I won’t pretend the economy isn’t tight right now. People are holding onto their money longer, decision-making takes more time, and you can feel the hesitation in the air. We see it inside PKH too. Some folks delay launching, some scale back production, and others stay in “wait and see” mode longer than usual. But here’s the truth: this is where you really find out who’s building for the long haul. For us at PKH, the focus has been on tightening up operations, doubling down on value, and making sure our members feel supported even when the market gets shaky. When money is moving slower, support matters more. People need a place where they can still grow without taking on massive overhead. That’s exactly why a shared kitchen exists in the first place. Is it affecting us? Of course. Anyone telling you the downturn doesn’t touch them is lying. But we’re adapting. We’re talking more with our members, showing them new revenue angles, helping them dial in menus, pricing, packaging, margins, whatever keeps them moving forward. And honestly, the wins they’re still getting during a tough economy make the mission even clearer. We can’t control the economy. We can control how we operate, how we support our community, and how we show up. That’s how we’re dealing with it.

I’ve learned that the real happiness in this business doesn’t come from the milestones we hit as a company, it comes from watching our members hit theirs. Someone getting their first catering order… launching their product… landing a contract… hiring their first team member… those moments hit me way harder than anything on our own scoreboard. Running this kitchen taught me something I didn’t understand early on: the fulfillment isn’t in the “big win” you think will change everything. It’s in seeing the people around you grow and knowing you played a real part in it. That’s the part that lasts. That’s the part that makes the long days worth it.

@Barbie Larrinaga For me, it’s knowing that we have about 70 companies that depend on our facility to operate their business. These are small, family-run catering, baking, and meal prep companies. They trusted us with their dreams. On the days I feel like shutting everything down, I remind myself that if I quit, I’m not just quitting on me. I’m quitting on them. And that’s not happening. Their fight keeps me fighting. Their growth keeps me showing up. Their wins remind me why this work matters. I don’t think I ever expressed that out loud. Thanks for the opportunity!