Small Business, Big Win
The taste of dark chocolate from our truffle table favors lingered in my mouth. The roar of applause and sounds of clicking cameras were in my ear. The flashing lights and 100 people staring at me were in clear sight. The fragrant pikake lei around my neck and fragrance from the other award winners' lei hung in the room. A hand on my back and the weight of the award in my hands were felt..but all of it was still a blur. What overpowered it all was the anxious sound of my heart beating in my chest + the feeling of absolute peace, knowing God orchestrated it all.
This past week was a whirlwind of so many holidays, many chocolates to make, orders going out the door, questions on the phone, walk in after walk in at the shop, events, running into chocolate friends, and three awards presented by the City & County at Honolulu Hale, by the State at the Capitol, and by the SBA at the YWCA.
In addition to Children’s Day, Teacher Appreciation Week, and Mother’s Day, it was National Small Business Week and across the US, the SBA was celebrating. I know the SBA (Small Business Administration) very well because they support our business as well as other organizations we we love like the SBDC (Small Business Development Center) and YWCA Patsy Mink Center for Business and Leadership. To those who don’t know SBA, it’s the federal organization that gave out all of the PPP money and loans across the country in the pandemic!
Every year, the SBA recognizes small businesses across the nation and this year, we were honored to be nominated by our banker, Stacey Suzui of Central Pacific Bank & recognized as the 2022 Small Business Person of the Year for the City and County of Honolulu!
This award recognizes one person, but I am just one person representing many people who made this possible. I'd like to take this time to thank God, my family, friends, chocolate family past & present, our chocolate partners, suppliers, advisors, prayer warriors, you, our chocolate friends, my nominator, our bank, our community, the SBA, and the countless others who have been a part of this 10-year journey!
In small business, everything feels big!
Small business decisions have a big impact on the team & their families.
Small interactions with the team are a big part of company culture.
Small chances can create big opportunities.
Small costs and supply challenges feel big.
Small products are made with big hearts.
Small business success can lead to big community pride.Small connections often lead to big friendships.
Often times, we may feel too small, but this week reminded me that small as we may be, or even at times how small of a person we can feel from years of others telling me, “You can’t do that. No one cares. That’s not a good idea,” among other things, there is something bigger that tells me to "Have faith” And a big God with a big purpose for each of us. To me, this recognition felt like a success. Not because of any fame or fortune that came with it, but because of the significance we have made through chocolates in connecting with others, sweetening relationships, and bringing peace to our world, one chocolate at a time. Let's celebrate all of the small businesses that stay in it because they know collectively, we are making a big difference. Let’s celebrate the small start-up pop ups whose products put a big smile on others’ faces. Let’s celebrate the small act of kindness that makes a big change in another person’s day. Let’s celebrate the person who may may need to read this. Who is sometimes made to feel small by others. Forward this to them and remind them, they too, are BIG in the eyes of our creator.
Thought
“To the world you may one person, but to one person, you may be the world.”
Tip
From our book, and chapter #9 on Seasons: From the Lesson Learned: “You are not defined by a score, letters behind your name, (or even a title or award). Though you may earn it, you still need to decide what you will do and who you will be with it."
Routine
From our book, chapter #25, routine #5, on Celebrate: "Find little reasons to celebrate throughout the week, for every week we get to live this life."
Scripture
“The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.” -Psalm 118:24
A big thank you to Tory Burch and the Honolulu team, for making this small town girl feel big in this runway dress and styled head to toe!
Manoa Shop Open Tuesday & Saturday, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Small snack for you and a loved one? Come on in!
Big gift purchase for everyone you know? Come on in!
Shop Online Anytime!
Small party? Shop online anytime.
Big party? Email (yourchocolatefamily@chocolea.com) or call us (808.371.2234) to place an order of $500 or more or if the quantity of what you are looking for is not available online.
Shop online and pick up any of the available days in the next week:
Tuesday 10:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday 3:00 - 5:00pm
Thursday 3:00 - 5:00pm
Friday 3:00 - 5:00pm
Saturday 10:00am - 5:00pm
Chocolate Partners & Friends
Thank you for choosing our small gifts that added up big time at our pop up downtown friends! We’re so grateful you came to visit!
Thank you to our chocolate partner, Central Pacific Bank, who makes small businesses feel big!
And thank you to a chocolate friend, Reimy, who thought her small gesture to volunteer and help us last minute with our pop up was a big deal for us as we tried to figure out how to be in two places at once!
Celebrate Each Other
A big thank you again to the Small Business Administration, and our nominator, from CPB, Stacey Suzui, for this big moment. To all of my fellow winners, I hope you felt celebrated and felt big this week! It was an incredible experience to have small business owners from the different islands together as we embraced and knew that in our small day to day work, people don’t often see the big sacrifices and heart that goes into it. We know that small, is also big!”
A BIG Thank You!
Last, but not least, a big thank you to my small team for their big work ethic and commitment to Choco le`a! Thank you to all of you, for the small talk sharing us with others which helps us feel big out in the community. And thank you to my family with small ones, who make me feel like my recognition as wife and mom, an every day big win!