We are accidental entrepreneurs in our family. My dad was a crane-operator-turned-missionary and Mom was a homemaker. We are not far removed, generationally, from subsistence farmers. I remember meeting a few people who operated businesses as a kid, but it felt a thousand miles away from our experience. As a kid, I didn’t dream of starting a business. When I got married, I thought of how to get a decent paycheck, because the idea of backing myself in the market seemed too risky.

When The Green Ember took off, we suddenly had a small business to run. Together with my partners/brothers, Andrew (in-law) and Josiah (my son’s namesake), we built a small family business around these books. We have been learning and growing ever since. This week we launched our 12th book! (Hope you try it!)

To my kids, it’s not unusual to think about business. They have ideas and try things. Today, my youngest daughter (11) is selling her handmade offerings at our local Maker’s Market alongside a lot of wonderful young entrepreneur-creators. She’s been sewing, cooking, crafting, and planning for a while. And today I saw her beaming as she made sales and served customers. She’s not afraid to work hard making good products and then sell them for fair value. I love her confidence and generosity.

This is just another way in which you have changed our lives. Yes, you. We weren’t an entrepreneurial family. I was too afraid to pull the trigger on starting a business. But when you embraced my stories, when you spent your own money to receive what we made, you changed our story.

So, thank you. It means the world to us to have your support, to literally feed our kids and pay our mortgage as a result of this loving and free exchange between us.

I’m honored to have my stories in your family’s home, and I’m grateful your support has meant we can provide for our family.

God is good. We are glad. Blessings on you and yours!

Sam

P.S. Please tell me about your family business, and tag them for us.

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