Observing Another Small Business

Sunday was a perfect day in Bucks County, Pennsylvania for any outdoor activity. We joined friends for a tour of Bucks wineries. It was a very well organized event and each winery had a food partner, so all the stops were mini food adventures, to go along with the different white, red and sparkling wines. There were cheese and olive spreads, wonderful salamis, lots of fresh fruit. At one winery there was Belgium chocolate, from milk to 70 percent pure dark bitter sweet cocoa. Really, a feast for the palate and one’s sense of smell.

The turnout was tremendous.  Whatever the method of getting people to drive from one winery to the next, the organizers knew what they were doing, preparatory to the event. And the cooperation from the weather added to the festive mood. By the time we hit winery number #5, I felt like I had seen and drank enough.  There is a law in Pennsylvania that wineries can only pour an ounce in each glass, otherwise thet would have to obtain a license (to be a bar).

Of course as always happens when crowds gather, there is the element that refuses to follow rules and these tasters come back for several refills, and when one is tasting six or seven different wines that can add up. So some people started getting loud and pushy and demanding. We decided to go eat an early dinner rather than risk any unpleasantness since our tour to this point was really fun.

Later that night, I started thinking about Monday and DDA and how in some ways all small businesses have the same protocols. Just like the winery owners we chatted with, at DDA we are proud of what we do. Like most small business owners we too work hard to create the right environment for employees and customers/clients. Like most small business owners we strive to keep our pipeline full so everyone can get paid on time, so we can pay bills, so we can be assured of work for months.

It was apparent watching the winery owners and their staffs that while their product and process is worlds apart from ours, the communication to get all the details right was not always smooth. But just like us at DDA, at all those wineries they were passionate about their work.  So they brushed themselves off after the mistakes and kept on smiling at the customers.

We do that at DDA too.  And in the end that is what will separate those of us who make it from those of us who call it quits. Preseverance, stick-to-itevness, believing in who we are and what we do. I would like to go observe another successful small business again soon. It was very good for my morale.

Entry by: elizabeth