When I started Strange Bird Coffee it was a side hustle (I still had a day job) and I was slowly creating my portfolio founded on a simple idea: plastic free packaging for high quality coffee. I wanted to create a proof of concept to show that it could be done. It was always my intention to grow the business, but I wanted to do it tastefully and slowly, by posting content, creating a podcast and writing blog posts at first and showing the world it is possible. But the reality of trying to start a small business on the side is daunting and exhausting. I became stagnant and sales were nearly zero. Then out of nowhere I was terminated from my day job and found I had a choice to make.
I always had a choice to make, but my fear of failure (and fear of success) sort of left me in a freeze. I wasn’t making content. I wasn't posting blogs. I wasn’t recording the podcast. I had one coffee on the website at the time and I was stuck. Even after being let go from my day job, I was frozen. Unable to move. Processing the loss and trying to figure out what was next. The more I pondered, I realized it was time to make a decision. I could go and find another day job or I could go all in on my dream: to own and operate my own business. So this is it. This is my recalibration. This is my GOING ALL IN manifest. No nets. No plan b. Just Strange Bird.
Now the website has five coffees with single origin coffees coming soon. I’m going to begin recording the podcast again and posting several times a week. I am going to begin collaborating with other creators and learning the ropes of everything and building my plastic free empire. I’m going to be patient and take my time and face my fears.
I believe coffee can truly change the world and I believe in my mission to bring plastic free coffee to as many coffee drinkers as possible. Without compromise. Delicious, high quality coffee for everyone! Plastic free, baby!
Join me on my journey to change the coffee industry one plastic free box at a time. It’s go time!
<3 Stephen