Personal and Professional Productivity in the Digital Age A Workshop at Catalyst Ranch on Tuesday, May 9

Where: Catalyst Ranch, 656 West Randolph Street #3W, Chicago, IL 60661
When: May 9, 2017
Time: 6 - 9 p.m.

Are you… drowning in piles? feeling overwhelmed?  under-valued?  in over your head? Is your life characterized by… busyness? too much stuff to do? too many ideas that never get accomplished?

Stop taking this productivity tip and that efficiency trick and never making progress.  Learn to develop a productivity system from two local, social entrepreneurs who have become experts at productivity.

Running a nonprofit and a business, Brandon and Amanda Neely owners of Overflow Coffee Bar, L3C had to figure out how to be productive and keep their sanity in the process. They were able to create tactics and overcome the obstacles of being overwhelmed. They were able to control their inbox rather than their inbox controlling them.

Productivity is so individualized. What works for 1 person won't work always for another.
During this workshop, attendees will learn:

• The step-by-step process for developing your own unique productivity system.
• How to defeat the piles and the over abundance of too many options and too much on
your to-do list.
• About the tools you need and how to control them (rather than let them control you).
• How to setting up a digital command center.
• How to tame your inbox instead of it eating at your time.

More details and registration are available at overflowyourproductivity.eventbrite.com. Save $10 by registering before May 2.

Overflow Coffee Bar Celebrates two years in the South Loop

It’s hard to believe that it’s only been two years since Overflow Coffee Bar , 1550 S. State St., opened. They’ve become a neighborhood staple, serving as an ambassador for all things relating to the South Loop. We caught up with husband and wife owners, Brandon and Amanda Neely to get their take on the last two years. Below is our interview.

South Loop Connection: What does it feel like being in business for two years?
Overflow Coffee Bar: Honestly, a mix of good feelings and not-so-good feelings.  In some ways, we feel pride and encouragement.  In other ways, we feel exhausted and discouraged.  Most of the time the good feelings outweigh the not-so-good ones and that keeps us going but we aren’t all rainbows and sunshine either.

Overflow's grand opening ribbon cutting two years ago

SLC: We all know you sell coffee, but are there items on the menu now that weren’t available when you opened two years ago?
OCB: We’ve always sold more than just coffee – sandwiches, pastries, salads, tea, hot cocoa, and the like. We added soups and Naked Juice this winter.  In August of 2012 we also became a fair trade store – selling fair trade products through Ten Thousand Villages.

SLC: What is Overflow’s most popular coffee drink? Food item?
OCB: Our most popular drink is our specialty – the Overflow – a coconut milk hazelnut mocha with the option of adding cayenne pepper.  Food wise it is more of a toss up.  As you might guess, we sell quite a few croissants and bagels.

SLC: What do you enjoy most about being small business owners?
OCB: We really enjoy working together.  Since we got married, we’ve always done small things together, like cooking dinner.  It’s nice to work as a team.  We both bring different expertise to the partnership.  We could never have accomplished what we have without each other’s complimentary attributes.

SLC: Do you have any big or unusual goals as you begin your third year in business?

Amanda and Brandon Neely take a break
from business paperwork

OCB: Malcolm Gladwell posits that it takes 10 years of working really hard at something to become highly successful at it.  We’re not even close to that mark but we continue to work toward sucking less every day.  Besides that, there are always a few “big or unusual” things we’re working on but have no idea when the opportunity to accomplish them will come at hand.


SLC: What are you most proud of at Overflow?
OCB: That we’ve survived.  Seriously, many businesses fail within the first couple years so we’re happy to still be standing.  We’re proud of our loyal customers for supporting the mission to change the world one cup at a time.  We wouldn’t have survived without you!

South Loop Connection has covered the Overflow Coffee Bar before the Neely’s even knew where in the South Loop their store would be located. For a look back on how far they’ve come, click here.

Ribbon Cutting Mania!

Grand Opening: Day Two
Friday was day one of Overflow Coffee Bar's grand opening, but Saturday was the ribbon cutting. The coffee bar at 1550 S. State St. had a big crowd to witness the official ribbon cutting scheduled for 10 a.m. Both South Loop aldermen, Bob Fioretti (2nd Ward) and Pat Dowell (3rd Ward) were in attendance. Overflow, on the west side of State St., is actually in Dowell's Ward, but owners Amanda and Brandon Neely, worked with both aldermen in the planning and location scouting.

Alderman Fioretti, third from left, says a few words before the ribbon cutting; from left to right, Deb Soehlig, Harriet J. Potoka, principal, Daystar School, Fioretti, Pat Dowell, Brandon and Amanda Neely

South Loop Support
The neighborhood came out in force, including four members of the Greater South Loop Association (GSLA), board, including president, Deb Soehlig.

Overflow was overflowing with customers.

Fulfillment of a Dream
Today is the fulfillment of the Neely's dream to open a independently owned coffee bar in the South Loop, the neighborhood where they live.

It takes a neighborhood to cut a ribbon.

Iced Coffee for the Summer

by Amanda Neely

It's almost summer and time for having iced coffee. To save your budget and to spoil your taste buds, here are some instructions for making coffee-shop-tasting iced coffee at home!

1. Brew your [Brazilian] coffee as you normally would. You do NOT need to make it overly strong.

2. Put it in a plastic pitcher or cup and cover it. Do NOT use glass as it may crack with the drastic temperature change.

3. Place the pitcher or cup in an ice water bath so that half of the outside of the cup is soaking in the cold water.

4. When the coffee has cooled to room temperature or below, it's ready to enjoy over ice and with your preference of milk and sugar. Drink through a straw for maximum satisfaction.

5. Refrigerate the leftovers but enjoy them within the next day or two before they get stale.

To make the iced coffee extra special for you or for summer guests, use sweetened condensed milk instead of regular milk or half and half.

MOST IMPORTANT: Do not pour hot coffee from your brewer over ice. This will just dilute your coffee.

Overflow Coffee Bar has a new coffee for the summer that's perfect for making iced coffee: Brazilian! This coffee is from the Mountain Mogiana region, one of the best coffee producing regions of Brazil. Its aroma is reminiscent of sweetened chocolate; its flavors are citric with a hint of nuttiness. The coffee has a full body and creamy, savory aftertaste. In 2008, the farm this coffee was grown on received a Sustainability Award from the Specialty Coffee Association of America. Buy some by clicking here and help get Overflow Coffee Bar one step closer to opening in the South Loop.

Amanda Neely is a South Loop resident who along with her husband, Brandon, are the owners of Overflow Coffee Bar.

Buy some coffee and change the world

One cup at a time

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a young couple (Amanda and Brandon Neely) who are working hard to open a coffee bar in the South Loop, Overflow Coffee Bar.

Part of their mission is to serve direct and fair trade coffees. By buying and serving only direct and fair trade coffees, coffee farmers are ensured a fair price for their crop. This enables them to support their families and local economies.

My favorite new brew
As part of my research, I discovered a direct trade Guatemalan whole bean coffee that I think is the perfect roast to start off the day. It's a smooth blend that has hints of chocolate and nutty flavors. It's my new favorite brew.

To find out more about direct and fair trade coffees, check out the Overflow Coffee Bar Web site. Please consider buying some coffee from Overflow. If you do, you will not only be supporting coffee growers around the world, but helping the Neely's open Overflow Coffee Bar here in the South Loop.

Free delivery is available within a certain radius of the South Loop.

OVERFLOW Hits the Streets of the South Loop of Chicago from Brandon Neely on Vimeo.

Overflow Coffee Bar Wants to Change the World

Amanda and Brandon Neely want to change the world. Unlike a lot of people, who have similar aspirations, the Neelys actually have a plan. They want to use their love of coffee as a vehicle for change.

Their dream is to open Overflow Coffee Bar in the South Loop, the neighborhood where they live. Amanda is a native of Ohio, who graduated from the University of Chicago. Brandon is from Texas and a former millitary man. The Neelys envision a local café where neighbors meet neighbors and the bonds of community are formed. The mission of Overflow Coffee Bar is “Giving South Loop residents, students and workers the opportunity to change the world.”

How can a coffee bar change the world? One way is to offer customers coffee that is purchased for a fair price, a price that enables local growers in developing countries to support themselves and their families. Believe it or not, the average coffee grower lives on about a $1 a day. Overflow Coffee Bar will sell only fair trade, organic coffee. Coffee that is grown organically is better for the environment; organic farming methods do not destroy the rainforests where the coffee is grown. Coffee farming that uses non-organic methods, requires the digging up of sections of the rainforest when the coffee is harvested.

The Neelys are in the process of raising financing to open Overflow Coffee Bar, as well as scouting locations in the South Loop. When Overflow opens, it will be as an L3C corporation. An L3C is a low-profit limited liability company (LLC). It is a hybrid legal structure combining the advantages of the limited liability company with the social advantages of a non-profit entity. The primary focus of the L3C is not to make money, but to achieve socially beneficial aims, with profit making as a secondary goal.

If you’re interested in learning more about Overflow Coffee Bar, please visit their Web site to learn more about their vision. Even better, consider donating some funds in support of their efforts. If you think you know someone who would be interested in learning more about the Neelys and Overflow Coffee Bar, please forward this post using the e-mail application below.

OVERFLOW Hits the Streets of the South Loop of Chicago from Brandon Neely on Vimeo.