Here’s an interesting article on a produce auction in the largest Amish settlement in Tennessee (article no longer online). The settlement of ten church districts at Ethridge, Tennessee, is a conservative Swartzentruber Amish affiliation. So it was interesting to see local Amish contributing to this article, as well as learn that the area has something called an Amish Welcome Center with maps of farmhouses in…
Just back from a 10-day visit to Lancaster County. Gave a couple of talks and enjoyed the unfolding of the spring season. A few highlights from the trip: Amish business visits I dropped in for a day at the Markets at Shrewsbury, one of the Pennsylvania Dutch markets in the region. It happened to be Kite Day–Shrewsbury puts on a number of fun family events…
Last night while lounging around with Abe and Sara, we suddenly heard one of their little boys begin coughing and crying, clearly audible through the air vent in the ceiling. Abe knew instantly what was wrong by the sound.  “That’s the croup,” he decided, a bit glumly, and stood with his wife to go attend to the children. It was past ten o’clock already and…
Big news today–Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive featured in Time magazine! It’s a great piece on Amish business by Andrea Sachs. Just a page long, but delves into relationships, family, and doing what you’re passionate about. And how all that fits into making a living. My favorite line comes from “born salesman” Moses Smucker, who operates a stand at…
The full Chapter 1 excerpt of Success Made Simple has already been available online here. Today, I’ve gotten permission to share one last bit–the preface, where I describe the story behind the book. Hope you enjoy it. Unearthing the Secrets I pull my truck into the drive, unsure whether to continue. It’s midafternoon, and I’m down on my numbers for the day, so I decide…
Judging by my email inbox and the lack of traffic on the roads, today, Easter Monday, is a day off for a number of us. Amish Religious Holidays What holidays do Amish observe? And how does that affect the work schedule? In Amish Enterprise, Donald Kraybill and Steven Nolt write that in Lancaster County, “Church members faithfully recognize Good Friday, Easter, Ascension Day, And Christmas. …
Last Sunday I attended an Amish youth singing in Lancaster County. What follows is a short account. Youth practices may vary from community to community. Not all Amish youth follow the pattern described below. In some communities, such as Holmes County, Ohio, not all youth are members of so-called “singing groups” (those who aren’t are more likely to be among the wilder youth). Amish youth…
What an honor–the book is leading off the Fast Company website today (no joke)! Check out the Amish customer tips slideshow they put together. And thanks to Cindy, Rick, and Pop for chipping in a few photos!
Recently, while in Lancaster County, I visited one of the most unusual Plain businesses I’ve come across. Two enterprising brothers have created a business destination that one would hardly expect to see in an Amish community. But with the increasing openness of Amish to technological solutions, I suppose it was just a matter of time until a shop supplying the Apple iPhone and iPod, and other…
Two contests in one day! I just mentioned the Joyful Chaos blog book giveaway (Contest #1), where you can win a free copy of my book, but here is a chance to win some cold hard Amazon cash as well. Contest #2 is easy: just read Success Made Simple, and post a review of it on Amazon. Send me an email letting me know you…