It’s interesting to witness our own lives.  I’m an introspective extrovert. Odd combo, eh?  I’ll get back to that.

On this monumental 10th year since the idea of creating Carl House first popped into my head, I am feeling a deep sense of gratitude, appreciation and awe….in the creative process, how an idea, an intent can change our world and how tenacity and going within (there’s that extrovert-introvert mix), can create things we never imagined in any definite form when we first find ourselves at the beginning of any grand adventure.

In the summer of 2002 I was handling a rental situation in the house that would become Carl House.  The renters were 4 young men who had NO appreciation of this beautiful home (beautiful even before the major renovations), as they painted over old wood, were late on rental payments and were basically making a mess of things, me undone with the wreckage before me!

New to the area, still working to find my groove with a project or business that might satisfy my creative urges, serve the community and create revenue….I was standing in what is now the Frassrand Room, (named after a beloved Grandmother-in-law, Mama Grace, who told the naughtiest jokes), and I literally heard a voice say,

‘This would make a GREAT place for people to gather and have parties!’

‘Huh?’ I remember saying aloud, looking around to hear who was speaking. God reaches us in the most uncanny ways and I was SO thankful, (being that chatty extrovert that I am), that I was actually listening.

Yes, it can happen that quickly, our lives shift and these sparks of inspiration can change thousands of lives and we ALL have the power, the creativity in our souls, to create ANYthing we can imagine.  Read that again, it’s true. The biggest secret, I surround myself with phenomenal people who can execute these visions of mine!

Herbert Kaufman said,

‘Failure is only postponed success as long as courage ‘coaches’ ambition. The habit of persistence is the habit of victory.’

I am infinitely proud of the team I have assembled at Carl House and it’s taken 10 years to gather this particular and stellar group. Lead by the extraordinary savvy of General Manager, Dawn Tibbles and the incomparable talent of my CFO, Robin Ramsey, (a more persistent and meticulous soul I’ve yet to meet), two better women leaders I’ve yet to find.

And me, this week, I’m headed on a cycling trip from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C., testing my physical meddle with 362 plus miles of pedaling and more pedaling. An overdue outlet for getting my business on this particular groove. I’ll all the way be incubating new directions for Carl House, our hotel out back, a bridal boutique on my property next door and well, there is a tv series I’m looking to produce. You’ll never guess, it’s a story about entrepreneurs….

…..how astounding folks I’ve met created something from nothing….just an idea that with perserverance and against TREMENDOUS odds, turned into a business which serves people, offers amazing products and as happened to me, made these particular owners feel alive with their own abilities to create, share and tell the story of, WOW, how they got ‘here’. (if I’ve peaked your interest, visit my other venture, Arriving with BB Webb and my front page video)!

With gratitude for the many people who have come through my doors, graced the halls of my beautiful Carl House, shared who they are and through thick and thin, taught me about the power of grace, love, tenacity and forgiveness.

To quote my mother the adventurer, entrepreneur, pilot, writer, traveler, precious and severe in her tenacity to ‘do right’, as she lay quietly in her hospice bed, knowing her transition was near,

‘Remember the good times,’ she reminded me, ‘onto the next grand adventure.’ Kitty Vogel, 1925-1998.

To me, it’s all about love!  And so it is….onward we go.

From my heart to yours,

BB Webb, Owner