In this episode, I sit down with Azka Mistry, owner of Little Panda's Play Cafe in Everett, Washington, for an incredibly honest conversation about building a physical business while navigating motherhood. Azka doesn't hold back as she shares her journey from Amazon program manager to cafe owner, the daily reality of running a business that requires you to show up no matter what, and how she's learned to balance being a working mom on her own terms. We dive deep into creating strong workplace culture, the anxiety that comes with physical business ownership, and why customer obsession has been key to her success.

Key Takeaways:

• Physical businesses require different sacrifices - Unlike online businesses, you can't just work from anywhere when childcare falls through. Azka wakes up two hours before opening every day, anxious about potential staffing issues, because the doors must open no matter what.
• "On your own terms" doesn't mean easy - Leaving corporate for flexibility doesn't automatically give you more time with your kids. It gives you control over your schedule, but often means working twice as hard while learning to navigate childcare guilt and boundary-setting.
• Customer obsession drives real results - Azka's team maintains consistent excellence because she's instilled a culture where customer experience is non-negotiable. This Amazon-learned principle directly translates to increased sales and customer loyalty.
• Your backup needs a backup - Running a physical location means having more team members than you technically need on any given day, because someone will always call out and you cannot close your doors.
• Marketing moves the needle immediately - Azka has tested the direct correlation between social media posting and foot traffic. When they don't post, they see a measurable drop in sales, even without direct links or online shopping.

Timestamps:

[00:02:30] - Azka introduces herself and explains her passion for creating community spaces for parents without nearby family support

[00:05:30] - The origin story: how having her first child in 2021 sparked the idea for Little Panda's Play Cafe

[00:07:00] - The pivotal moment of leaving Amazon and committing fully to opening the cafe

[00:11:00] - Real talk about working mom expectations vs. reality and why dedicated childcare time is necessary

[00:15:20] - The daily anxiety of physical business ownership and always having backup plans

[00:18:30] - How she maintains boundaries (or struggles to) and the importance of self-care for business performance

[00:23:00] - The moment her 3-year-old asked her to get off her phone and the wake-up call it provided

[00:28:30] - Behind the scenes of planning consistent events and creating more than "just a coffee shop"

[00:31:40] - Building an all-female team culture and why treating employees like family matters

[00:36:00] - Creating workplace culture where team members feel comfortable being open about personal challenges

[00:43:50] - The direct impact of social media marketing on physical business sales

[00:50:00] - Addressing the fear of competitors copying her business model

[00:53:40] - All the business ventures she tried before landing on the play cafe concept

Referenced Links:

• Little Panda's Play Cafe Instagram: @littlepandasplaycafe
• Azka's Personal Instagram: @azkaay
• Little Panda's Play Cafe Website

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