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Several years ago, in the late 2000s, I had just resigned from my job at Sobeys in St. Paul and found myself between jobs, going through job listings and trying to figure out what I wanted to do next.

A lot of that time was spent wondering what I really wanted out of life.

At the time, the flower shop in Two Hills was for sale. My family mentioned it to me and encouraged me, telling me it was a great opportunity and that I was young.

Despite having absolutely no experience whatsoever, I quickly became excited by the thought of being my own boss.

I thought, I've worked for some incredibly brilliant businessmen and learned a lot from all of them. Why not take a chance?

Shortly afterward, I met with the owner. She explained that the shop was doing well, but she didn't really have the time to devote to it to turn it into the success she believed it could be. With my youth and energy, she thought I might be the person who could turn things around.

It wasn't long before the papers were signed and I took over the store.

It also wasn't long before I realized that running a business wasn't as simple as opening the doors, taking orders and watching the money roll in.

I had made one of the biggest mistakes a beginner can make.

I hadn't done my research.

Even so, I remained optimistic. Anyone who knows me knows that when I face a challenge, I tend to face it head-on without much fear, trusting God completely.

It wasn't long before I received a call from a stranger.

“Hi. Town and Country Flowers,” I said cheerfully into the phone.

“Hi,” the man replied, sounding slightly confused. He asked for the previous owner, and I explained that I had taken over the business.

“That's great. My name is Allen. I worked with the previous owner. Hopefully we can work together too. Do you have much experience working with flowers?”

I paused, trying desperately to think of something clever to say.

My faculties failed me.

“Uh... no, I don't,” I finally admitted.

The roar of laughter on the other end of the phone made me pause.

“Are you an idiot?” he asked, still chuckling.

“I wanted to say no,” I replied, “but based on your laughter, I'm not so sure that's the right answer anymore.”

He laughed again.

“Well, you are a brave person, I'll give you that. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me.”

He wished me good luck with the business and hung up.

I sat there for a moment, my head spinning.

What was I thinking?

I didn't know anything about flowers!

I looked around at all the plants and flowers in the shop and solemnly apologized to them.

“Sorry, guys. I'll do my best, but I think we're both in for a bumpy ride.”

Weeks turned into months, and thanks to the support of the community and my family, I managed to stay afloat. I slowly taught myself what I could through YouTube, doing my best to gain the experience I desperately needed to operate a successful flower shop.

Then, as Valentine's Day approached, I got another call.

It was Allen.

He was placing an order for his store and wondered if I would be interested in ordering with him so we could combine our orders, split the costs and save some money.

He asked how I was doing.

I told him the truth.

“I really don't know what I'm doing, but I'm trying my best.”

He chuckled.

Then he suggested I stop by his store in Vegreville, meet him properly and ask him any questions I had over coffee.

I didn't need to be asked twice.

As soon as I got the chance, I was in the car and on my way to Vegreville.

I arrived at his shop in record time — while driving safely, of course.

Eager to finally meet him, I rushed inside and was immediately blown away.

His layout was brilliant. From the window display to the way everything was arranged, the entire store had a sense of purpose and professionalism that my little shop was still desperately lacking.

Allen was on the phone, so a sweet older woman came out to greet me.

It was his mom.

Once he finished his call, Allen came out to meet me. I suspect that after sizing me up, he realized I was just a young man who was completely in over his head.

Instead of laughing at me, he offered to mentor me.

I could come to his store, help him with his work and, in turn, learn from him. What I learned would help me with my own business.

It wasn't long before I realized just how much I had to learn.

Types of flowers. How to care for them. How to handle them. How to understand what they needed.

I even learned that flowers respond to your energy.

And that was just the beginning.

Arranging flowers presented an entirely different set of challenges.

With incredible patience and a wicked sense of humour, Allen spent the several months I ran the store teaching me as much as my brain could handle.

I joined him when he went to suppliers and trade shows, and those experiences opened my eyes to just how vast the floral industry really was.

More importantly, I was learning what it meant to truly understand your trade.

At some point, however, frustration began to creep in.

I was tired of struggling to make the store successful. I was tired of the expenses that came with running a small business. I missed the days when I worked a regular job, collected a paycheque and knew exactly what was mine.

Business income seemed to disappear into a dozen different directions.

One day, I went to visit Allen and told him what I was thinking.

As he had done before, he sat me down like he was trying to stop me from getting ahead of myself.

“Look, Jared. Running a small business isn't easy. It takes long hours and time to build something. But it's worth it when you invest in yourself. I believe that if you focus, you can make this store work. Give it time.”

I replied before I even had time to process what he had said.

“I've been trying!”

He smiled.

“Do or do not. There is no try.”

I didn't understand the reference at first.

He had to point out that he was quoting Master Yoda.

Then he continued.

“If you're going to do something, do your best. Commit to it fully and give it your all. I've noticed an improvement since you first came in. If you keep learning, in a few years your store will be successful. I'm sure of it.”

A few years?

I remember thinking about that.

Years?

My whole life, nothing ever seemed to happen fast enough for me. I always wanted to be at the finish line before I had even started the race.

But Allen understood something I didn't.

Some things simply take time.

Looking back now, the advice he gave me — and the privilege of working alongside someone with such a burning passion for his trade — was nothing less than inspiring.

Allen didn't just teach me about flowers.

He taught me about patience.

He taught me about commitment.

He taught me that sometimes believing in yourself means continuing long after the excitement has worn off and the results haven't arrived yet.

And perhaps most importantly, he taught me that trying isn't the same as committing.

Years later, those words still stay with me.

Whenever I find myself getting frustrated because something isn't moving quickly enough, I remember that conversation.

I remember the young man sitting in Allen's shop, convinced he should already have figured everything out.

And I hear his voice again.

“Do or do not. There is no try.”

Those words have stayed with me ever since.

And now, when I look back, I realize that Allen wasn't simply teaching me how to run a flower shop.

He was teaching me how to live.

Do or do not.