“Thank you,” she says. “I felt really good about it. I hope you know how much I believe in IES. And I understood how important the Albrights were for the company.”
“I think it’s probably obvious to everyone, including you, that you could do a great job stepping into my role with the company,” I say.
She laughs. “Well, I don’t know about that. But I do think that I could help the company if they want me.”
“Are you interested in that?”
“If you’d asked me six months ago, I would’ve said no. I didn’t think I would do anything but work with my father’s farm. But now, after meeting all of you, seeing what IES and IAS have planned, and having a chance to be part of it, yes. It’s exciting to do something new. To step outside my comfort zone and find out that I’m good at something I didn’t even realize I could do.”
I take a little breath. That is all very familiar to me. I always knew that I could come home and work with my family, but leaving Sapphire Falls and doing something on my own was very exciting and rewarding.
“Haveyouthought about working for Maggie? Helping her in the way that you helped IES?”
Sofia’s laugh is louder now. “Oh, definitely not. What I do for IES is based on the fact that I’m a farmer. I can talk to people about what your family’s company is doing from my perspective as someone who has benefited from it. That’s completely different than marketing Maggie’s business to other businesses I know nothing about. I’m a farmer. Not a marketer.”
She has a point. And I appreciate that she understands both roles. It’s also interesting to me that she made me feel like what I’m doing with IES might be smaller than what I could do for someone else.
Maggie wants to expand her business. She’s a farmer, yes, but she’s thinking about how what she produces can be used by multiple other businesses in a variety of ways.
Becoming a supplier to other small businesses requires developing a business network, finding like-minded people, and building relationships. It’s not just about selling them a product. I would need to sell Maggie and Krista.
That’s not that different from what I have done for my dad and brothers.
But while no one will understand and love my dad, Carver, and Graham the way I do, what they’re doing has less competition. They just need to get in front of the right people.
Maggie and Krista have set themselves apart from many others. The fact that their business is female-owned is something I really love. And once they add in green energy-powered indoor farms, that gives them another unique aspect to their business. But they’ll still be competing with many other suppliers. I’d have to bereallygood. It would be a challenge.
I feel that excited fluttering sensation intensify.
“Ginny? Are you still there?”
I realize I’ve already let my mind start to spin with possibilities.
“Yes, I’m still here.”
“I just want you to know, I admire you a great deal. And I really like you. That’s why I mentioned you to one of my dearest friends. I understand what it’s like to want to have the people you love working with great people who will take care of them and really work for their best interests.”
I think about that.
That describes Sofia working for IES.
“Would you consider working for IES?”
“Definitely. But I’m not trying to push you out.”
“Sofia, I have to ask you a question. Straight up.”
“Okay. Anything.”
“Do you have feelings for Everett?”
She doesn’t rush to deny it, which I actually appreciate.
“I like Everett. And he’s very attractive,” she admits. “And if he were single, I would probably flirt with him and see if he wanted to go out sometime. But he’s very muchnotsingle. In fact, he’s crazy in love with a woman I really like and hope to become friends with. So absolutely nothing will ever happen.”
I realize that’s a very good answer. “Thank you for that.”
“Of course. And thank you for asking. I’m glad we can talk about it and be upfront.”
