Katie decided to leave her job when our second child was about two years old. She had told me her plans a year in advance, but every time we discussed it, the conversation ended in frustration. Eventually, we stopped talking about it, but when the year was up, she made her decision—it wasn’t up for debate anymore. From that moment on, J-Tea became the sole means of supporting our family of four.

Looking back, Katie’s decision to leave her job was one of the best things that could have happened for both the business and our family. It pushed me to get serious about the tea business. Selling tea became my livelihood, and I view it very differently now than I did back then.

Today, J-Tea has no debt, no employees, and no services other than tea. We don’t make kombucha, sell juice, or produce iced tea. And as I’ve always said, there is no "right" way to run a business—there is only the way that’s right for you. The experience of COVID-19 was an unexpected gift that set many businesses free, ours included.

I vividly remember being alone in the teahouse after we shut down. As I went about my usual routine, I realized I had been following a specific path—best practices, so to speak. But the world had changed, and those answers no longer applied. That was when I understood just how much I had to let go of—so much baggage that no longer served the business or me.

Now, at 50 years old, I know that if I have 20 more years at the helm, I’m lucky. So, it’s important to focus on what truly matters. I am deeply grateful to all of you who have supported J-Tea over the years. It’s been an honor to serve and help people discover tea.