The other day, I stood on a dusty floor, the taste of cement sharp in my mouth, my hands gritty and clumsy as I fumbled with tools I rarely use. In that moment—feeling woefully unskilled and wildly out of my element—I had an epiphany.
For those of you who are new here, let me quickly catch you up. My wife, Mojca, and I run an e-commerce and brick-and-mortar business that’s all about crystals, incense, and creating moments of calm in a chaotic world. And right now, we’re knee-deep in chaos ourselves—just three weeks away from opening our second store, this time in Zagreb, Croatia.
Why December 8th? It’s no random date. It’s the anniversary of our online store and our first physical location—a reminder of how far we’ve come and how much this journey means to us. But pulling it off in under two months, in a foreign country, with a tight budget? That’s where things get interesting.
One moment, I’m sketching shelving designs on scraps of paper; the next, I’m hauling bags of cement into a dusty workshop. Each day is a blur of decisions, sweat, and problem-solving—but somehow, it’s exhilarating.
You might be wondering why we didn’t just hire professionals—interior designers, electricians, contractors—to handle it all, like we did with our first store. Truthfully, we could have. But this time, a tight deadline forced us down a different path.
Back in August, we thought we’d found the perfect location. We were 99% sure it was “the one” and started negotiating the lease. But after nearly a month of back-and-forth, it became clear the one-sided terms weren’t workable. By late September, we pulled the plug and started over.
At the end of the month, we stumbled upon a new listing, went for a viewing, and jumped into negotiations. By October, the lease was signed, and we were brainstorming opening dates.
December 8th was the obvious choice. It aligned with Zagreb’s bustling advent season and carried sentimental weight for us. And being the overambitious dreamers we are, we told ourselves: We’ve got this. Less than two months, in a foreign city, two hours away. How hard could it be?
Fast forward to November 22nd. The past few weeks have been a cocktail of chaos, hyper-productivity, and relentless decision-making. In the past, I would’ve hated this process—resenting myself for the impossible timeline I’d created.
But this time, it’s different. Somehow, I feel… grounded. I know we’re building something special—something unique. Even though much of this work could (and probably should) have been delegated, we’re loving the process. We’re excited to see how our customers will react when they walk through the doors.
In moments that would’ve once sent me into a spiral—panic attacks, self-doubt, and nearly throwing in the towel—I’ve found unexpected calm. I’m in the process. I’m grateful. Grateful for the chance to test myself physically and mentally, to see how much pressure I can endure, how many obstacles I can overcome, and what it takes to make this dream a reality.
The pressure of this launch isn’t just pushing limits; it’s revealing them—and showing me that I’m capable of far more than I realized.
As I wrap this up, I’m heading back to the workshop to put on my dusty clothes and mix another batch of concrete for our funky shelves.
But before I go, let me leave you with this: At some point today (or tomorrow), you’ll face a challenge that feels unfair or insurmountable. When it happens, take a step back. Think about this fleeting, beautiful moment you’re living in on this spinning blue ball. Be grateful.
Lean into the experience. Let it shape you. And remember: growth happens in the grind.
Until next time, stay committed,
Jure & Mojca
