What Would Grandpa Benny Do?

By Brandi Nowak

“He Would’ve Just Fixed It with Duct Tape”

Some days, running a business feels like trying to brush an alligator’s teeth—while it’s swimming, backwards, through a hurricane.

Between shipping delays, supply chain hiccups, and printers that only work when Mercury’s in retrograde, it’s easy to feel like the whole thing’s on fire. (And sometimes it is, literally. Ask me about the time that our dumpster was actually on fire and we moved it with a forklift!!!!!)

But then I think about Grandpaw Benny.

He didn’t have software or spreadsheets or a team of consultants. He had a leather bag, a handful of products, and a belief that if you treated folks right, they’d stick around.

He didn’t wait for perfect. He worked with what he had. He showed up, told the truth, and found a way. Usually with duct tape, a coffee, and a little grin that said, “We’ll figure it out.”

So this month, if you’re staring down a mess—whether it’s a late shipment, a cranky customer, or your third attempt at a staff meeting that no one is paying attention to—channel Grandpaw Benny.

Take a breath. Crack a joke. Slap some metaphorical duct tape on it.

And keep going. Because that’s what built this company. And let’s be honest… it’s probably what’s still holding it together.

—Brandi