If you are passionate about something, please don’t make it into a business unless you’re ready for all the complexity and hardships that come with running one.
When you’re passionate, you romanticize it so much that you think turning it into a business will be even better. But the reality is, running a business is a whole different skill set.
So, if you love coffee and can pull the perfect shot, think twice before starting your own coffee shop. When you run a café, most of your time will be spent on:
- Supplier negotiations
- Customer relations
- Staffing and training
- Inventory management
- Equipment maintenance
You’ll have far less time to brew. And that perfect cup you dream of serving? It rarely stays perfect—machines break, baristas call in sick, beans arrive over-roasted, raw materials get delayed. Case in point.
But but but!
If you manage your expectations and tackle those entrepreneurial headaches head-on—validate your idea with a pop-up or wholesale trial, document every recipe and procedure, delegate non-brewing tasks, and budget for surprises—then you’ll be unstoppable. With grit and preparation, you might just be the next Starbucks.
So keep loving coffee—but keep that love in your cup until you’re ready for everything else that comes with running a business.