Hands on the Freezer: The Moment That Reminded Me Why We Build

Entrepreneurship has a way of sneaking up on you. One day you’re tinkering with an idea in a basement or at your kitchen table, and the next you’re standing in a warehouse wondering how on earth you made it all happen.

That feeling hit me hard recently.

My son, Dorian aka D-Max and I visited Dan Finnemore, founder of Box of Maine, someone I’ve admired for years — not just because he built an incredible Maine brand, but because of the way he shows up as a dad, a coach, a community member, and a builder.

Most people know Dan’s story: basement beginnings, UpStart Center alum, Big Gig winner, and now running a thriving operation with walk-in freezers and efficient

fulfillment systems humming in the background. What you don’t always see is the grit, the heart, and the family behind the business.

Dan’s kids are the same age as Dorian (D-Max), and they’re growing up in the business the same way D-Max has grown up in community work — learning by doing, understanding impact by living it, and believing that even at a young age, you can make a difference.

And in true small-town Maine fashion, Dan was also a baseball coach…on a rival team.He’s watched D-Max compete on the field and contribute off it for years.

Recently, he reached out to ask if D-Max wanted to collaborate on something meaningful. That alone says a lot about the kind of person Dan is — he sees potential, he invests in people, and he knows what it means to give someone a shot.

During our tour, as he walked us through shiny new walk-ins and workstations, D-Max asked him:

“Do you still have your original freezer?”

Dan paused, smiled, and led us to the back wall. And there it was.

Not fancy. Not polished. Covered in cuts, scrapes, dents — a metal scrapbook of long nights, small wins, and stubborn persistence.

D-Max and Dan both placed their hands on it, almost instinctively.

It was a quiet moment.A powerful one.

Two entrepreneurs at different stages of life honoring where it all began.A recognition of the hustle before the highlight reel. A reminder that success is not shiny — it’s earned.

For me, that freezer brought me right back to my own early days with my coffee and tea company. I loved that business. The systems, the rhythm, the fulfillment, the creativity — that spark never leaves you. That’s why I do what I do now: connecting people, opening doors, helping ideas come alive.

Dan and D-Max share the same mission at their core:show up for your community and lift others as you climb. That’s the thread that ties all of this together.

They’re exploring some exciting collaborations now, and I can’t wait to see what impact they create together.

A Personal Invitation from Me

Think about someone in your orbit —a business owner, a colleague, a parent on the sidelines, a mentor, a former teammate —someone whose values align with yours.

What could you build together? What impact could you make? What story could you start today?

Collaboration doesn’t require perfection. It requires courage, curiosity, and one small conversation.

This moment reminded me why I love entrepreneurship so much — the grit, the heart, the connection, the humanity.

Hands on a freezer. Remembering where it all begins. And believing in where we can go next.