We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Emma Andy. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Emma below.

Emma, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success is personal to everyone. To me, achieving success, feeling successful, or “being” successful means loving yourself and constantly learning from others around you. Relationships are the single most important aspect of life. Without connection, we have nothing, and without connection, there is no learning or growth. Ego plays a huge role in this. Waking up every day and knowing that you are not going to win at everything is an important piece of reaching success. Being able to be wrong and move forward is crucial to becoming more and more successful.

Although there are many levels to what one might call “successful,” I generally believe you achieve it if you are happy and comfortable with yourself in a way that allows you to be wrong and continue to learn and grow from everyone around you. You are only as strong as the weakest person on your team. Wake up every day ready to learn and do better. Success will come.

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.

Hi! I’m Emma Andy, originally from a small town in Connecticut. At 21, I took a chance and discovered the allure of Block Island’s community when I moved here one summer to work as a waitress. I worked six days, six doubles a week, had one day off and spent it frolicking around the islands beautiful nature trails yearning to explore every inch of greenery that I could.

Four summers and a winter later, I knew this was where I wanted to spend my life. With over ten years in the hospitality industry, I consider myself a versatile professional. Working in restaurants and hotels has helped me form relationships with people from all over the world. I have a natural passion for helping others, and my favorite thing about life is connecting with people!

Driven by my adventurous spirit, I’ve backpacked through Southeast Asia, explored Australia, visited Sri Lanka, traveled across Ireland, and many more.

I wear many hats on Block Island. I am the assistant to the Director of Tourism for the Block Island Tourism Council and within this role, I write monthly blog posts and manage the social media accounts, ensuring a vibrant and engaging experience for all who visit the Island. I am also a licensed realtor with Lila Delman Compass.

But wait, there’s more!

I’m also a co-owner of two exciting new businesses on Block Island: a popsicle shop called Blocksicle and a luggage storage business named Bellhop. My partner and I created these ideas after our travels around the globe, and saw a need for them on Block Island. At Blocksicle, we sell fresh fruit popsicles that are all homemade on the island. What’s more fun than a popsicle in the summer? Bellhop offers convenience to allow travelers to store their items and go enjoy the island with their hands-free.

Although I wear many hats, they all come together through my deep passion for living on this enchanting, tiny island. Each role I take on—from working in real estate and tourism to running our unique businesses—reflects my love for this special place that overflows with magic and wonder. If you’re curious about the island’s charm and what makes it so extraordinary, I’d be stoked to chat with you.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Managing is both rewarding and challenging, especially when it comes to owning a business. One of the key principles I’ve learned is that you are only as strong as your weakest link. Starting the day on a positive note, encouraging others, and maintaining a non-reactive demeanor are essential for effective management and keeping team morale high.

It’s crucial to absorb information, refrain from any immediate reactions, and address issues at a more appropriate time. If a manager is reactive, it tends to create a reactive atmosphere among the entire team. Staying calm and thoughtful helps maintain a productive and positive work environment. Nobody wants to walk on egg shells.

Additionally, fostering open communication and trust within the team can transform challenges into opportunities for growth. By actively listening and addressing concerns with empathy and clarity, you not only resolve conflicts but also build a stronger, more cohesive team.

I once worked in a cafe, and didn’t know how to use a can opener. I was afraid I would be fired, told I was stupid, or literally be laughed at. Instead, the owner and my manager very quickly taught me how to open a can – and then told me to bake a bread pudding next. I had just learned to open a can, now I need to bake bread pudding? She trusted me, encouraged me, saw a weak moment, and used positivity and patience to teach.

The bread pudding sold out.

This approach not only enhances performance but also cultivates a sense of shared purpose and commitment, driving the business towards greater success and strong business culture.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Relationships.

In order to grow a reputation, you must grow within your relationships. The more you are connecting with people on a face-to-face level – the more your reputation will grow within the market. When people walk into the popsicle shop, they love to hear about the start up, why we are so passionate about our popsicles, and why we are doing this.

Connecting with people and explaining to them that we are two people that just love popsicles so we took a chance…goes a long way. Between technology and Covid, I think a lot of people have forgotten how to truly connect through eye contact and conversation. I believe it’s a crucial part of growing and building a positive reputation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://liladelman.com/agent/emma-andy/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmaandyy/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-a-830992232/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/blocksiclebi/
  https://www.instagram.com/bellhopbi/
  https://www.instagram.com/blockisland.realtor/
  https://www.instagram.com/blockislandinfo/

Image Credits

@catebrownphoto
@chelseamandesphoto
@liladelmancompass