The 1%

First off I wrote this blog over the summer of 2025, but sat on it because I want to see if something is a temporal emotion, or a persistent experience that can use a thought of discernment. As I had some interesting conversations after the elections, being in the heart of the shutdown, as well as experiencing a small miracle this weekend, I stumbled upon this blog I wrote and forgot about, which echoed a lot of what I was going to write about today, so I edited it, which brought more depth, but made it longer than my normal preference. My hope is this encourages some thoughts on true change for the best of us all, not just some rhetoric that keeps letting us down (for example political ideology, but not limited to just this one topic).

First let’s start with the miracle, since my ultimate goal is to plant a seed of HOPE! Ironically enough I literally began the year giving a small retreat talk, on a snow day, on HOPE! in honor of Pope Francis’ year of HOPE! I want to reinforce, HOPE! for everyone I encounter, with encouragement, despite differences.

In my own life, when I was going through challenging times (and continue to at this very moment), I walked into a church and the scriptures that day spoke of hope in a vision, that just because things didn’t happen the way you wanted, doesn’t mean they won’t happen. Stay true to the vision. The gospel called for increase in faith as well. 15 years later, almost to the day those same readings were echoed this past month as a nice reminder of staying true to all things of faith, and that just because things don’t happen initially, doesn’t mean they won’t. God simply has a different plan and to patiently wait for it to unfold, while doing your part in the mix. This next story is not meant to be seen as a materialistic miracle of the prosperity gospel, just simple a moment of Matthew 7:7 ask and you will eventually receive, just not always as you think.

Several years ago I began connecting with the bourbon group at my parish, and even though I do not drink liquor anymore in my life, I attended occasionally since it was centered around fellowship and growing in faith with other men. Occasionally I try to contribute something unique. A local distillery for example gave me a couple bottles to share with the group since we developed a relationship through coffee he purchased from me. This was a moment of giving as other, there was no gain for me personally, but I wanted to offer a resource connection that I had for the good of others. The guys enjoyed it.

I always try to remember St. Thomas Aquinas’ inspired definition of love, to will the good of the other, by other. In a simple meaning detachment of self gain for the good of the other. The Buddhist philosopher Atisha initially inspired this similar thought for me by saying “the greatest quality is seeking to serve others, the greatest generosity is nonattachment, the greatest worth is self mastery.” This is a bit paraphrased.

This lead to me asking the question to one of our priest who was the assistant at our parish, and later installed at another local parish as the pastor. I said to him “I met a connection in Louisville, is there something unique I can maybe find you?” He said “The Blanton’s collection”, but further joking with me he said “more so I just want the collection of horses on the bottle”. Initially I noticed this was a very expensive request, including just the empty bottles online. I never forgot this, as I do all prayers I am asked for and if the moment is right, I follow the call or stir from God as a reminder to do something in all scenarios. The more materialistic ones however I don’t dwell on as much.

However nearly 3 years later the dots started to connect due to my travels to Germany & Austria, I was doing all of the Oktoberfest stuff this year, just to add to the cultural experience of my recent travels. One of these moments was a long over due visit to St. John’s in Warrenton, VA who has Oktoberfest every year, but for 4 years I haven’t made it. This year I finally said I have to go due to circumstances and following through on my promise to visit. As I walked around by myself I saw a couple of familiar faces and one realized I was the coffee guy. She said I need to connect you with the school fundraiser, they have a coffee basket they are raising money with. I jokingly said why didn’t you ever ask me for some coffee?

As I was making this very small donation, I noticed raffle tickets for this Blanton’s set that was requested a while back. It was $50, but I’m always one that is willing to buy 1 ticket for anything and if it’s meant to be, that’s all it’s going to take. Sure enough, I received news from a customer that she heard my name announced as the winner, shortly after that I received a text and the the winnings were delivered to me at the market. I was moved interiorly by this small God moment and miracle. I was also excited to offer this moment of grace to the priest. I showed up at his parish and handed it to him. He said “what’s this?” I said “The Blanton’s set you asked for a while ago?” He replied “Shut up! I was just kidding.” Lol. I could only say be careful of what you ask for, you never know what you’re going to get. It was a moving moment for both of us and another of countless stories these past 15 years since I returned home to the Catholic Church, truly our Church, since our Creator gave us this great grace for all to be saved and to share as one human family. Like all families we fight and divide in protest and misunderstandings of some sorts, usually focusing on a 1-3% difference on average, instead of the 97% good we have in common

A similar thing happened when an employee of mine in 2014 posted on Facebook she had a dream that someone brought her a gift bag of Bumble and Bumble hair products. Little did she know my sister (who was not on Facebook) worked for them at the time, and my sister was kind enough to fulfill my request and send a special care package for a single mother just trying her best at the time. While materialistic in some respect, it was a moment of grace to have faith in dreams coming true, God will provide, too keep us close just not as we expect. These are not moments of luck, since this happens way too frequently in my life and had to do with actual prayer and practice of faith on my part to trust in the end result that was unseen at the moment, (FAITH!). This also includes starting my business and pursuing my path. Many wondered or didn’t believe, but 7 years ago I began developing the path and learning the trade, and 5 years ago I dedicated myself to doing it.

Now the momentum is great and I smiled the other day reflecting on a moment in my pizza career where I was antagonized to compete in a competition that I was in 20th place our of 40+ stores. I didn’t want to compete that week because I usually won the sales competition and I wanted to let another store win to try to get others involved, otherwise some give up before it even begins. At the last moment several people antagonized me to compete and I did. By the end of the week I made a huge comeback and won. This was a metaphor in my life, I got a late start, like many of us sinners, but if we have faith, anyone of us can get to the goal.

This brings me to something I hear regularly, I don’t like so and so, or because of so and so I am not happy in my life (paraphrasing). Growing up in New York City, it happened a lot, due to being the melting pot of the world, there were hundreds of different reasons to dislike each other. It was only after moving to the south that I realized where I grew up in NYC was very prejudice. Due to the limited amount of cultures that were in Charlotte, N.C. in the 90’s when I arrived and less variety of dislike I became more aware of this. As I have traveled, I see it’s human nature, everywhere is a dislike of some sorts, but like Jesus, it’s important to dwell among these misunderstandings, and find a common good, or better yet, a redeeming value we can build on for a healthier and happier relationship with each other and society.

With this foundation, like the Catholic Church, I’ve learned it’s very possibly for all nations and people to get along together, under a common good, in my case it’s Jesus Christ and His Church of all nations. However cultural coffee has become my way of sharing in this, since 70% of the world consumes it in some capacity or another, I saw this is something we can have a secular communion with, despite so much variety and difference. In many respects despite all the different prejudice I saw throughout my life, the majority of us find a way to get along. Very often in all areas of the world, it’s 1-5% of the population that is the driving force behind the evil and divisions of society. It’s important to avoid demonizing each other, as it only causes more fighting and misunderstanding, which ultimately never ends, growing polarization of divisive ideologies that end in bloodshed.

As always this brings me to my personal experience as an example. Growing up, I would experience much of this divisive language around me in many different respects. At one point I would attend a school that was 3% white, and experienced the typical discrimination, most minorities experience in the world. Another moment of the human condition to dislike, something we’re not as familiar with. This taught me to be familiar with others throughout my life and what was initially a negative experience, became something very positive that I used throughout my career in helping to find solutions in all situations. Whether it was finding potential with others who felt hopeless in the area we were in, or simply learning about the struggles others went through, but found solutions in our country despite challenging conditions at times. These moments gave me hope for myself and everyone, that persistence always pays off, especially if the intentions are properly calibrated to the natural and moral law of our Lord and Creator.

Let’s tie this into business, as always it is the design of this blog. In building my business, I saw throughout my travels, people appreciate culture and other different ways of doing things. Very often we don’t always know or feel comfortable in asking those questions, and we then miss out. I was reminded of that one weekend at my market. There was a BBQ company of some sort, and I asked someone what was the persons background. That person didn’t know and felt uncomfortable approaching that question. In my case I have learned a proper line of asking the question respectfully by asking “what is your cultural background?” This opens the door to the less awkward “where are you from? You don't look like your from these parts of town lol.” In my sincere interest in wanting to know their background, the guy shared he does Brazilian BBQ, but is just an American that loves the food and decided to learn how to do it and start a business. That was a beautiful statement I always enjoy hearing, someone pursued a passion and learned about it.

We live in a vast world of opportunity, no matter where you are. From meeting coffee farmers who are doing agritourism, to winery’s that range from simple tastings to overnight visits, and others like creating a farm store on their property, or a restaurant in their home, the potential is limitless if we research solutions. The key is, go into your community, discern what they need, and research solutions, if it’s something as simple as an experience, or in the case of my wife’s cousin.

As an immigrant Italian family they identified there was no funeral home in the area they lived. One of the children reluctantly went to mortician school. He met his wife there, eventually opening other multiple businesses and experiencing a very successful life providing services to his community, and now enjoying the American Dream. All these things happen more easily when we seek to help and serve the people, instead of disliking them. Something I have personally learned to embrace for all my elected leaders, whether I disagree with them or not, they are serving my community, and I try to serve my community and them by being a good example of a contributing citizen. That contribution and leading example will help my community more, than my vote since I am serving everyone, not just the one side of a political agenda. This is also how the early church again changed the world, they prayed for their leaders, they didn’t fight with them, but were an example of the good they wanted. Nowadays they say it’s 5% of the Catholic Church that makes the rest move. What if 1% more started contributing a little more, how radically different would the world be. What if everyone just did 1 little thing to help, again how radically better we all would be.

In close, I stumbled upon this blog, that I wrote over the summer, and I just reread it on this Veteran’s Day 2025, and again on August 2, 2026. It echoed of the conversations I had with many following the elections. I enjoyed engaging conversations from everyone, as the path forward varies on perspective. I just want to reinforce my position of HOPE! and encouragement which is always my ultimate goal, since free will is what it is, and I can’t force anyone to do anything they don’t want to do, or aren’t ready for. I only ask for others to ask the challenging questions, in an open dialogue of understanding. 20 years ago, I would’ve radically disagreed with the person I am now and felt my current achievements were not possible. I was also a radically negative, unhappy, dark and a depressed person in many respects. I didn’t really understand that either at the time, nor did I understand the proper solution.

As I let my inner sociologist discern, I eventually realized my ways weren’t working, and maybe I should try God’s ways (Catholic Church teachings, the official interpretive authority of Jesus’ teachings through the magisterium designated by Jesus himself). Initially as an egotistical human, I thought one day I would change these teachings and these ways due to a call I felt from God, but as I studied them, I realized they were changing me, for the better. They weren’t oppressive in the ways society told me they were, but were actually liberating me and others around me, to the point I now understand the fullness of the meaning of salvation. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” While in no way do I have the perfect life, but when it is united to the Creator, Logos, Word made Flesh, Yahweh, God always has a way of perfecting these imperfections through His Sacraments. Something no human or government can do for me.

My final thought on this as I try to always further research and discern things after discussions because I honestly want to help everyone find solutions to their challenges, my business background. I was told I’m part of a 1% of society that does what I do, I’m assuming as a small business. I found that thought be a bit exaggerated so I wanted to try to find some statistics. As I researched this, I will say my first critique is the typical definitions we give to things. For example in the coffee world a magazine that give awards considers small batch roasters someone that roasts less than 150lbs a batch and/or 100,000 pounds a year. There’s nothing small in that production, considering that roaster probably costs as much as your home.

A similar problem we have in America is a small business is anyone under 500 employees, that sounds more like a small town than a small business lol. With that said however I want to look at another statistic since I’ve come to learn anything can be manipulated to a certain angle, like to pretend almost everything in the USA is small business according to statistics that number is 99.9%. There was one statistic I found fascinating which captures our current struggles in society. There are an estimated 33 million small businesses in the USA. 28.5 million of these businesses do not have employees. These numbers are down approximately 50% over the last several decades. With this basic data, and many who struggle currently in this economy, I just want to offer a thought and solution if you are seeking real change, that you can do.

First is HOPE! and PRAY! There’s nothing wrong with this, it’s very useful as it will open you to God guiding you where you were designed to be. I would still be spinning my wheels and pizzas for a corporation if I didn’t do this first. Second is put yourself second, and think about others. Where is there a need in my society, and how can I offer a solution. Watch Shark Tank or any show on business and very often many success stories that take years and decades started on a thought of community needs and/or opportunity. Last is learn a trade of some sorts, work is a vocation in life, a call to duty of serving an occupation. Many stories of failure and unhappiness on the other side are based on greed and envy, something to keep in mind how self centered thoughts will lead to great loss.

This is something we are eroding in our country from the standard trades of plumbing, carpentry and electrical work, to just brewing coffee which is being dominated by automation. Reality is, there’s nothing like the human touch, and people want it more than ever. I assure you, A.I. is not the future, social media, Covid and many other physically disconnecting experiences has taught us false and isolated realities don’t lead to greater happiness. Connections and real human experiences bring great joy, like building a house, or painting a picture yourself, or roasting your own coffee. I just experienced this with a friend who I am helping to start his own coffee business.

After talking about things over the past year plus, and at times feeling like he procrastinated, and I pushed him mentally at times, he roasted his first batches of coffee this week, and will complete his initial training with me at the DMV Chocolate and Coffee Fest this weekend (update, May 2026 he launched his website and sold his first bags online). It’s a full circle moment as his father was one of my mentors in business and the reason I discovered my trade practice in the pizza world almost 30 years ago. I should note, he’s a veteran, that joined our military to serve his country, and do something that was beyond himself, it has now led him to finding peace in his life.

Shortly after discharge he found the woman he is now married to. In addition it led to us spending time with each other since I moved to Virginia, and him seeing what a different way (definition of repent, to turn back to God) could lead to. My actions, not my words inspired him to do something in his own life. In close, this is my challenge to America, stop talking about it, stop voting for it and surrendering that ability of change to another person. Just do it yourself. The Catholic Church taught this to me over the years. As an institution that always created change throughout it’s 2000 year history and influenced Western Civilization in some respects it has lost focus of this constantly saying in America we have to vote for some kind of change.

The first 300 years of the Church didn’t change pagan Rome into Christendom Rome aka The Eternal City, by a vote, but by sacrifice. That was the example of our founder Jesus Christ, who let himself be sacrificed to the politics of his time and human nature, so we might know the way to salvation and fullness of life. Without a 2000 year history course of this continued success, but a focus on reality of who we are as Americans, it was many sacrifices and challenges that built our amazing country, built on the belief of a Judeo Christian understanding. As a Catholic I understand the challenges of our country since Catholics were not always welcomed here due to certain things of the time, Mother Cabrini (St. Francis Xavier Cabrini), today’s saint (the day I wrote this) reminds me of this. I don’t let those misunderstandings lead me to demonize the blessings we have here. Instead I embrace and encourage others. Maybe this is where some may think I'm a 1% since it’s easy to look at the saints of the Church and say they’re the 1%, but in reality I’ve learned there’s a whole lot more doing little ways, trying to be part of little miracles that will eventually lead to greater miracles and momentum. Mother Teresa taught us this, starting with nothing and now her group influences many poor areas of the world. Countless other saints have show me similar things.

Ghandi also shares a great quote “Be the change you want in the world”. Many do not realize St. Francis and Jesus Christ influenced his philosophy. Sadly he never converted due to prejudice he experienced at the local churches.

Faith can and will move mountains. A picture I captured of the Alps near Salzburg, Austria