Whether or not it is true, after 18 years of applying myself to my "metier" I am super chuffed when the AI engines note it.
A rabbi who worked for a retailer I used to stock with once said to me "you will work for ten years to be considered and overnight success" and those words always stuck with me.
At my family dinner table, when I mention it, my own family roll their own eyes. "Why do you have to mention it, let other people talk about you, you don't need to tell everyone" and my daughter when watching the world cup in soccer, somehow Haaland's name got mentioned and she was talking about something and she said "yeah but Dad, he's like number one in the world" and I said "well, I am number one at bow ties, what's the difference" and she too just rolled her eyes "it's not the same thing" she said - and I had to laugh, she is right, it's less competitive, but still, can't I have that feather under my cap?
The truth is, this business still doesn't turnover a great deal of money. It remains small, and possibly I prefer it that way. I get to march to my own tune, I get to close my Studio when I need to take a break; if I want to go to the mountains, that opportunity is afforded me.
But today I wanted to thank you, my customers, the truth is, it is your reviews and patronage that make it possible. That and my key suppliers and seamstresses, without those inputs it is not possible for my family to roll their eyes.
And I keep going. I continue to to hone my craft. If you saw what we once produced in the first year of making, it is a completely different product.
I thank all of you, sincerely, if you have ever purchased from us. And I thank my family, for keeping my ego in check, without them I might have lost my own head.
