We recently had the chance to connect with Hali Holt and have shared our conversation below.
Hali, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I am most proud of building a business that isn’t just about transactions, profit, and loss. I pour my soul into curating an environment that fosters empathy, respect, and compassion for employees, customers, families, fellow small businesses and our community in general. I am proud that my children see that there are no limitations or boundaries when it comes to fulfilling dreams and doing hard things. You can change paths as many times as it takes and still be successful. I sometimes think that I have no business owning a business, because I would donate everything if I could, but then I realize that is what sets me apart and why I still have passion for what I am doing. I tend to give my all with everything I sign up for- I have been learning to create boundaries and while still staying true to myself. I think people see what gets shared on social media and what they see briefly when they stop into the coffee shop, but there is so much that goes behind the scenes. If you can create a life that makes you proud, I think you should take every opportunity to make that happen. The bumps along the way should be embraced- as that is a part of the story too.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Hali, I own a coffee shop in a small rural Upper Peninsula Town, soon to be opening a second location in another rural area. I have 4 kids with my husband. I went to college for nursing, worked as a nurse for a few years, then took time at home when I became pregnant with my two daughters. I cannot stay idle long and decided to get my real estate license. I briefly did that and the opportunity to purchase a small coffee shop arose. My husband, who is retired military, agreed with my wild idea to put in an offer and we got it! I had no clue what we were in for but felt compelled to move forward with it. I was born in a raised in the town I am raising my family in. I am very family and community driven. I believe in giving our area a safe place to go where you can be you without judgment- all we ask for is providing respect to all. I am a strong advocate for mental health awareness. We love trying out of the box ideas for drink concoctions, we love supporting our community and the youth, especially. The youth is our future. I truly hope that each person leaves the shop with a sense of home or friendship that they needed or didn’t know they needed.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
The moment that shaped how I saw the world was when I became a mother. I didn’t think of the future or what I truly wanted in life. While that comes with growing up and maturing, I think it is important to note that when you have little lives counting on you for survival, as well as guidance as they age you completely re-evaluate priorities and shift focus on what matters. In a perfect world my kids would feel safe, understood, supported and loved. While that won’t be the case, I think it is important to shift your views and determine what it is exactly we can do for them to help them navigate this scary world. It is okay to not agree with others; it is okay to fail or be told no 1000 times before we get a yes or success story. It is okay to not know what we want to be when we are older, it is okay to be different. It is okay to not be okay. That is what is important. As I learn this, I understand I owe the same grace to myself. I believe that is when the lens I saw the world completely changed, for that, I am forever grateful.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of failure is what had held me back most of my life. I think when we purchased the coffee shop. I took one of the biggest risks personally, at that time it all shifted. We entered a realm of complete uncertainty and so many questions if this was the right move. I had thought I had my life planned and I was not going to veer off that path. I was going to continue a career in the health care field, and no one was going to change that. When we took a leap of faith and followed that innate calling to buy the coffee shop it allowed me to accept that risks are worth it. I always was a dreamer, but never wanted to take the risk, because I would question if it would fail. I connected any failures directly to my self worth. I was my biggest critic and failing wasn’t an option. Now, I embrace failure, because it means I tried. It means I get another chance to show up. It means I learned something. It means I get to show my kids that we get right back up, we persevere because failing does not need to be tied to negativity. When it is our time to succeed, it will be that much sweeter. The win will be peppered with lifelong lessons and strong sense of accomplishment, because we accepted that failures can be beautiful.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
A belief or project that I am committed to no matter the cost is protecting our mental health. I come from a rural town in the upper peninsula of Michigan. Access to mental health care is already lacking across the nation, so picture yourself in a small town. While access through tele therapy has been an amazing asset to today’s access and there has been much improvement, there is still so much lacking. There are 3-6 month waiting lists for therapists, the closest inpatient facility is a full day’s drive, and our kids go to school with kids threatening to stab or shoot peers leaving families in a panic as to what to do. I dream of having better access across the nation, with remote areas at the forefront. I have reached out to state representatives in regard to mental health discrepancies, to no avail. As a parent, as a small business owner and as someone that sees a therapist regularly, I wish our legislature would take mental health as serious as picking fights with different sides. The mental health crisis that encases our nation has been and continues to be just as serious as any other pandemic. I will fight until I don’t have an ounce of breath left for change.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think what people will misunderstand about my legacy at The Grind Coffee House is thinking that we were just a coffee shop. While we are a coffee shop, the idea behind it is so much more. We want The Grind to make you feel included, thought of, special and that you truly matter. We try to remember people’s names after the first or second time they come in, we ask how their mom is doing since being hospitalized or how their kid’s sporting event went. We have had wedding ceremonies at The Grind, we have been witnesses to important medical documents, we have attended funerals of customers, and we have made true connections. I believe when you come to The Grind, the experience as a whole is treasured just as much as the coffee itself. Most businesses will say that the customer is always correct, while that may ring true in certain scenarios, respect is what I value most. If you cannot respect my employees, myself or other patrons in the shop there is not a place for you. We had a customer order a drink and then began belligerently ranting on about another customer, I ended the transaction in that moment and asked them to leave. If 40 years from now there is anything that is remembered about The Grind Coffee House, it is that we were authentic, we cared, we will fight for what is right and that you were always welcomed.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://the-grind-coffee-house.square.site/
- Instagram: @thegrindmstq
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegrindmstq/
