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The Confession

I have a confession to make.  Last week I thought about quitting HOLSTRit.  I added up all my inventory I have in stock and figured out if I sold 75% of it, would we get our money back out of it.  I didn't do this because I wanted to quit or because I didn't like what I was doing, I did it because I had lost focus. Even as I was adding up my inventory I knew I wasn't going to quit, I just panicked. 

I had become overwhelmed with the pressure I was putting on myself to be the wife and mother I thought I needed to be, to be the entrepreneur I think I should have turned into by now and mad at myself for being too tired to do any of it the way I thought it needed to be done.  These impossible expectations were self-inflicted, unnecessary and draining.

This weekend my husband and I went to a marriage conference here in town called Weekend To Remember.  It has been over 10 years since we've done anything like this for our marriage and even though, (logistically speaking because of lack of child care), it was a bit of a battle to get there the timing couldn't have been more perfect.  I recommitted to putting God and my family first and immediately felt the load I was carrying lighten.  Whatever success this business has will have to be up to God and when I quit is up to Him too.   I know this business can either be a curse or a blessing and today I'm choosing blessing.   

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DIY Isn't Cutting It Anymore

When I was designing holstrit.com, I knew a video showing why this stay-at-home mom would create a product and start a business was a priority.

My girls helped record a video on my iPhone serving not only as the videographers, but also as the directors, lighting technicians and on-site beauty team.  In post-production, they taught me the basics of editing using iMovie and Our Story was born.

While it's not eve close to professional quality (and every once in a while you can see dust flying around in the sunlight,), I learned a lot in the process, and it was a family collaboration and I was happy with it.

Fast forward 17 months:  HOLSTRit is rapidly growing and I need to find professionals who can help me in certain areas of the business.  I decided to contract with professionals who could truly capture the essence of HOLSTRit and tell our WHY. It's an important story because it's the only reason HOLSTRit exists. 

Last weekend Zoe Media shot our new Our Story video.  She not only captured a lot of footage, but the whole family was also involved.  Which means, she was able to teach my little photographer all about what she was doing while she was doing it.  Big fan of hands-on learning.

We'll roll out the video in March!  Can't wait for you to see it!

 photo credit: Brooklynn Johnson

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The Small Business Customer

When I'm a passenger in the car and I see random office buildings, I look for the name of the company on the side of the building, I scan the building wondering what goes on in there and I wonder how they got their start.  I wonder about what they did to get where they are, if they still operate like a small business or if they now have a CFO.

Recently I went to a big chain store that opened at 9:00am.  I thought it was already open so I went to the door.  It was 8:56am and I decided to wait even though it was really cold outside.  By 9:02am, another customer was banging on the door to get them to unlock it so we could go inside.  By contrast, I went to The Tasteful Olive, which is a family owned small business, one Sunday morning thinking they opened at 12:30pm.  They didn't open until 1:00pm but I showed up at their front door at 12:25pm, was looking for their hours sign and the next thing I knew, the owner unlocked the door saying, "Oh come on in, I'm only doing my morning cleaning".

Here's what happens when you by from HOLSTRit, a very small, mom-owned business.  I see the email that someone ordered and if I don't say it out loud, I'm thinking, "Oh yea!"  I fight the urge to fill the order right then and there because I want my customer to have their product as soon as possible however I have to remember that no matter when I fill the order at home all the mail leaves the post office one time a day...so it doesn't have to be right away...ok, I can finish feeding my children.  I print a packing slip and write "Thank You!" on each one.  When I put the product in the bag, I wonder who it's going to and hope they find it as helpful and convenient as I do.  When I hear that someone has a problem with their HOLSTR, if it's defective in some way, I'm very disconcerted.  Even though I can't control the quality directly, it's a reflection on me and I do everything I know to do to make it right.  I appreciate every one of my customers and want them to be happy with their purchase.

I will still shop at a large box retailer however I jump at the chance to be a small business customer any time I can!  #SmallBusinessOwners take care of #SmallBusinessCustomers.

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Tech-NO-logy And Me

Technology and me, well we just don't get along.  It's not that I don't appreciate it, I just don't like having to take the time to learn when it always seems to be changing.  Lately I've had no choice but to suck it up and figure it out.  

Before I officially launched HOLSTRit, the extent of my technology reach was that I could text and email.  I wasn't on Facebook, didn't know a Twitter from a tweet, Instagram was a new word to me, I hadn't even heard of Snapchat and I guess I have a Pinterest account because I keep getting emails that my girls are pinning things to their boards...whatever that means.  I only had Mac computers and laptops so I was super bummed to have to buy a Windows laptop and learn a whole new system.  (Even the X to close out windows is opposite!  Sheeze!)  I decided if I was going to try to run a business I needed to be on Facebook, I mean it seemed like everyone else was.  I checked out Twitter, because, well Ellen DeGeneres was tweeting pictures at the Oscars so it must be important.  At one of our trade shows I had a sweet college girl tell me I had to get on Instagram so right then and there she signed me up and showed me how it works.   

Over the last 16 months I've learned the basics of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  I had to learn how to design a website and even learned a bit of coding.  I learned how to blog (something I thought I'd never do!).  I had to learn enough about Photoshop to be able to use it when my pictures don't fit into a particular template.  I had to learn all about QuickBooks and hours of phone calls later I think I know enough to squeak by.  I had to learn how to purchase UPC codes and then get them uploaded, (that sounds WAY easier than it was).  I had to learn POS (Point Of Sale) programs to use at our tradeshows and have settled on one I like best.  Just this last week, I learned how to web design on another host site I like better.  All of this is just the technology part of trying to grow a business.

If you would have told me 16 months ago that I was going to learn about all these different platforms and successfully execute I would have never believed it.  I'm not afraid anymore to try.  I might get intimidated by the process but I'm not afraid to dive in.  The point of this post is not to toot my own horn because I'm well aware that God answers my, "If this is the direction I need to go please help me figure it out" prayers, but I hope this is encouraging to someone who is thinking of stepping out and trying to something new.  We just don't know until we try.  It might be hours of frustration and bitter tears but the accomplishment is so sweet so give it a try!!

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HOLSTRit Shark Tank Casting Call 2017

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The Two Most Asked Questions About Our HOLSTRs

Happy New Year!  I know I haven't posted in a few weeks but this week I'm tackling the top 2 most asked questions.  The first most asked question about our HOLSTRs is, "Does this fit the iPhone 6+ (or 7+)?"  Yes!  The HOLSTRs titled *NEW* on our product website page will fit the larger phones.  I have had 2 customers at different trade shows not be able to get their phone in very easily because they had an extremely large case on their phone.  99% of the time they fit.  The picture below shows one of the *NEW* products with my iPhone 6+ in the back.

The second most asked question about our HOLSTRs is, "What size bottle will the HOLSTR hold?"  I have taken pictures to try and help with this important question. 

20 oz. Yeti type bottle

30 oz. bottle

30 oz. Yeti type bottle

36 oz. Tupperware bottle

As you can see the only type bottle the HOLSTR doesn't hold very well is the larger Yeti type bottle however I have had several customers use their HOLSTR for that type of bottle and just stuck it in as far as it goes.  You don't want to force any bottle in as it could potentially pop the Velcro strap eyelet.  I can't know the size and shape of every bottle and wouldn't want to mislead anyone so I hope this is helpful if you're asking these questions. 

Be sure to check out our website at holstrit.com and follow us on our Facebook page to keep up with the most current HOLSTRit information.

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Not Business As Usual

You wouldn’t know it by looking at me.  I live life pretty fully and enjoy it most days.  I smile and laugh.  I don’t spend hours in bed when the sun’s up.  I’m not trying to numb anything by doing harmful things to myself, (however sometimes when I feel really bad I’ll watch Dance Moms to remind myself that all moms have issues).  It’s not that I try to be fake or hide anything it's just that when people ask, “how are you doing?” I’m not compelled to say, “Oh I struggle with PTSD and anxiety but other than that, I’m really good!“  This is a conversation that isn’t being had.  No one talks about this, not when it comes to an average wife and stay-at-home mom whose only battle field was trying to just survive when her daughter almost didn’t.  

February 2017 will be 4 years since my 9 year old daughter went into the hospital.  She had eaten something tainted with E-coli bacteria and it was starting to wreak havoc on her little body.  I watched her endure countless sessions of needle sticks, while I could do nothing.  I watched her body swell up because her kidneys weren’t working to flush fluids or toxins out of her body, while I could do nothing.  I watched her be prepped for surgeries to insert catheters to try to rid her body of these toxins, while I could do nothing.  I watched her go through several sessions of cleaning these catheters just hours later with her crying in pain because they hadn’t healed, while I could do nothing.  I watched as dialysis machines painfully filled her abdomen with fluid, while I could do nothing.  I watched lung machines force air into her lungs to try to get them healthy again, while I could do nothing.  I watched her frail little body do physical therapy, I cheered her on but felt broken.  I watched her slowly fade away into a vegetative state as the toxins invaded her brain only to watch her come back to us within 24 hours.  I struggled constantly with the fact that my faith, that I thought was fairly solid, had been shaken so hard that I wondered if it would ever recover.  I struggled with feeling like God had completely abandoned my daughter, (which is worse than feeling abandoned myself).  I struggled with the fact that my husband, donating his kidney to our girl was the only way back to "health” for her.  I didn’t want any more pain for any of us and then, after a few years, it was over. 

Just like that we were to live life again.  Not worrying day by day what battles we’d have to fight or even if our daughter was going to survive.  "All is well”, right?  I’m the mom, life goes on and I have to live life again however everything has changed and no one is there to teach me how to do this.  Not only am I changed spiritually, but emotionally and physically.  I have learned that my heart will race when I’m awaiting monthly lab results.  I have learned that my heart will race every time I visit someone in the hospital. I have learned that when I see any pictures from 2013-2015 my heart will race. I have also learned that there are moments that my body and my brain will shut down with an exhaustion unparalleled to any other exhaustion.  I can’t think straight or make a decision to save my life.  I have looked back and can now see countless blessings that I’d never want to miss but know they never would have happened if we hadn’t gone through what we did.  I constantly deal with my flesh screaming, “I can’t take any more pain and struggle!” however my spirit wants to keep growing and experiencing God’s best for us. 

I’ve got to think I’m not the only mom who is struggling with this.   We all have a story, we all experience the same types of emotions no matter the struggle and I know women whose stories last much longer than mine.  How can we support each other?  Is anyone really talking about this?  What does healing even look like?  I obviously don’t have the answers but until then I'll put one foot in front of the other, live life the best I know how hoping it’s good enough for my girls and watch an occasional episode of Dance Moms if needed. 

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HOLSTRit Photoshoot December 2016

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Living In Plan B

Since starting HOLSTRit daily life has been quite a bit busier.  At the beginning of the 2016 school year, with my business up and running, I had this amazing plan on how I was going to get it all done and stay sane in the process.  Plan A:  I'd get up early, make some coffee, sit in the quiet and be alone long enough to feel energized and ready to take on whatever might happen that day with saintly patience.  Plan B: I pretty much loath having to get out of my bed and no amount of coffee and alone time fixes that so I try to at least be up before the girls and fix them breakfast.  My alone time?  Well, I do try to make sure that happens once I know I can keep my eyes open.  As for the coffee, I fix that in the morning but by lunch time I have several dried coffee rings on the inside of my cup and it tastes a bit burnt because I have warmed it up in the microwave so many times.  Plan A: Get housework started before the girls ever get out of bed and keep that going throughout the day with all this new gained energy I was going to have because of my alone time.  Plan B:  Well since I never got that early morning energy, it's a good day if I can Clorox wipe the bathrooms.  Bonus if I can actually wash, dry and fold a single load of laundry all in one day.  (I feel like mom of the year when I mop my hardwood!)  Plan A:  Focus on the girls and their school work until about 2:00 pm and then have about 2-3 hours of uninterrupted work time.  Plan B:  I'm not even sure what I was thinking here because life happens and if there are kids in the house, no matter the age, uninterrupted anything doesn't exist. 

So plan B it is, which I'm pretty sure is the story of most of our lives.  Right?  Please tell me I'm right??!!  This picture reveals much truth.  I work sometimes while teaching my youngest.  I package online orders when I have a "break".  My table decorations, courtesy of my 8 year old consist of a toothbrush holder and 3 holiday candle holders that spell "NEL" because somehow the "O" went missing.  There's that coffee cup that follows me around all morning.  The orange bell on the table...well...that's from the kidney walk and someone had the bright idea to ring it every time dinner was ready.  The bag of peanut brittle is there to give me the energy I need to get through the day.  The scooters are in the house because little one here doesn't walk around the house, she rides.  The chipped paint on the wall is there to remind me that I have a lot of projects around the house to ignore in 2017.  I also see the family pictures all around and they are my heart.  I see the scripture verse taped to the wall because we want to memorize it.  Granted we wanted to have it memorize by the end of September but I keep reminding myself, I'm living in Plan B. 

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It's Going To Be Worth It

When I became a mom a little more than 16 years ago, I thought being a mom mainly consisted of loving and taking care of my new baby girl.  That was the extent of my plan.  Little did I know that as a mom I would wear many hats over the years and do things I never thought I’d do or had the strength or courage to do. There are things I really like and things I don’t like so much but do them because I’m passionate about these people.  I’m pretty sure I have earned at least an associates degree in culinary arts, counseling, refereeing, servanthood, cheerleading, custodial arts, nursing (or at least basic EMT stuff), organization as well as the art of knowing when to let it go, the art of apologizing and the art of giving grace, swim instructor, teacher, over all hygiene care instructor, life coaching, technology instructor (until they turn 6 then it’s all them), and I could go on and on.   

When I became a business owner I just thought I was going to sell this product that people kept asking me about, wondering where I got that “bottle holder”.  That was the extent of my plan.  Little did I know that as a small business owner I was going to have to wear many hats and do things I never thought I’d do or have the strength or courage to do.  Just like being a mom, there are things about running a business that I like and things I don’t like but I do them because this is my new baby.  I like talking to customers and selling, I don’t like it when I schedule so many trade shows that I’m exhausted and feel like I’m missing out.  I like trying to figure out the best, most organized way to keep all this product in my garage without it taking over, I don’t like when it takes over.  I like trying to figure out how I’m going to keep the snowball rolling and gaining momentum, I don’t like creating business plans.   I like seeing the finished product and being excited to share it with others, I don’t like the pressure of picking out fabric that I think many people will like and want to buy.  I like seeing how God has used this business to bolster my faith and trust in Him, I don’t like the fretting I do when I don’t rely on Him.  I like learning about business, customer acquisition and marketing strategies, I don’t like SEO (search engine optimization), social media and accounting. 

I am learning that as I can afford to do so I want to hire out what I don’t like or can’t do well and stick to what gets me excited.  I’m not there yet, but that thought almost makes me giddy.  I’m also bouncing around the idea of getting a trade show "team" together so more shows can be done without my husband and I doing all of them.  Being a mom, being a business owner doesn’t come easy and I’m really ok with that because great things don’t come easy.  

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Good News and Bad News

I've discovered something else I haven't yet mastered in business:  The art of inventory management.  Good news...I have ordered more product, bad news...I'm running out of my current stuff while waiting on the new stuff.

People keep saying to me that this is a good problem to have however it's still a problem and not a fun problem to have right before Christmas.  I've ordered 5 new patterns and reordered 3 of the current patterns so I'm going to have the largest selection of fabrics I've ever had which is exciting. They are suppose to ship December 15 which lands them at my doorstep December 22, not at all the kind of risk I enjoy taking.  I've got people ordering the new stuff already which is super exciting and I'm just praying the run gets completed early by the factory and gets here sooner than I expect or at the very least, on time.  I don't know exactly how to master the art of inventory but I'm hoping to figure it out quickly. I don't want have this "good" problem again and have to do this to my website unless it's a discontinued pattern. 

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How Did You Get On TV?

I've had a few people ask how I got invited to appear on KC Live.  Here's what I've learned over the last year about getting publicity on my business.  First of all, I have a very unique, hard story that people are interested in...who knew??  Second, I have learned that people are also interested in the story of how a mom turned an invention to help her sick daughter into a product for everyone which resulted in a business.    

In November 2015, someone from the Kansas City Star approached me about writing an article on me and the business.  It was then that I understood that some people might be interested in what I'm doing and I also realized that the only way for publications or media outlets to hear my story is to tell them.  Sometimes people come directly to me but for the most part, I contact them, tell them my story and if they think it makes for a good article or segment, they contact me back.

This is what happened with KC Live.  I emailed them one evening, not thinking much of it and they emailed me back the next morning and 7 days later I found myself sitting on a couch next to Joel Nichols on live TV.  It was such a fun opportunity and everyone at the studio was incredibly nice and made me feel so comfortable.  It was great fun to watch behind the scenes as they went from segment to segment.  It was also a great opportunity for me to grow once again.  I'm naturally about 5% extrovert but the things I'm getting to do with this business makes me look like I'm about 75% extrovert, which uncomfortably stretches me.  I'm more and more curious where this business will go.  I look at what has been accomplished over the last year and am in awe of all God has done so it's exciting to think about what is next for HOLSTRit and myself.  

If you'd like to watch the segment, please click here.    

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The Forgotten Product

We talk 95% of the time about our HOLSTR products that can be worn as a waist strap or a cross-body strap but we talk very little about the Sport strap HOLSTR, (formerly known as the Travel strap), and yet this is a great product.  This product was originally designed for my kids' backpacks.  Halfway through the year the mesh pockets in the side of the backpack were ripped out because of their water bottles.  I designed the Sport strap HOLSTR to either snap around a handle or be clipped on by the carabiner.

It snaps around the strap of a softball bag while carrying equipment onto the field allowing you to be hands-free.

It also clips conveniently to the fence for easy access.  The great thing about using the HOLSTR here is your water bottle isn't rolling around in the dirt in the dugout, you don't mistake someone else's bottle for your own and you can bring other items such as a phone, cash or sunscreen, store them and access them easily in the HOLSTR.

 The Sport strap HOLSTR is also very convenient for golfing.  Whether you have a cart or not you can be hands-free and simplify by putting your keys, phone, money and id in the same place all while staying hydrated.

This is a great product for strollers as well.  Snapping it to the stroller handle allows you to have easy access to sanitizer, your phone, your keys while staying hands-free to play with your little ones.

There are many other uses for this product such as snapping it around your luggage, clipping it to your workout bag, snapping it around your belt loop, there are other sports where you can use this HOLSTR to keep track of your water bottle and personal items.  Get creative!  This HOLSTR is only $19.50 at www.holstrit.com.

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My Story Part 2

My last blog post was part 1 of my story, from my child getting sick, losing her kidney's and ultimately having a kidney transplant to conception of my product. (Click here to read part 1.) 

In creating this product, I never had the idea of selling this product or turning it into a business.  I was focused on surviving every day at least and at best, doing it with a small amount of joy.  Our daughter struggled with intestinal issues most of that year after her transplant.  She lost a ton of weight, was life-flighted home from our trip to Colorado in May 2014 and later in the summer was just a few more bad days away from being scoped from the top and the bottom.  "Mysteriously" everything resolved itself and no scoping was necessary.   Once she seemed physically ok after not being ok for almost 2 years I started having physical symptoms that I know now were the result of an unusual amount of distress for a long period of time, PTSD and high levels of prolonged adrenaline finally presenting themselves in me physically. My point in telling you this is I was in no shape physically or emotionally to start a business.  However, if I've learned anything from this grand ordeal we've been through with our daughter it's that I'm not in charge and God's plans are not always my plans.

Every time we would wear the HOLSTRs out, someone would ask about them.  I finally asked my husband if we should try to sell a few.  I was paying someone $40 to make them for our family and knew I couldn't afford that nor did this person have time to sew them.  Before I talked to anyone, we decided to try to patent the idea.  I had contacted many manufacturers in the U.S. but no one got back to me.  My husband and I met with an acquaintance who owns a company here in KC, just to try to figure out what to do and he offered to introduce us to his sourcing agency in China.  Not only did we now have a connection to a manufacturer but it was someone we could trust not to steal our idea.  Long story short, we have a great relationship with these people in China, they have been so great to work with us and do smaller production runs that we can afford.  Without this connection, I'm not sure we'd be where we are today.

We had product coming, now I needed to figure out how to store and sell them, how to get a corporate lawyer and get incorporated, how to get on Facebook, how to build a website, how to do accounting (which I still mess up today...not my strength), how to brand and do marketing and SEO all the while still taking care of my family and my house at the same time.  We were officially launching HOLSTRit ready or not.  I have always said that this business happened to me.  This has been such a unique experience for me and has forced me to grow in ways I never imagined.   

There have been so many instances where I've run into a wall but found a window open.  There have been so many times, (almost weekly), where I've wondered, "What am I doing?" and then I'm hit square in the forehead with reassurance of the fact that this is what I'm suppose to be doing.  I've learned that once you have a story and share it, other people feel free to share their story too.  Getting out at these trade shows, I can't tell you the conversations I have sometimes with people who are hurting and I realize that this business is more than money and bottom line, it's about people.  I still say I don't know what I'm doing, but God has brought people into my business who I call my team.  I have a patent attorney, a corporate lawyer, an accountant, an SEO/branding/social media expert, friends who want to see me succeed and VERY supportive & helpful family members. 

This is not an easy path and it's made a little tougher by the fact that we still deal with uncertainties (monthly if not weekly) of our daughter and her kidney failing and needing another transplant someday but I can honestly say I'd never change it.  The things I've learned, experienced and witnessed over the last 3 1/2 years with my daughter and with the business are pretty magnificent.  Everyone's got a story...and this is mine!  Thank you for reading it.

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My Story Part 1

My name is Tamra Johnson and I've been a stay-at-home mom to 5 daughters for 16 years.  In February 2013 we went on a family vacation and came home with E-coli bacteria.  We were all fine except our 2nd oldest daughter, Maleena, who was 9 at the time.  Maleena spent 6 weeks in the hospital with all of her major organs being affected in one way or another.  Most of them eventually recovered except her kidneys which ended up shutting down completely.  We were realizing that life was never going to be the same as they were talking about daily dialysis at home and kidney transplants.  In a matter of weeks we had gone from 5 healthy children to one with ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease). Maleena had done Hemodialysis and now we were being trained on how to do Peritoneal Dialysis every night at home.  We were learning about many different meds, how, when and why to give them, we were being trained on how to give her shots, we were learning about her extensive food restriction list all the while trying to grasp the fact that she needed a kidney transplant. 

 On January 20, 2014 Maleena's father donated one of his kidney's to her and it was an amazing sight to watch that new kidney do it's job from the get-go.  Maleena's biggest responsibilities after transplant were to take all her meds right on time (8:00am & 8:00pm every day) and drink 140 oz or just a little more than 4 Liters of non-caffeinated fluid every day to keep her kidney healthy and hydrated.  This is a lot of liquid for anyone, let alone a 10 year old.  I had watched this child for over a year suffer through so much and I just wanted to help, in some way, make her life a little easier.

Maleena was drinking so much each day and it was quite a struggle so I decided she needed a water bottle holder to keep her drink close to her and easily accessible.  She was constantly looking for her drink, dropping it or only had one hand to use because she was carrying her water bottle everywhere.  I wanted to solve these problems for her and she really needed to be hands-free so she could go about her day without having to worry about carrying her drink all the time.  I created a product specifically for her that, little did I know, would turn into a business called HOLSTRit.  

The HOLSTR is a hands-free drink bottle holder that can be worn with either a waist strap or as a cross-body strap.  It will adjust to different size bottles.  Each HOLSTR comes with a carabiner for hanging keys, sanitizer, sunscreen...anything with a loop that can hang on the carabiner (Maleena hangs her medicine bottle on there too).  There are 2 pockets in the back.  The large pocket will hold your phone if you choose and is headphone accessible.  The smaller pocket will accommodate credit cards, cash, ID.  

I've created a product that will simply and fashionably store the most important personal items that we never leave the house without and the main function of the product helps us to stay well hydrated in the process.  On the next blog post I'll talk about why we chose to start the business and how in the world a SAHM with no business experience is figuring out how to do it.  Stay tuned... 

(click to read Part 2)

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(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM2Z6DXqPV4)

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It Takes A Village To Run A Business

Running a business is hard.  Running a business with 5 children is harder.  We are in the swing of school and extra curricular activities.  Even though each child only has one extra curricular activity going on (plus youth group activities for the 3 oldest) that's 5 extra activities.  To add to that, out of the 20 trade shows we will have attended by the end of 2016, we are doing 13 of them September through December...right when all the kids' activities start.

There is NO WAY I could do all of this by myself.  I have a 2016 trade show child care schedule, color coded because I have 9 people involved in some way.  I have people picking the girls up from their school or taking them to church or bringing them home from church or spending the night with them when we're out of town or working with us at our trade shows and on it goes. 

Taking care of my children is just one piece of the pie, it is the biggest and most important piece to me, but there are others who have been instrumental in this process.  I have people who have been willing to share their wisdom and connections with me.  I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have a product to sell if it weren't for the help of someone else.  I'm not sure I'd have direction or focus or drive if it weren't for the help of someone else.  I even get unsolicited advice from many and some of it is really good.  Kansas City is an amazing city to start a business.  There are so many programs geared towards helping entrepreneurs start and grow their business and a lot of them are free.  I don't know why I'm surprised at how generous people have been with their time and wisdom but it's been very refreshing, extremely helpful and I hope I'm always quick to help share my experience with someone else. 

HOLSTRit would not be where it is today without others and HOLSTRit will not go any further without the help of others.  It definitely takes a village and I'm so grateful for mine!!