08/02/2024
Absolutely petrified. That’s how I felt when I thought I’d have to run the restaurant completely alone. The fear was so overwhelming, I almost gave up. But my love for my customers and employees kept me from throwing in the towel. I was convinced I would fail, embarrass myself, and have to close down. I did not want to let anyone down. I don't think people realize that I've worked for free for three years. I am truly just doing this for my customers and my employees and the thought of letting people down made me sick to my stomach.
When I went to Bolivia, I figured I would prepare for the worst. I thought, no matter what, I was going to have to close. But a few things in Bolivia reignited my soul and made me ready to fight. Yet, deep down, I still believed I was destined to fail. I kept saying well I'm either going to sink or swim however, I fully felt I was going to sink.
We reopened this week, and to my surprise, I didn’t fail. The reviews have been raving, and today, one review made me cry. At that moment, I realized I had scared myself into almost giving up. I created a false reality in my head that nearly led me to fail. My fear fooled me into believing I couldn't do it. But I didn’t. I pushed through, and I’ve never been more proud of myself in my entire life.
**Here’s what I learned:**
"Fear is the architect of failure, but courage lays the foundation of success."
If there’s anything I can say to anyone out there, it’s this: Don’t give up. Don’t create a reality in your head that scares you so badly that you give up. Push forward, even when you’re petrified. You might just surprise yourself. Remember, you are stronger than you think. Keep fighting, keep believing, and never let fear dictate your future.
Thank you to my incredible team of workers, my loyal customers, my supportive family, and my amazing friends. To everyone who believes in me and kept pushing me, I couldn’t have done this without you. Your support means the world to me.