WRITTEN BY CHERYL WELLS
There’s a lot going on in Le Mars that represents health and growth. There are several new businesses that we have had a part in opening in the last 12-15 months, and they are doing well. We also have four new things that we are working on right now with completion dates before the end of the year. These new endeavors are much needed and have been carefully chosen for our community, and even the region. We have continued to put together our business plan for Red Shed Enterprises and community development, collaborating with the greater community in comprehensive development.
We are still in the messy part, but they will start to come together soon. It’s just part of the process and I’ve learned that through the years. Most days, I don’t want to have to endure the mess and the ugliness of rebuilding, or even what it takes to build something new from scratch. Some of the work right now is adding on a new structure, but then rebuilding the existing space out for what is next. It really does take perseverance and trust to keep going and we are so grateful for all those involved. Thanks so much to the business owners that we are working with and your willingness to wait out the delays. Thanks also to the community and others involved in transforming our community and creating new spaces where people want to visit, live, work and play.
We have lots of partners that we have built trust with over the years, and it is a level of commitment that we value, and we honor them. It’s good for both us and them, and that’s how great partnerships work. There has to be added value for both that is backed by integrity and forthrightness. The kind of relationship that you can ask each other the hard questions and it makes us both better. We talk often about having skin in the game and it means that we all have to have a vested interest. It can’t be about one person taking all the risk, but it has to be shared.
We are so grateful for the people that we are working with and the trust that has been built with our contractors and subcontractors. Also, with the new business owners that we are working with that we are setting lease amounts for them, as well as just the agreement that we need to start these projects. Some of these buildings are over 150 years old and when you start the project you have no idea what you are getting yourself into. All of a sudden you find out that there is a major problem that will take more time and money. Many of the buildings that we have repurposed had one business in them before, and now there are two. The water and the utilities were for single usage and now we have to figure out how to split it or pay a big fee to do new meters and tear up cement in some cases. Then we call the cement guy and the electrician and/or the plumber.
Like I said, it can be messy, and it can be costly. The numbers are constantly changing, and we always want to do things right. Over the years we have learned the hard way that it’s not healthy for us to make everything easy for people. We have always believed that we were blessed to be a blessing, and we have been cheerful givers. Whether it was through Wells’ or our personal gifts, we have been known for acts of benevolence. We are in a new season where we are learning the balance in that, and we can see that it is healthier for everyone. Transparency and vulnerability are key in our communications and the root of it all really has to be authenticity in all things.
We are talking real relationships in our connections with real people. Life can be messy in many ways, as I have been thinking and talking about. But we have found that in all the things that we are to do, no matter whether it is family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, or partners in anything worthwhile, if it is not done in love and honesty – it’s all a sham. That’s not the people that we are or ever want to be.
Our goal for all involved in our projects, ourselves included, is to take something that is a disaster and make it new and beautiful. We have to see the potential in every project. Whether it is commercial, residential, or a community property we are working on, we want to make a place that people would want to come to in our little corner of the world. There’s lots of transformation happening in Le Mars and that has to start with us personally. We sold the Wells’ business 18 months ago and we have been learning so much that we needed to see and adjust. It’s been good and it’s been hard. It has been messy at times, but beauty is coming. Sounds like a common theme. There is beauty for ashes when we are willing to be a transformational work ourselves. I guess we signed up. To God be the glory, great things He has done and is doing.
