March 2022 Letter from the CEO
Have you ever thought of yourself as a Mom and Pop shop?
Me neither. But the fact is, small businesses like ours provide nearly 70% of all new jobs in our country! When I started Betties, my desire was to support local Mom and Pop businesses across the US, yet I didn’t think of myself as one.
The 29th of this month is National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day, and I’d like to tip my hat to each of you. You chose the road less traveled. Whether you directly employ team members or indirectly hire through working with companies like Betties, you are helping to put food on the table for families, and that’s worth celebrating!
Here’s what I’ve been up to this month! I recently returned from Panama where I was able to celebrate the period before lent, mostly known as Carnaval, with my family.
Emily & family in traditional Panamanian dress, Pollera.
Emily & family standing in the pit of an extinct volcano.
I met cousins, aunts, and uncles all over the country who I’d never met before. One thing each of them had in common was an entrepreneurial spirit and gratitude for every meal we shared. I even learned to pray in Spanish before breaking bread from my cousin. As I discovered my roots, I learned that the entrepreneurial spirit flows through our blood. I was amazed to see how the tiny local pharmacy, run by one of my cousins, was able to provide a living for locals. They seemed to know everyone who came in and I could feel the connectedness amongst the community.
Family tienda. Loved seeing how the locals all stop in for a chat!
Everywhere we went, people spent time in local tiendas or outdoors hanging with neighbors and living in community. It was a beautiful experience. As we come up on Mom and Pop Day, I want to find ways to connect and grow our community of law firms and team members. I’m working on some fun ideas to create a stronger community and can’t wait to share more in the upcoming months!
Talk to you next month!
Emily
