We recently connected with Chuck Patton and have shared our conversation below.
Chuck , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I would prefer to say that I found my Purrpose. Early on, I started to recognize that saw the world through a disruptive lens. Maybe it was the rebel in me or the entertainer but my motivation soon grew into a desire to do things different, that others did not feel possible. It was my Blue Ocean DNA that led me to navigate a path that would ultimately make a difference in the world. I knew the path around the norm. I had an instinct to identify mundane practices and replace them with better ways of doing things.
Fast forward, when I sold my advertising business 9 years ago, I knew I had an opportunity to take a career path that would make a difference. I knew I wanted to find something that would give me purpose. I just didn’t know what that was. I feel there are two kinds of entrepreneurs. Those who know their path and take it, and those who keep their eyes open for the path that presents itself. I was the latter. I knew I wanted to make a difference, I just had no idea how. As I was tagging along with my wife on a work trip, I ran into the unique business model we now call a Cat Cafe. I had no idea what a Cat Cafe was but after speaking to nice people about how they were super busy all while adopting out so many cats that they had to reach out to multiple shelters, I saw the path. I had always loved animals and I recognized how the system of animal rescues was completely broken. Shelters have traditionally done a great job intaking and vetting animals but had the most amount of difficulty adopting them out. Thats all I needed to see. I found something to disrupt. I found my Purrpose.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I literally herd cats. Purrfect Day Cafe is half bar and coffee shop and half adoption center. It is a social enterprise business model that has successfully brought together those who share an affinity for impacting homeless animals, more specifically of the feline variety. Just as I had a vision to start a business with a purrpose, I knew there were others who wanted a job with a purrpose. Some place where they would come home exhausted but is was a good exhausted because they knew they made a difference. And from this, came a like-minded movement within our community that saw the cafe as a way to make an impact.
Purrfect Day Cafe was able to apply strong business practices with a community purrpose that lead to an impact that is truly humbling. We set a goal to adopt out 300 cats in our first year. We assembled a talented team, found the very best shelter partners, finished out a truly creative space, and established this amazing experience that still books up every weekend. And here we are today with two locations, bringing in 50,000 visitors a year, adopting out over 3100 cats per year and 16,000 since our beginning. This is what gets me up every day!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
First and foremost its about finding great people, inspiring them towards a common goal, then cultivating a culture that allows each of their talents to shine. Very rarely do large organizations become great without a leaders’ ability to build the talent around them. Second, is the ability to take many complicated pieces of business and simplify them into a common vision. Everyone is different and thinks different about the how the world works. If you can simplify the complicated and paint a common vision, that people want to rally around, you can move mountains. Lastly, you must have enough courage to take a unique path. When i told my circle of friends and business associates that I was starting a Cat Cafe, they thought I was crazy. Society seems to approach the world with a cautious and critical eye. It’s easier to criticize than create. But if you have confidence in your business skills and vision, you will have a huge head start.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
There are so many unique business models and so many great leaders of organization with diverse skills and knowledge sets. But I found my identity when I ready Blue Ocean Strategies by Renée Mauborgne and W. Chan Kim. It broke down the path of innovative thinkers to create unique models that competed along side the competition but with very different approaches. I loved the stories of Apple and Cirque de Soleil and they inspired to compete through creativity as well as hard work. I knew thinking differently was a skill I had but when the book broke down the journey taken by other creative thinkers, I knew I found my niche. And when opportunity met identity, I knew my quirky concept could be great.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.purrfectdaycafe.com
- Instagram: Purrfectdaylou, Purrfectdaycov.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
