Still Inspired by Karen

It’s been a while since my last post.

I have dozens of drafts that I’m not ready to share, but I still have things to say, so I thought I’d write something tonight.

The purpose of this blog has shifted over the years. It isn’t very organized right now, and that makes it difficult for new visitors to find the stories that might help them most. Over the next year, I hope to sort through everything—grouping posts into categories so that others can more easily find what they need.

In conversations, I often tell people about what Karen went through and everything we learned together. Sometimes I mention that I wrote about those moments, only to realize I can’t quickly find the post myself. That’s another reason I want to reorganize things—so Karen’s story, and the lessons we lived, don’t get buried.

Karen was a wonderful person. I want others to know who she was and how she faced things—with strength, humor, and love. Even now, she’s an inspiration to me and to everyone who knew her.

Karen and I started our business when we had nothing. We had both lost our incomes, had no savings, and were facing more uncertainty than we could imagine. But we believed in doing something for ourselves—something that mattered. What began as a small side business to help make ends meet soon became our main focus.

We went all in.

The year Karen was diagnosed with cancer was also the first year our business was nominated for the Columbus Fast 50—an award recognizing the fastest-growing companies in central Ohio. Our growth came from how people responded to us. We tried to treat customers well, care for our employees, and make choices we could be proud of. When we face big decisions, we still ask, “What would Karen do?”

Today, I accepted the Columbus Fast 50 award on behalf of our company—for the tenth consecutive year.

Karen changed all of us. We think about her every day. When we welcome new people into our work family, we tell them about Karen—who she was and who we strive to be. Her influence continues to shape us, quietly but powerfully.

As I look ahead, I want this space to continue that legacy—to share stories, lessons, and reminders of what really matters. Life moves quickly, but taking time to remember where we started, who we’ve loved, and how far we’ve come helps keep us grounded in what’s true.