or tv screen. It should be about conversations. Relationships. Trust. Getting out into our communities, shaking hands, sharing stories, and creating meaningful connections. It should be about seeing your product and name in the hands of your potential customers or creating curiosity.
And when we build businesses with service, integrity, and community at the heart of what we do, the impact can reach far beyond anything we could accomplish alone. At the end of the day, I don't just want to build a successful business. I want to help build a community where more local businesses have the opportunity to become successful together. And if I can play even a small part in making that happen, that's something worth getting up every morning and working toward.