A Very Lucky Day

9/13/13

Who says Friday the 13^th is an unlucky day?  Today has actually been the luckiest of days with many wonderful signs. On the way to work a profound message on the car next to mine... “Change lives, start with your own.”  WOW!  Amazing advice and so true.  At Starbucks the friendliest, most helpful barista who really knew her customers by name and by their favorite coffee drink.  I told her, "it’s a great barista who knows her customers.”  She told me she had lost her job with the county and ended up having to work at Starbucks. She said at first it was really hard because she had never had to do that kind of work before, even when working her way through school.  But, she said now she sees her job as a blessing because she is able to "truly connect" with people, something she said "you can never do when going about your normal life."  And, she told me the work keeps her really busy which keeps her “in the moment.”  WOW – so profound.  I told her she was blessed to be aware of such a state of mind and that clearly that is why she is so happy.  She told me I made her day…but she is the one who made mine!  On the way home I passed a taxi, name on the cab was “New Life”.  Could there be a more clear sign of being on the right path? Friday the 13th...a truly lucky day.

THE OVERVIEW EFFECT

When we're bogged down with the daily hassles of life, we tend to lose our perspective.  No one knows that better than a small business owner. We end up focusing all of our attention on the never ending small and insignificant things that demand our attention  and we forget to see the beautiful interconnectedness of all things.  Apparently a trip to outer space changes all of that in an instant.  For 40 years, astronauts from all over the world have reported something called the Overview Effect, a cognitive shift in awareness that occurs after seeing Earth from space.  Check it out:

http://vimeo.com/55073825

An Ode to the 98 Bottles Staff

 It takes a village, not just to raise a child, but to run a business.  Every employee’s part is essential to the success or failure of any operation. When you have exactly the right mix of people it all just works magically. In a small business this reality is amplified tenfold by the simple fact that there are less people to do all the work.  So everyone’s whole-hearted participation is key.  There is nothing more beautifully inspiring than gathering together a group of highly capable people, offering a little guidance, and then letting them loose to create while you stand back and watch the whole thing come alive.  At 98 Bottles we are blessed to have the most amazing staff. We are small but we are mighty!  Every single employee is unique and interesting, smart and motivated, funny and kind.  Our amazing kitchen staff manages to consistently put out delicious and beautifully presented food every single day, even when we are slammed with up to 80 guests who all arrive at the same time for shows in The Back Room.  Our server/bartending staff (who most of you know as the men in plaid) provide the very best customer service because they truly care about the people they serve.  Each and every one of them has their own distinctive personality and style and we are so proud of all of them.  So this is an ode to the 98 Bottles staff.  Thank you for all you do every day to help make 98 Bottles a success.  You guys are awesome-you make coming to work a pleasure!

A Dream Come True

One of the greatest joys of owning 98 Bottles is knowing that in some small way we make a difference in people's lives.  We feel blessed that In less than two years of being in business,  we have hosted two marriage proposals, bridal showers, engagement parties, weddings, countless birthday parties, worthy fund raising events and many, many other wonderful celebrations. 


Recently Steve got this email from Ilene Moyse that just blew us all away:

Mark and I met online in January 2012. I had seen a lot of my Facebook friends post about taking your Tap on Tap class 98 Bottles. I had such good memories of dancing with you at San Diego Jr. Theater in Crazy for You and Bye Bye Birdie. Mark had mentioned that he was also in a production of Crazy for You in high school, although not in a dancing role. I invited Mark to come with me to Tap on Tap for our first date. I knew he also grew up singing and doing musical theater, although he fully admits dancing is not his strong point. We had a fantastic time and Mark was such a good sport about the tap dancing even though he had zero experience. The activities you have at 98 Bottles are so great because there is zero pressure to do anything but have fun. 

In early February of this year Mark proposed to me on the USC campus outside of the Los Angeles a capella festival. We will be getting married on June 30 in Las Vegas. We love 98 Bottles for bringing us together!

When we started this business we dreamed of bringing people together in a setting that promotes conversation, new friendships and fun...looks like our dream is coming true.  Thank you Ilene & Mark and a sincere thank you to all of you who have chosen to share your very special moments with us.  That is a gift and a blessing...truly!