Onward and Upward

Mamas,
 
I hope this finds you all well for the week ahead. It was so lovely to bump into some of you over the last week in Central Park and Morningside Park! I love what this community of mothers has become. I saw some of you hanging out with each other because you first met in this very group. Connection is my love language. I feel full when I know that I am and others are genuinely connecting with each other because they have decided to be vulnerable and honest in their conversations. 
 
As we inch closer to the summer, I’m sure at least some of you are finalizing your summer plans. We’re still finalizing the kids’ arrangements from mid June to mid July. We’re thinking about taking a road trip to the Midwest in mid August. I love road trips with us five. They are definitely not vacation, but they are an adventure and I think my affinity for long car rides goes back to the rides I used to take with my mom as a child. 

We had a visit from New York 1 (my favorite local news!!) and the James Beard Foundation about being a recommended stop when in Harlem. 

While we hammer out the kids’ plans for when they are not in camp, I’m also looking forward to leading the time retreat on June 7th via Zoom and a new group coaching program this fall for moms who are running businesses that have generated at least $30,000 in gross revenue. These businesses might be “side hustles,” they might just be getting started, or they might just be ready to grow. 
 
Money is taboo for so many, but it’s not for me. How can we connect better if we don’t talk about the thing that dictates so much of our lives and our thoughts?
 
At the beginning of last year, in the middle of the pandemic, my goal was for us to reach seven figures in revenue at Sugar Hill Creamery. I am proud to say that we reached our goal and not by a dollar. As a result of this revenue, we have been able to employ almost 30 people in part-time and full-time positions year-around while supporting organizations like Harlem Little League with team sponsorship. 

A picture of a young Harlem Little League player from our team.

I could not be prouder of this small business that we have built over the last five years. Ice cream hasn’t been our life long dream per se, but it was a solution to multiple “problems.” Nick had recently lost his job due to the restaurant where he worked closing. We needed more time together as a family. And, Harlem, the neighborhood we love so much, did not have ice cream made by hand from ingredients you can name. Nick and I brought our skills and interests together to birth Sugar Hill Creamery, which has changed the course of our lives forever.
 
Five years in business is a big milestone, as many businesses fold in five years or less. During this time, I have come to appreciate more with each day the emotional freedom we have experienced as a result of being our own bosses. I’m not saying every day is easy work, but I am saying this entrepreneurial life has served me very well. 
 
I am passionate about supporting other people like me (mothers itching for something more than what their very good job could provide in lifestyle and freedom). I’d love to see you at the time retreat to figure out how you'd like to optimize how you spend your time.
 
If you’re a mama with a side hustle, new business, or business that needs to grow in revenue, please drop me a line. This fall cohort will be small and chock full of engagement, resources, and tools to help you grow.
 
Have a great week ahead!
 
Petrushka 

**Subscribe to my email list for more content like this.