Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Keely Werly. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Keely , thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I would say that my work ethic comes from discipline ingrained in me since I was a small child. My parents were definitely a driving factor of this discipline. They were both raised on farms and even though we did not live on a farm when I was young, we still very much had a set schedule and chores were delegated out. My parents also enrolled me in piano and cello lessons. They were very strict about practicing and being prepared. Learning music can be rewarding, but it also can be very demanding. I started when I was ten and I learned pretty quickly that you have to actually work. I was not allowed to do things unless practice had been completed. I was also not allowed to quit in the middle of something. My parents were very big on seeing things through and that if I had made a commitment, then I was expected to finish. I continued music through middle school, high school, and college. I truly believe it is this background of constant self-discipline that makes me have such a strong work ethic. I will fully commit to a task and see it to the end.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Hello, I am Keely, and I am the owner of The Traveling Tap, a mobile bar company in Tampa Bay, FL. I am a former music education teacher that longed to work for myself, and I found that owning a mobile bar could open those doors for me. I started my business with a vintage Tri-fun truck and after three years I have expanded to a new custom tap truck, a tapped piano, and an ice cream cart. My brand is all about creating whimsical moments, but with efficiency. I love that we can bring an interactive experience to any event and that we create these really great moments, all while providing excellent beverages and services. I really enjoy the process because it allows me to constantly be creative. Even though we started with a truck, my favorite rental to serve from is our Tapped Piano. This is a custom, one-of-a-kind creation that I created with my husband, and I absolutely love it.
My next step in my business is to move forward with creating more custom pianos and selling them to mobile bar owners. I have been consulting for a while now, and I feel like this could be the next step. Having the ability to create a unique rental station and offer a consulting package that someone can use to spark their own professionally liberating journey is something I am passionate about.
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?
Looking back on my journey, I think what came in need the most was the willingness to learn, perseverance, and self-reflection. The mobile bar business is relatively new, and there are so many people from different walks of life in the field. It’s a business where you are most likely going to experience trial and error, be consistently seeking out help and expertise from other people, and it is going to challenge you. There were times when it was very difficult, and I just wanted to throw in the towel and give up. There were also times when I had to deal with competitors and being essentially, blatantly copied. During these moments I had to take time for myself and do a little self-reflection. I am constantly in a cycle of assessing what went well, what I could have done better, what should I remember for next time, etc. My advice is to join groups that can help support you on this journey and make a connection with people that will offer advice, support you, and be your cheerleader. It can be lonely as an entrepreneur. I joined several women’s working groups late in my career and wish I would have joined sooner. I have met many friends and connections, received great advice on how to handle situations, and I have found a group of people that are there to support me and spread the name of my business.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am really trying to bring more awareness to our tapped piano. I would love to see that piano as a photo-opt/experience at local venues and concerts. I would also love to see our truck at more event-based functions (like Germanfest, Derby parties, etc). Anyone that would like to create an experience with service and function-that’s perfect for us!!
The best way to connect with me is through email. My email is [email protected].
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thetravelingtap.com
- Instagram: @thetravelingtapfl
- Facebook: facebook.com/thetravelingtapfl
