Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Kivland.

Michael, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?

I woke up every day knowing I had to change my ways. Toxicity surrounded me. I was working in an industry that I had no passion for. I was working for people whose main desire was to line their pockets. My bosses purported themselves as something they were not. They didn’t lead, had no motivational skills, and were inauthentic. I value authenticity and realness in people. My coworkers and the industry I was in didn’t inspire me. I didn’t feel like myself. I felt trapped. I knew I had to make a move!

The final push came during a family vacation in northern Wisconsin. At a local farmer’s market, I encountered a small-batch coffee roaster whose dedication to their craft planted the seed for what Heady Cup could become. With my wife’s unwavering encouragement, I left my career behind and dove headfirst into building something meaningful.

My business partner, Kevin, had begun laying the groundwork for Heady Cup. Once I returned home from vacation, I drove to work, quit my job, left my company car in the lot, peaced out, and biked home. I was free of the toxicity and ignorance. I started working on Heady Cup’s website the very next day. We have been nonstop since.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

Starting a business is filled with craters and valleys. Not every path is clear or smooth. We have learned a lot in the first two years since starting the business. You can not just hope and wish as an entrepreneur. Everything is earned. We wake up every day knowing we have to earn our customers’ business through the quality of our product and the sincerity of our customer service.

We have faced obstacles along the way that have made us stronger. One of the biggest obstacles has been introducing specialty coffee into a market that hasn’t experienced it before. We are sourcing some of the world’s best coffee and being diligent in masterfully roasting them. Our coffee slaps. Coffee is very subjective. Convincing people to try something new or different from what they’re used to has been challenging. Once people put our coffee cup against cup, they are easy to convert to Heady Cup. You have to get the cup in their hand and convince them to try it first!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

My part of the business is marketing, green coffee buying, upholding our sustainability measures, and community engagement. I wear many hats – as most entrepreneurs do! As a small business, we have to be adaptable every day to new roles and job requirements. On any given day I am bagging coffee, on the phone with farms in Brasil, and mopping the floor!

My specialty is marketing and growing the business. I focus on grassroots marketing methods to grow the business. Social media is cool. Social media engagement doesn’t equate to sales. I would much rather gain exposure doing a local charity event supporting teachers than fabricating an image on social platforms.

We have three core tenets of traceability, sustainability, and social responsibility. I make sure we are living up to those three core tenets every day. No matter what role or job I am doing on any given day, those three tenents are what guide my decision-making.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?

Vote for people who believe in science.

Pricing:

• $18.99 Blends

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.headycup.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/headycupcoffeeroasters/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeadyCupCoffeeRoasters/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/105629536/admin/dashboard/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAoLNVY2qlPlc8Z6iEiEBGA

Image Credits

@sweetfig15, sophia gibbons