As I sit here with the soft glow of a candle filling the room, I can’t help but reflect on one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned at Door County Candle—there is no "one size fits all." Not in life, not in work, not in community. Every moment, every challenge, every opportunity calls for its own spark of creativity.
There have been so many times when we've faced situations that simply couldn't be tackled with a cookie-cutter approach. Whether it was a tricky production issue, a custom order with unique needs, or finding just the right way to connect with someone, we had to step outside the usual confines and think differently. Sometimes that meant rolling up our sleeves, experimenting, and letting creativity guide us. Other times, it required patience and a willingness to listen deeply to what someone needed. Every instance reminded me that the magic happens when you dare to break the mold.
Can you imagine trying to fit everything into one fixed approach—never straying, never adapting? It would be like trying to pour wax into a mold that wasn’t quite the right fit. No matter how hard you try, it just wouldn’t work. And honestly, it would take away so much of what makes this process—and life—so rewarding. For me, being open to new ideas and willing to try something different is what keeps the flame burning.
I feel immense gratitude for the challenges that push us out of autopilot and into growth. They remind me we’re not here to simply follow a path, but to shape our own. It’s incredible to see how creative solutions can blossom when you trust the process and take a leap. Whether it’s brainstorming a new scent that speaks to someone’s heart or finding a way to bring a vision to life, the moments where we’ve stepped outside the box are always the ones that shine the brightest.
If there’s one message I hope to share today, it’s this—don’t be afraid to color outside the lines. If you’ve got a “mold,” break it. If something isn’t going as planned, change the approach. Some of the best results we’ve seen come from adjusting, adapting, and trying again. And isn’t that what makes life beautiful? The surprises, the new paths, the discoveries.
To everyone who supports us at Door County Candle and gives us the chance to grow creatively—we couldn’t do it without you. Here’s to lighting the way forward, together.
💛Christiana
