Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Fall 2017 - 43
GreaterReadingChamber.org
AK: They sort of went in this order - 1. Holy Sh*t, I'm an
entrepreneur!; 2. The day I realized just how much people like
coffee and fresh doughnuts; 3. The day we realized we could make
this business work; 4. Every day we can learn and make ourselves
better.
EA: Ha ha, that sounds like a roller coaster - but the most
important reaction I heard above is that you're always evolving,
yet another strong entrepreneurial quality! Along the way I am
sure you have received a ton of advice and suggestions from peers.
What popular advice do you DISAGREE with, though?
AK: If you fail it's over. I failed a bunch of times! If you don't
fail, you can't learn, grow and move forward with your objectives.
I like finding ways to fail because that means we can get stronger!
EA: Easier said than done, but definitely the right attitude!
What have you enjoyed most about doing business in Berks?
AK: Well, I grew up here - graduated from Wilson School
District, then from Kutztown University. I enjoy doing business
here; it's fun. We've met so many interesting people along the way!
Having the ability to make an impact here is bittersweet; Berks
has given me so much over my life time, it's nice to be able to start
giving back.
EA: Is there anything you wish you would have known before
opening a business?
AK: I knew it would be difficult, but I didn't know how
physically and mentally draining it would be. Most days, I go to
bed in pain from being on my feet 15 hours a day and seven days a
week. Don't get me wrong, I love what I do. At the end of the day,
I've worked harder than most!
EA: That definitely sounds grueling, but rewarding. What else
have you learned about yourself through this journey?
AK: If I can do this, anyone can do this. Most people just give
up too early.
EA: How did you see through the bumps along the way?
Was there a mentor or some words of wisdom that helped you
overcome those challenging times?
AK: My late father told me two things - 1. Trust your gut; and
2. [When it gets tough] just keep going.
EA: Well, my gut right now is telling me to head over to
Benchwarmers and get a doughnut and a cold brew! To close, what
have been your biggest hurdles as a business, and how have you
been able to overcome them?
AK: Every challenge is big until you overcome it. What used to
be mountains are now just speed bumps. Having friends, family
and the support of my customers has helped me overcome each
obstacle along the way. Obstacles are the way for growth.
43
http://www.GreaterReadingChamber.org
https://www.orrstown.com/
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Fall 2017
Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Fall 2017 - 1
Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Fall 2017 - 2
Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Fall 2017 - 3
Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Fall 2017 - 4
Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Fall 2017 - 5
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Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Fall 2017 - 30
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Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Fall 2017 - 43
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Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Fall 2017 - 47
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Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Fall 2017 - 63
Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Fall 2017 - 64
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