Café Biz Adelaide – Panel Discussion: Learning from success

It has been a steady climb for former champion barista and entrepreneur Ian Callahan. His specialty tea and coffee business Bar 9 started from “incredibly” humble beginnings “literally in a tin shed with a coffee machine on a desk”.

Bar 9 now have two locations in Parkside and Adelaide Central Plaza and an outreach venue with St Vincent de Paul where homeless and unemployed people train and provide great fare.

Ian says he has learnt a lot from the success and journeys of those around him. “One of the biggest lessons I’ve gained is around resilience. A lot of people I’ve worked with or been mentored by – in a snapshot you could argue they were unsuccessful- but when you look at it on a macro level the ones who have been successful keep doing, keep doing and keep doing.

“The ability to cop a bad hit, or a negative review, and find success is what resilience is all about. And it’s just as important to maintain a constant sense of humility and look to learn and grow and build; that’s how you get long term value in your business.”