Herman: John L. Herman Jr., Author

A Feel Good Story

About 16 months ago a couple from Wisconsin started emailing me about their dream. They were looking at a bar/restaurant business hundreds of miles away from where they lived. After some telephone conversation and a few more emails I helped “push them off the cliff” towards their dream. Yesterday I received this email and wanted all to see what following your dreams can be like.

Hi John,

Just thought I would drop you an email and give you an update on how our bar & grill in the Northwoods of Wisconsin is doing. By the way, our 1 year anniversary was March 15th! Hard to believe, and I am glad to be writing you a “business success” so far, rather than a crying on your shoulder “business failure” story.

Tim and I talk of you often when someone new comes in and asks “what made you decide to buy a bar & grill, and weren’t you scared to just give everything up and move up here”? Of course we say “yes, we were scared to death”, and then we show them the blog you wrote about us “taking the plunge”. We still say, if it wasn’t for us finding your website, contacting you, and having the support/push, so to say, from someone we’ve never met, but trusted, because of your experiences, and your inspiration, we probably would have chickened out. So again, we thank you and I hope you take that sincerely.

We’re not making money hand over fist by any means but we’re paying the bills and that is truly all we want. Having a place up here, where now the locals come in on a daily basis, is a blessing in itself. Not to pat ourselves on the shoulder but Tim has really put us on the map as a place where people want to come, have fun, and chat with a friend. I still make the trip every weekend, after working “down south” all week, and I can tell you that even though I live 240 miles away during the week, Tripoli is where my home is. The people are great! I can’t say enough about how everyone up here has made us feel like part of their “family”.

I want to tell you that we have been, well, let’s say frugal, in our spendings, and haven’t ordered hats or tee-shirts just yet, but when we do, you are going to be the first person we send one to. Please send me, if you don’t mind, the best address to do so. A few drinks chips (which we have found necessary to order) will be included for, not if, but when, you make it to our part of country. We don’t have cabins, but will reserve, and pay for (as a thank you), “Grandma Boyle’s” cabin, where our good friend Jeff owns a place right up the road from us. We do hope to meet you, and if it at all possible, your wife and any other family you wish to bring.

Tim and I wish you the best, I am on your website every chance I get, and I want you to know that I hope people listen to what you have to say, you are hands down, without a doubt, THE BEST! (yes, you have my permission to post this)!
Hope to see you at the Hillside Bar & Grill in the very near future!!

Praying for all of us business owners, and those writing the books that help us!!!

Tim & Julie
Hillside Bar & Grill
5217 Willow Rd.
Tripoli, WI 54564
715-564-3327

ps: Tim and I got engaged Feb. 14th!! I got up there as usual on Friday, (but it was Fri. the 13th) so Tim waited until 4 min. after midnight to get down on his knee so he wouldn’t jinx us! Now there’s a man whose thinking!!

• Posted: 31 March 2009
• Comments: 2
• Category: Starting a business

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