What a journey! The dream to open a coffeehouse remains, but the path has taken some turns that I am really excited about. Along the way music has become a central theme in my life. Music is intrinsically such an important and invaluable part of life. It can be therapeutic and cathartic, shared or enjoyed …
My Java Journal has been updated. Head on over and have a look. It was a March goal to have it updated, and part of recognizing the one year anniversary of my blog. It started as a coffee blog as I worked towards opening my own coffeehouse. Along the way my journey has become more …
In less than three weeks I will leap. I have leapt before; but this is a big one. I will retire from the military and recreate myself as an entrepreneur. My Java Journal has chronicled my journey thus far. It will begin to adapt to prepare for this new, this life-altering, leap. In the coming …
“Leap, and the net will appear” – John Burroughs Read More »
Continuing on with Vancouver, it had a bohemian feel to it. In 1992 when I arrived, the Grunge scene was coming into its own. Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Mother Love Bone, Soundgarden, all this great music and no Internet to distract. The winter months in Vancouver were wet, dreary, and overcast. The perfect setting for coffeehouses …
In the military, coffee is one of those commodities that can raise spirits immediately. At times it can be the only tangible manifestation of comfort in otherwise cold and dreary circumstances. Rations can often be eaten cold and the chill that sets never quite leaves the bones and joints. With long periods of standing and …
Starting your own business isn’t just a job – it’s a way of life. – Richard Branson So, I was going to post the first intimate story introducing the details of that first Jagged Peaks business plan; I thought it maybe best to instead begin from where I am now – for context. Usually the …
I can’t say that entrepreneurialism is in my blood or that growing up I ever aspired to this path in life. In fact I can say that I probably never even considered it. So where did this idea, this dream come from? The answer: North Carolina. Now I’ve been in many a coffeehouse over the …
The Craft story-line will be a more visual thread to share what I learn as I develop as a barista. It will showcase my developing skills in the barista art. I have invested in a remarkable espresso machine and grinder; a beautiful setup to assist in my education. I have only attended one class to …
With the Business thread you will learn that the first Business Plan for my coffeehouse was drawn up in 2005. More a sketch than a full picture, but conceptually that first draft is still reflected in, and influences the work I do now. Under the working name Jagged Peaks it was a design that focused …
This Dream of mine, to open a coffeehouse, goes back some 14 years now. It is the result of several convergent factors and it has stood the test of time. Truthfully, it likely goes back even further than that but the epiphany, that moment where I thought I need to open a coffeehouse, was about …
