Hardship Through Work

This week, our "Thankful for Hardship" series continues with Dan Ericson sharing about a struggle in his life due to work. If you don't know Dan, he is married to Minette (Riverwood's Admin), father to Kayde, Bastian, Maggie, and Lucy, owner of Wapiti Digital, and an expert in all things Apple (the tech company, not the fruit!).

I always knew I wanted to own a business. It was in my family’s genes and something I aspired to. I chose to go to a community college rather than one of the universities that accepted me because I had started working for a large tech company at the time. (If you are over 30, you probably received a CD in the mail from this company to set up internet service on your home computer!)

Eventually, I realized working for a large corporation wasn't for me, even though they paid really well. So when I had the opportunity to join up with my uncle and run a new coffee company, I jumped at it. I loved coffee, and the company was built around an online, direct-to-your-door sales model. This meant I got to marry my interest in tech with my favorite consumable product, all while co-owning my first business. I immediately packed up everything I had in Arizona and moved to Washington state.

While incredibly green at ownership, leadership, and even just being a good worker, I worked hard at growing this business. I made so many mistakes (of which any one of them would be embarrassing to admit to anyone), but I learned a lot of valuable lessons. We grew the company from selling about 40 pounds of beans out of a converted garage to selling around 10,000 pounds of coffee a month out of a sleek, modern roasting facility we had built. I had the future in my sights and a firm grasp on that vision.

But then...

Family dynamics can be a funny thing. It was always a bit rough for my uncle and me to work together. We saw things very differently, which was a strength at times, but also caused a lot of division. This eventually led to my departure from the business.

Imagine working your entire adult life for something and actually seeing on the horizon wealth, respect, and even a little bit of fame. Then, one day, it's gone. I had poured everything I had into this–even sacrificed time with my family–because "the ends would justify the means." I didn't realize it in the midst of the job, but my priorities were dead wrong.

But in case you didn't know, God is awesome! He can take despair and turn it into something more than one can hope. In my sadness and depression, I grew so much closer to Christ. As a failure, I had nowhere to turn... so I turned to Him. He also used Minette to show His love to me. She was strong in ways I hadn't imagined when I was falling apart. She loved me in spite of my failures and helped me pick up the pieces of my life.

When one door closes, God opens another...

I had started my current web business towards the end of my coffee career. I subconsciously or supernaturally realized I would need something to support my family. My fun "side project" catapulted into my career overnight. When the shift happened, I was working from home to turn this project into something that could take care of my family. The irony was that I went from missing out on parts of my children's lives to being in their lives all day long (for better or worse). God allowed me the blessing of getting back a small part of what I had ignorantly given up.

Fast-forward to today: I've seen God's hand in all aspects of my business. He has supernaturally provided for me and my family over and over again. In dire times or in plenty, I can specifically see His hand in everything. If you ever want more detail on how this story ends, find me on a Sunday morning and ask. I enjoy my business so much more because I know He is blessing me with it and allowing me to bless others in His name. While it would still be uncomfortable, I know that if Wapiti were to go away, His next phase of my life would be waiting for me.