I once read an article that compared starting a new business to having a baby. Opening Nibbles’ really did parallel my first pregnancy. We tried for 4 long years to get pregnant and had just about given up when I finally became pregnant with my daughter, Sammi. Nibbles was in the planning stages for about 4 years including much research, meetings with designers, feasibility studies and then the search for the right location. Once the lease was signed – 9 very long months of filing for permits, dealing with utility issues, bank loans and then finally, the build-out. Those last couple of weeks were very similar to that feeling of just wanting to get that baby out. And once you finally deliver the baby, reality hits – the pregnancy is over but the real work is just beginning and you realize that this is a very long-term commitment. According to the article I read, a business and child go through similar stages, starting in infancy through the teen years. If you’ve done your job right, they both will become independent and you learn to let go, sending them out on their own.
Nibbles is just becoming a toddler – developing a personality of it’s own. I thought Nibbles’ was going to be a play center that had good food and a comfortable setting for adults. I think Nibbles’ wants to be more of a cafe with good food and coffee, that happens to have some play areas for young children. My staff and I are taking a look at this and trying to accept this difference. (Much like I needed to learn that my little sweet baby girl had a very strong personlity and was not quite the baby I imagined while I was pregnant – once you have kids, you find out they are so much more than you could have ever dreamed!) I hope Nibbles’ will be a place where families can come hang out with their kids and feel comfortable. And I need Nibbles’ to survive financially. We want our guests feedback and ideas – it takes a village to raise a child, and it will take our “village” to help Nibbles’ grow. Ple ase send me all of your thoughts here and I will keep telling stories about how Nibbles’ is developing!”
Kathleen
