Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
The Bohemian Bean Vision Statement - Coggle Diagram
The Bohemian Bean Vision Statement
Why do I want to create a business?
Autonomy
I've had very few examples of a "good boss." Being able to take the few examples from the good ones -as what to do and how to treat others - as well as what I've learned from the bad ones - as to what NOT to do and how NOT to treat others - is important to me as I develop my business.
I want to be solely responsible for my professional successes and failures, without having to work under the thumb of upper and middle management who oftentimes mis-relay information or look for others to blame their mistakes on while taking credit for successful outcomes. Being a business owner, I will be solely responsible for both.
I want the ability to have control over my work projects, and to change directions and focus when I see something is not coming together as planned, or not getting the desired results. It is import to me that I am able to trust my instincts without having to follow someone else's directions.
Control over my income potential
Having been passed for promotions, repeatedly underpaid for positions, and had to assert my claim for equal pay (to no avail), being able to have control over my income and my "worth" is essential.
By having a business, not only can I be in control of how much I make, but I can also be in control of how little. If the business is growing too quickly, I can decide if I want it to continue growing, and at what pace, for the financial gains, or if I want it to remain small and am fine with the income I am generating.
Control over my work/life balance
I am the type of person who is unable to separate myself from "who I am" and "what I do." Because of that, it is important to me that "what I do" is something that can be part of my personal life without feeling like it's taking over.
Being able to maintain a balance of when I work and time I need to myself for exercise or other types of self-care is essential. I've lived with unhealthy amounts of stress for many years and I'm learning how to manage it in a healthy way while also fulfilling my responsibilities. Maintaining control over my needs and my ability to manage them is important to my long term health.
Creative expression
It is important to me that both through work and in my personal life, I can express myself creatively. Starting a business where I am able to do that while also having the everyday, non-creative work responsibilities is a good balance for me.
I will be able to have control and take credit for my creative output, and not have to work from someone else's creative vision.
Healthy work environment
This is in line with my core value "good health," both in the sense of having control of the actual health of the air and environmental quality of my work space, and also the emotional and interpersonal atmosphere.
Managing stress is one of the most important reasons, both short term and long term, for starting a business. Even though I know there will be stress that comes with operating a business, I am more comfortable with stressors that are somewhat within my control than those that are not, like in toxic workplace.
Personal and professional fulfillnment
It is very satisfying to me to see a finished project and for others to get enjoyment from it.
It is satisfying to be appreciated and paid for my creative endeavors.
How will creating a business help me achieve my personal, professional, and financial goals?
Travel to other cultures
Travel is a big personal goal, and through my business plan, I will be able to do that semi-regularly, while also having the opportunity to interact and learn about different cultures.
It has always been important to me to see how life is in other parts of the world, and learn about different cuisine, folk art, and lifestyles.
Earn a living through my creativity
Even though I have been earning a living through my creativity throughout my adult life, I have always felt like I fall short, or am a disappointment; like what I do isn't "real work." It is important - personally, professionally, and financially - that I turn this passion into a viable business.
It is important that I am able to charge for my work (and products) what it's worth, and take control over the value of my time and creative vision.
Make a positive social and environmental impact
Becoming a chocolate maker will afford me the opportunity to buy cocoa beans from small, family farms in developing regions, which is helping to create sustainable income for those people.
By purchasing cocoa beans from the small, family farmers and not commercial farms, it is protecting the indigenous species, which are far superior in flavor, and protects the environment by promoting the planting of heirloom, indigenous plants that are beneficial to pollinators and animal life.
Have the ability to balance and combine work and life goals
Because my work and life are so intertwined, it is essential to me that my personal, professional, and financial goals are all in line with one another.
Working from home and remaining flexible to relocate is important as I start the business in order to determine what direction I decide to take the future of both the business and my personal living environment.
Be in control of my earning potential
I have personal and professional goals that have been limited by earning potential. In previous employment, there has been a cap on what a position is worth.
I would like to redefine my personal and professional "worth" by taking control over that pre-determined limit.
Be able to take complete credit for my successes (and failures)
In previous work in theatre, work is primarily in teams, and success is usually granted to designers or directors, yet when something goes wrong, fingers point to someone with little-to-no power or control. Although I enjoy working in a team, I want the opportunity to get credit for my own work, whether it's outstanding or something goes wrong.
Hold myself accountable.
Be proud of my accomplishments.
Be able to create the lifestyle I want and manage outside stress
I am not only creating a business, I am creating a lifestyle. I have a vision for my life that includes being able to spend time with friends/family, a home life, travel, and work, and being able to balance and enjoy it all.
Maintaining a low amount of stress is important for my overall health. Having lived with high amounts of stress for several years, it began to affect my health, and I now need to be extremely mindful of my day-to-day lifestyle and the stressors I'm allowing in.
Strategies that ensure a new idea works in the real world
Start small
By starting small, I can manage the investment I put into the business and grow at my own pace.
This allows me to be able to maintain a low overhead while I'm figuring out my profit margins.
Develop relationships/mentorships with others who are successfully operating a small batch chocolate business.
I am developing a relationship with the owners of CocoaTown, who will be supplying my equipment. They are extremely supportive to cocoa entrepreneurs and are invested in our success.
I am looking for some chocolate makers who I believe will be willing to provide mentorship to me while I am starting.
Get to know my customers, their buying trends, and values.
By understanding who my customers are, I will be better able to make decisions on where to set up a permanent location for my business as it grows.
Understanding my customers' values will help me know which aspects to focus on - the tasting profiles, the environmental impact, the social impact, etc.
Getting to know buying trends will help me focus my production and buying schedules. I will also be planning buying trips, and will need to know what times of year are best for being able to step away from production.
Key Considerations of a good new business idea
High quality chocolate
Affordable luxury
High quality, exclusive chocolate is an affordable way to treat yourself to something special and unnecessary.
Even in times of recession, affordable luxuries tend to continue to sell because people cut out large expenses but still like to indulge.
People love chocolate
People have been loving chocolate since 450 BC when it was first made into a drink by the Mayans.
The botanical name for cocoa is
Theobroma cacao
which translates to "food of the gods.
Superfood - health benefits
Cocoa is rich in flavanols, which can reduce blood pressure, the risk of heart disease, risk of diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity, reduce stress, increase athletic performance, can support the immune system, and improve brain function.
Attributes that make my idea a good idea
Starting as a small, mobile business
By starting small and mobile, I can control overhead expenses.
Being mobile will allow me to figure out the best locations for my niche product and where I will be most profitable.
Focus on high quality chocolate
Above all, the focus of my business is high quality, excellent chocolate that is far superior to anything store bought.
People who either love chocolate or who enjoy indulging in something fine and exclusive will buy my products.
Having a focus beyond myself and my business
Other than the day-to-day of striving to produce the highest quality chocolate, I have a purpose bigger than myself in empowering and supporting cocoa entrepreneurs around the globe.
Being able to keep some of the focus on others, not just myself and my business, is motivation for me to continue to work hard.
Having a focus on sustainability, environmental impact, and supporting cocoa farming entrepreneurs allows me to feel as though I'm doing something that matters - that I'm giving back.
Talking About Your Idea - Business Concept Statement
How is my product different from other products/services?
My products will provide information about the farmers/cocoa growers and the regions where the cocoa comes from.
By talking about the regions and farms where the cocoa is grown, it subtly teaches the consumer about social and environmental responsibility, but will educate them about "terroir" in chocolate - the flavor notes that are unique to each growing region and individual farms, as in wine.
What is my competitive advantage?
In my current location, there are no other craft chocolate makers as of now.
I will be starting from a mobile workspace, so I will be able to keep my overhead low and control my price point.
How does my product/service solve this problem for my customer?
By establishing relationships with the cocoa growers, I can provide "traceablity" to the consumer.
By working in small batches, I can control the flavor profiles of each individual batch to get unique flavors and bring out certain profiles.
I will be able to source and control the ingredients to ensure a "clean" ingredient profile for the best health benefits and flavors.
Who will buy it?
I will have a market with foodies and those who like exclusive things that come with superior knowledge and some pretention.
I will have a market with those who are conscientious about their health and the ingredients in their food, but who don't want to compromise on flavor.
I will have a market with socially conscious consumers.
I will have a market with chocolate lovers.
What is the customer problem I am trying to solve?
Lack of sustainably sourced chocolate available in my local/regional.
Lack of high quality, superior-tasting chocolate that's been hand crafted, not industrial made.
Lack of chocolate made with high quality, healthy ingredients that also tastes great.
Why will they buy it from me?
My customers will buy from me because of my dedication to knowledge of my products.
My customers will buy from me because of my commitment to high quality flavor and ingredients.
My customers will buy from me because they will enjoy the wholistic sensory experience they get from my chocolate.
My customers will buy from me because of my commitment to sustainablity.
Elevator Pitch
Attention-grabbing 1st line
Are you a chocoholic?
How much do you love chocolate?
Description of product
At The Bohemian Bean we make bean to bar chocolate sourced from entrepreneurial cocoa farms in West Africa and Central America.
We use all natural ingredients, and certified organic when cost-effective for the farmers, but always ensure the cocoa beans are grown without the use of harmful pesticides.
Description of people behind business
The business was founded by me, Rebecca, after I having been a caretaker for both of my parents at the end of their lives, and being unfulfilled in my previous profession as a theatrical costumer.
After the death of my mother, I needed time to myself and took a trip to Chicago where I spent a week at the Chocolate Academy learning chocolatiering, and that's when my interest in learning chocolate making was sparked.
The benefits of investing in my business
The chocolate business is rapidly growing with an increased interest in responsibly sourced cocoa, natural/health benefits, and high quality, all of which we place a high importance.
While craft chocolate is a rapidly growing industry, there are no other chocolate makers in my immediate area, hence little competition, other than what is available on store shelves and online.
A call to action
I'm seeking an investment of X for facility upgrade that will provide a space for public events, equipment upgrades, and marketing.
The You factor
When I am passionate about something and prepared to speak, it generally comes across in my words and personality. I am comfortable with public speaking and love sharing my knowledge about something I feel strongly about.
Risk Tolerance
I often seek out new and different things to try.
strongly agree
I love when I have the opportunity to learn new skills and take classes and seminars/webinars.
I enjoy the challenge of finding a solution when I run into a problem.
agree
I don't love when I have a problem, but I enjoy tackling the challenge of finding creative solutions. This only adds creates ways to do things more effectively and efficiently in the future.
The discomfort of doing something new or different is just part of the learning process.
agree
It's never fun to make mistakes and mess up, but that's how we learn to troubleshoot. In chocolate making, many things can go wrong throughout the process and it's important to learn precision and at which step to tweak things.
It is not hard for me to ask for help or guidance from others.
agree/strongly agree (depending on the day)
I have no problem asking for help and admitting I don't know how to do something, but I have a bad habit of getting stubborn and trying to figure it out on my own and wasting a lot of time before getting help. I need to work on asking for help sooner.
I understand there maybe consequences if something goes wrong.
agree
I have a fairly realistic idea of the big picture of a project when I get into it, but I can sometimes get hyper focused on one aspect and allow other areas (that are less interesting to me) to be neglected. I understand they are important and the consequences, but procrastinate.
I am realistic about my ability to handle risk.
Neither agree/disgree
I am fairly realistic about risk in most cases, however I sometimes overestimate how much I can take on, or underestimate how much of a risk something actually is.
This is an important area for me to focus on getting more outside help, especially in terms of financial risk.
I believe in myself and my ability to tackle new challenges.
strongly agree/disagree (depending on the day)
My belief in myself can waiver from day to day. One day I'm extremely confident I'm doing everything I need to do, and the next I feel like this is a lost cause. Most days I feel confident, so I think that's ok.
I can roll with the punches and find a way to succeed.
strongly agree
I am very resilient. I am able to overcome most setbacks and find a way to course-correct, even if it means changing plans to accommodate a new situation.
I am comfortable with a bit of ambiguity.
agree
I'm not sure if I'm "comfortable" as much as "used to" ambiguity. I operate well in the gray areas and am very resourceful.
I accustomed to working contracts rather than having a steady paycheck, so I have a lived experience with working in that manner.
Co-Founding Considerations
What does my company need that I am not good at or unable to do? Who can help?
accounting/bookkeeping
I am trying to get better at this and will take more classes to learn software and techniques. Ultimately, I may be better served to outsource this to someone who is more skilled.
taxes
I have a tax preparer who will be able to help me, however I hope to learn to do this myself after learning bookkeeping software.
Web design
I can create a basic web page from a template, but I would like to have an independent website with plugins. I could learn that, but I feel I would get extremely frustrated with it and ultimately end up neglecting it. I would like to either outsource this or hire someone to do regular upkeep on a website to make sure it stays current and I can easily use it for communication and sales.
financial projections
This is something that seems like looking into a crystal ball to me. I have been working with a consultant with SBA to learn software that can help with financial projections and I assume it's a skill that is learned over time with experience.
Looking at my entrepreneurial characteristics and personal vision, what characteristics and priorities in teammates would complement mine?
analytical/business minded
- someone who is more adept to the numbers side of things and the bottomline. I have a hard time recognizing the cost vs. value of something and tend to focus solely on the project. It would be beneficial to have someone who can keep the profit margins prioritized.
Type A
I can get hyper focused on one element of the job, usually something artistic, and can neglect the things I don't enjoy doing. It would be beneficial to have another person who is very organized and methodical about making sure everything gets done.
Extrovert
Someone who enjoys going to networking events and promoting the business to investors and/or vendors. I am able if I have to, but really do not enjoy it. I would love to have someone who genuinely likes making those connections.