We were lucky to catch up with Susan Popovich recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Susan with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My mother gave me a great work ethic. She was Italian and she had to work hard most of her life, because she came from a large family and they didn’t have much. She always wanted her children to have more than she did. I started working as a teenager and I’ve never been afraid of hard work. Now that my mother has passed away I look to my son for inspiration. He is a very hard worker and has worked with me to help me with my business.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I worked most of my life in the medical field. After twenty years of doing the same profession I decided to make a change and open my own business. I am a wife and mother and I felt like I was missing out on spending time with my family working for someone else. I also had two elderly parents that needed to be taken care of due to their declining health.
So at forty six I thought long and hard about what changes I wanted to make. I really wanted a different environment to work in. I didn’t want to be stuck inside in an office anymore. I wanted to be outside in the fresh air. I also wanted to educate my son on how to open a business and let him know you are never too old to make changes and take chances in your life. I wanted to be part of the community and meet new people. That’s when I decided to open Southern Treats.
Southern Treats is a gourmet kettle corn company. We work different events in the area such as farmers market, concerts, festivals & any type of celebrations..
We use premium popcorn and simple premium ingredients. Our kettle corn is non GMO, gluten-free, vegan friendly, and dairy free. We also started selling premium cotton candy. Southern Treats is also a family run and female owned business.
This business has allowed me to change my life and spend more time with my family. Working side by side with my son has been priceless. It has been the best experience of my life. I have met some amazing people in the community. It’s allowed me to meet some wonderful business owners that have helped my business grow. Owning a business is not easy. You have to push yourself everyday. You must overcome challenges and keep growing. Making mistakes is part of growing. I am blessed to love what I do and I hope to continue growing my business in the years to come.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Figure out what your gifts or skills are. My gift is giving excellent customer service. It’s something that I enjoy. I also have a very strong work ethic. I can push myself to work hard even when I’m tired and I don’t feel like it. That is a discipline not everyone has. I also continue to learn and grow. I’ve noticed people get to a certain age and they stop growing. They stay stagnant and wait for retirement. I want to always grow and evolve. I push past any fear I may have. I also encourage others to do the same. All of those skills seem simple, but they aren’t. No matter what you are doing if you have these skills then your dreams are possible.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
The challenge I am facing now is the economy. I have seen a lot of small businesses close in the past year. I want to continue to grow my business and with rising food costs and expenses it has been difficult. I am now trying to get grants to assist in Southern Treats growth. I kept my business thriving during the pandemic and now with an uncertain economy I will continue to work hard and fight for my business. I have learned some very important lessons in the last five years.
October is our five year anniversary and I look forward to many more wonderful years in business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.southern-treats.com
- Instagram: Southerntreats5
- Facebook: Southerntreats5
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
