General – Jeri's Office

Thanks For Supporting Small Businesses

But standing at this milestone of 15 years, to us the real accomplishment is not actually that we’ve been in business for this long. The real accomplishment is much bigger than us, it existed before us and is entirely the reason for our success. This accomplishment being that despite so many pressures and temptations to do otherwise, there is a deep and abiding commitment from all of you to build and appreciate small rural economies.

GUEST POST from Sissiboo Coffee Roaster (First published Jan. 3 2024)

With 2023 coming to a close Jon and I realize we are heading into our 15th year of running Sissiboo Coffee Roaster. By now, it is kind of family folklore how we were warned no one would cross the street from “downtown Bear River” to our spot on the strip, how the only source of heat for years was the teeny tiny roaster we started out on, how we “decided” to have twins a year into starting a business, how we didn’t take a wage for 7 years and all the other things we did to scrape together a living….

We may have set up a loom and blocked the legs and made sure the sun and the rain are kept in check but it is you, all of you, who are weaving community tapestry: conversations that reflect who we are and what we are doing–from humour to civil disagreement, a chat about the to-do list, a secret shared, an update on the neighbours, a moment of silence, the necessary weather report. Children who play with the blocks and put the books away, he who encourages sunflowers in the window, those who top-up the pay-it-forward cards, the appreciated workers of all kinds, the political and the personal in constant refinement, those who are behind the posters of every imaginable event that decorate the walls and the windows, the singular and entirely unique expressions of art that warm our walls….

And beyond our corner of NS, there are so many other small businesses that collaborate with us who in their own unique ways are spinning community fabrics just as beautiful and necessary as ours.

There is not much that feels simple about these days, including at times the effort and process of building community. But it is a skill we know humans have and should continually work to strengthen. It is an honour to be a part of this region and truly, gratitude is given. Thank you for enabling us to be in business these past 14 years.

Whatever this time of year means to you and yours, we wish you peace and good winter rest. with love, Jon and Erin, Sissiboo Coffee Roaster, Bear River, Nova Scotia

(Jeri’s note: Thanks to Jon for permission to repost this! If you’re ever in Bear River or Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, be sure to stop in to Sissiboo Coffee for great coffee and great service!)

The Internet: Swimming With Sharks

Ah, the world of the Internet. Instant communications, facts at your fingertips.

And the world’s greatest prowling ground for fakes, liars, thieves and worse.

When you go to the Internet, what do you get? Words, images, and sounds. The closest you can come to actual face-to-face interaction with another human being is via videoconferencing (such as Skype). Otherwise, what you are seeing and hearing is at second-hand – and anonymous. Not only that, but there are things going on under the surface as your computer communicates with the other computers on the Net.

What better place for someone to fleece a sucker, launch an attack (viruses, Trojan horses or worse) or spread a falsehood?

That’s not to say there are no honest people or reliable sites – far from it. What it DOES say is that you must always be on your guard in cyberspace.

1) Be sure you have a good, reliable antivirus / security program on your computer – use it and keep it up to date.

2) Don’t accept everything you read – double-check your facts. (A good source for tracking down online rumors is snopes.com.)

3) Remember some basic rules of life: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t true. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. And there’s a sucker born every minute.

4) Keep in mind that when you enter cyberspace, you are no longer in your home town. You may live in Smalltown, Ontario, but on the Internet you are plunged into the crossroads of the entire planet, and amid the anonymous crowds are pickpockets, cutthroats and conmen looking for a likely victim.

5) Don’t take people on the Internet at face value. Remember, you’re not seeing their face – you’re seeing the words/images/sounds that someone has chosen to put up on the screen.

To sum up: be honest, be good, be kind – but also be paranoid.

Lean On Me

OR: Don’t Let Pride Stand In the Way

Especially in North America, we hear a lot about how we are supposed to be independent and not need anyone else.

This turns out not to be the case.

We need other people. Other people need us. Even as a solopreneur, we are dependent on others – our clients, our family, supportive friends, even the anonymous people who make available to us services like the Internet.

This video says it perfectly:

Think about who you depend on – and thank them. Think about who depends on you – and encourage them.

With many thanks to my own supportive family and friends, especially: Joan M, Kathryn T, Dan L, and Marsha T.

Keeping on Going: Dealing With Life’s Challenges

How does a small-business owner cope with business in the face of the unexpected challenges of life?

First step: do what must be done. Be sure those clients are being taken care of – although it is legitimate to ask for a bit of slack where possible. Get those basic bookkeeping chores done. Be sure the bills are paid. If necessary and possible, get a “business buddy” to step in and help out.

Second step: postpone what you can. This is a time when those plans you had to further your business education, upgrade your skills, or investigate new advertising venues can be put on hold.

Third step: take care of yourself. Don’t neglect your own healthy eating. Keep finding ways to get a bit of mild exercise (which will do a lot to elevate your mood, too). If you are a person of faith, don’t neglect prayer and worship – not only to put everything into proper perspective, but to get yourself some effectual help. And don’t be afraid to ask other people for help when you need it.

Fourth step: take an occasional “vacation“. Even a couple of hours relaxing with a good book, or having tea with a friend, can help.

This too, shall pass. Keep calm and carry on.

Life And Loss

My life is changed forever.

On September 8, 2017, my beloved husband, Ronald J. “Dusty” Woods, passed away at the age of 70.

Funny, “seventy” sounds so old – but it seemed far too soon to lose the man I’d been married to for 40 years. For forty years I watched and appreciated as he worked as a bar-band musician, composed an amazing number of songs and instrumentals, struggled with his health problems. Forty years of closeness and growing understanding. Forty years of sharing dreams. Forty years of lovely back-rubs every night (*sigh*).

I received a lot of love, help and support through that time of loss. My particular thanks go out to Dusty’s sister Joan and brother-in-law Dave (alas, he’s also gone now), who shared my loss and who have been totally supportive. I am also grateful to Jayne’s Funeral Home in Digby, Nova Scotia, which handled all the details of the death and cremation, including helping me apply for assistance so I could afford to do it all.

It’s been almost 7 years now. Life is pretty well back to normal, but the moments of realization still come at unexpected times and the pain, while coming to the fore less frequently, is still just as strong.

What does this have to do with business? My business is what I do; “Mrs. Dusty” is (still) who I am. The two really do become one flesh, and the years of going through life together draw the bonds ever closer.

Rest in peace, my Blues Man.

(You can listen to and purchase Dusty’s country and blues songs and albums on his BandCamp page.)