Re-Fuel: A cafe devoted to supporting life & business.

The sun hasn't even begun to cast it's magical spell over the earth yet, and my toes are on the floor, ready to go. Why, because I am totally head over heels in love with my job.

My day begins in quiet solitude, the sun barely rising and the birds just beginning to sing. My world is wrapped in peace, nature & gentleness. I sit on my giant rock that faces south. As I close my eyes to begin meditating, I can feel the sun hitting my face. For me there is simply nothing more serene that a morning meditation with the sun warming my face, as I inhale each breathe.

I rise from my rock and walk back to the house. I take in every piece of the morning. I sit down to my desk and  take out my journal to write.

Today it's about how surreal it feels to be living my dream.

I'm awe struck every day, as I drive the hour and a half to my cozy cafe in downtown Portland. It's only 1600 square feet on the customer side, with a small conference room in the back. The conference room is about 300 square feet and it's used for teaching workshops, doing small seminars, and classes. It's used by us and our community. Women starting their own small yoga trainings, art classes, workshops on starting your own small business. You just have to sign on up, and the space is yours. FREE. It contributes to community. It allows folks to start a business, even if they don't have space.

As I enter my warm & cozy space, I am drawn to all the brightly colored eclectic art work hanging from every corner by many different local artists. Jewelry sitting in a handwoven basket on the counter where you check out. Another creative display of a local designer.

I drop my bags behind the counter and flick on the low ambient lights that are handmade blown glass in warm oranges and soft blues. Everything is personal, local, for sale supporting an artistic community.  I don't take commissions when any piece sells, because it's more about giving back to artists that provide beauty and wealth to our space. We take donations, we do fund raisers and offer coaching at affordable rates.

Our workshops are wildly loved by all. They offer the everyday person with no education and little to no money affordable solutions and strategies to building a better life. We coach them on small business solutions, finance, budgeting, resources, and just about anything else they may need. It's about building a community space that fuels everyone's dreams & goals at rates they can afford.

I start brewing the first pot of Jamaican me crazy, as two of my employees come through the door smiling and chatting away like old friends. We are all one big happy and helpful family. It's about service. What can we do for you?

I pour 3 cups of coffee bring them over to one of our rustic handmade tables, pull up a few up-cycled, super padded comfy chairs and we sit. We chat away about new courses, e-courses to add to our global website, webinars, and new grants that are available. It's an easy, relaxed and energizing feeling that my whole team brings to this unique coffee/resource center.

It's almost 6 a.m. The doors are opening for business. The home made pastries, muffins and fruit arrived a few moments before. Newspapers are just getting put outside the door on the side walk and we are ready to open.

My awesome co-workers go behind the counter and start taking orders and chatting with customers who are streaming in the door at a pretty steady flow. They talk about business, money, life, kids, families and fun activities that they are going to. It's like one big giant family all mixed into a unique cafe that's all about the people.

Another employee comes in but before she makes it to the counter, she is momentarily swished away by a customer who is wondering about our next Social Media Content Course. They chat and she kindly informs the women that the next one isn't for another month, but she would be happy to sit down with her and see what she needs. They set up a time and off the happy customer goes. Another customer wants to know about accounting for starting a business, she brings him over to a wall of pamphlets, information and a barrage of information. He's thanking and shaking her hand and continues to browse the info. content while sipping his cup of java.

She finishes walking across the rustic beat up wooden floors, smiling and chatting with customers as she gets to our huge wooden counters and greets us all with a jolly, "How many people can we help today?"

We linger at the counter talking and planning the days events. A workshop - So you think you want to start your own business. It starts right after lunch and it's already booked up. 22 folks stuffed in the conference room with paper & pencils and lots of questions. It's going to be a blast of energy!

The mornings are leisure, clients come, sit, chat about life & business & everything in between. My employees and I sit at the cafe bar, toss around ideas for upcoming workshops and courses. How we can better serve our clients and bring our message to more folks in the community and global. Because life doesn't stop at the county line.

We finish up an application for a grant to further our research and building better programs. All while sipping delicious coffees from around the world that are geared towards more money staying with the growers and taking out the middle men.

At the end of the day, usually around 6 I close up shop. My employees left an hour ago, as it started to slow down. I reflect on our workshop and it's huge success. Thinking how many awesome new businesses will be started because we help build confidence, give resources and they know through all of it, we are there!

We had a little workshop at 3 for keeping a simple budget, creating a grocery list, ways to save money and that was such a huge hit. I totally love seeing families put together the pieces and knowing that their lives are forever changed.

I do some last minute cleaning up, grab a bunch of paperwork off the desk, pick up my laptop and I'm out the door by 6:30.

I use my hour and a half drive home for reflection, recording things I don't want to forget to do and listening to audio tapes that re-enforce my mission and fuel my own energy.

Dinner is done when I get home, because not only do I have the perfect job, but the most amazing partner. He knows my long days do wear on me after a while and is always doing stuff to make sure I am staying healthy.

I'm blessed beyond words.

This is the power of journal writing. You can see, hear and feel your dreams. Those dreams fuel your personal power to keep going. To keep having faith when your exhausted and want to throw in the towel.

I'm doing a little 7 day challenge and this is Day 2. Journal Writing your ideal day if you owned your own company. Using prompts to get our minds jogged is a wonderful way to start to learn the power of writing. Writing for pleasure, to relieve stress, create plans and build big dreams.

If you are interested in learning & exploring the magic of Journal Writing, I am offering a 4 week course on just that!

Sign up below for updates as they blossom!
From my heart to YOURS,
Shel * Support Coaching

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