Nico's Notebook

Khaki company based in Austin, TX.

Eco-friendly mason jar bubble tea sets.

Handmade steamed bao and dumplings.

“One life lesson I’ve learned this last year is ‘balance’. I gotta balance the lifestyle between my family, and my work. That’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned. Businesses can come and go, but my family is what matters.” -Marcus, Founder of @missdeltapdx

“A lot of it is just getting told ‘no’ or getting told that something is impossible and just saying ‘No, I’m going to continue on this path, and I will absolutely figure out a way to do it.” -Myles, Co-founder of Mother Tongue

“Do what you’re passionate about. Then figure out, how can you be different? How can you be unique? Take the time to go into that. ... If you really care about something and want to pour your love, time, and energy into that, then you’re gonna do a great job. So, find that, focus on that, and elevate the bar.” -Richard, Founder of Carioca Bowls

“In the first year and a half, I was trying to grow too fast. I was trying to compete with other businesses that I had no business competing with, because they’re not even related. I would start to compare myself to another business that was far more successful. But, if they’re selling doughnuts, how does that apply to flying airplanes? It doesn’t.” -Corey, Founder of Envi Adventures

“I think honestly the next step for me is to just keep doing what I’m doing, and do it well. I really value being a small batch.” -Lisa, Founder of HeyDay

“You just have to be really realistic. You have to set expectations as to what it is that everyone does, what their responsible for, and what it is that you’re trying to achieve. I think the biggest difference now is this time around with @republicapdx and @laperlitapdx is that I know what the end looks like. So, I’m just working it backwards versus being excited about just having a place and having another place where you have no direction, you’re just kind of going with the momentum of the tides.”

“There are a lot of people that have great ideas and have aspirations for starting their own business. I think one of the things I realized was that you can think these things are insurmountable, but it’s really not. Hopefully some of these perspectives can change that, and people will take more risks and start more businesses.” -Brendan, Founder of Austin Oyster Co.