We were lucky to catch up with Sara Jespersen recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sara, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?
When opening my first Axe Throwing Bar, I was behind on my build out. A neighboring business owner reached out to check on my build out progress. After a quick visit he could see I was WAY behind. He came back with a team of 5 guys and proceeded to work along side me for the next three days straight so I could meet my opening goal. He brought over materials, cleaned, swept, shared my burden and lightened it be a few tons. As he was leaving he asked if I’d ordered entry rugs…I had not. He was back in minutes with two six foot rugs that he took from his own entrance. I kept those rugs until they nearly disintegrated as a constant reminder of his generosity and kindness.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I, along with my husband, opened our first gym the same week I had my first daughter – roughly 18 years ago. Since then we have opened 15 more businesses, from Tech to Vacation Rentals, to Restaurants. For me whatever businesses we open, they are simply a mechanism for connecting with people and building community. My passion has always lied in building community: making people feel like they belong and are deeply cared for.
I love the rush of entrepreneurship and the constant challenges that surround it. While I have been awarded for a handful of things, my greatest recognition comes from the little 5 star reviews that go beyond what we are selling. Very few of us get into business for the accolades, we want the challenge and rewards of operating, which are far more intrinsic.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
While opening our axe throwing bar, I chose to work with all private investors. Small community members investing in a share or two of the business. It was my way to feel more connected with the community and a completely new way to launch a business. Well I got a lot, a lot of NO’s. The more you face rejection, the easier you feel it is to quit. So hard to press on, but alas I did and we opened the last week of Dec 2019. Two and a half months later we had to close our doors – like so many other during COVID. I felt such angst after convincing so many community members to invest with me and then I had nothing. Our gyms closed, vacation rentals shuttered, and our brand new business.
I decided to take what little money I had in the bank and invest in a ton of retail items. I hosted a big retails holiday shop for a handful of days and was able to cover rent for the next two months. the little pivot allowed me to fight through the time I was closed, and gave me a little wind under my sails to keep going. Within 6 months of re-opening I was able to pay all my investors back plus a hefty return. Their faith in me gave me the strength to fight for them.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
My Junior year of college I was engaged to be married. After much consternation, I called off our wedding just a month before we were going to tie the knot. The timing of that left me homeless and jobless. That same day my roommates got an email from a business student looking for summer painters and a roommate. I reached out to interview with him and he hired me as his Job Site Manager. Not wanting to mix work and home life, I opted out of renting from my boss for that summer. Just a year later that boss and I were engaged and got married and have been business partners, in some capacity, ever since.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thelumberjackmn.com. www.madcappermn.com. www.stayinstillwater.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madcappermn/ https://www.instagram.com/lumberjackaxebar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadCapperSaloonandEatery. https://www.facebook.com/TheLumberjackMN/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chewthefatMN/featured
- Other: The gyms are all Anytime Fitness Locations in Minnesota. Chew The Fat is a podcast series about locals in the area.