Lighting Up the Christmas Market: What It Means to Show Up as a Business Owner

This weekend you will find me at a Christmas market. Not just as the owner of Local Donut, but working right beside my team. I will be decorating donuts, lifting boxes, hauling equipment, and making sure our stand looks as inviting as the season.

People often assume that once a business grows, the owner should step back from the hands-on work. I see it differently. Leadership is vision, planning, and strategy. It is also the willingness to show up, fully present, when it matters. I can map out the future of the business and still take part in the moments that keep us connected to our customers.

I do not go to markets because I have to. I go because they ground me. They take me back to why Local Donut exists in the first place. We created something joyful, something handmade, and something that brings people together.

Christmas markets have their own kind of magic. The lights, the music, the families walking through, the kids pointing at the flavors, the adults choosing a box to bring home. You can feel the energy everywhere. The holiday season has a way of making people softer and more open to simple moments.

And I do not want to miss any of it.

I want to see the little girl whose eyes light up at the Frosty donut. I want to watch a dad grab a box for his family just because it feels right in the moment. I want to catch that smile when someone takes their first bite and immediately comes back for more. These are the moments that remind me why our work matters.

Showing up does not take away from my role as a leader. It strengthens it. My team knows I am right there with them. They see that I share the load and that I care about the experience we create. We are building something bigger, but we are doing it together.

This market is important for us. Big weekend, big opportunity, big momentum for the season. I am proud of the work we are putting in to make it a success.

Christmas is about connection and generosity. It is also about showing up for the people around us. That includes customers, our team, and the community that supports us.

So on Sunday, when the lights turn on and the music starts, I will be exactly where I want to be. Leading with purpose, creating with passion, and standing in the middle of the community that helped shape this business.

Thank you for being part of our story. Merry Christmas.