When cancer patient Lee Rhodes was unexpectedly soothed by the reflective light of a simple candle inside a glass-blown votive holder, a business was born. Today, Glassybaby produces hand-blown votive candles that require over 70 glassblowers, three layers of glass, and a 24-hour process to make. Coming in 400 colors, with names like Begin Again, BFF, and Fearless, they sell for $44 each. Recent sales are expected to top $9 million at eight retail storefronts and online.

As integral to Glassybaby as its Seattle glass-blowing studios, which are open to customers, is its commitment to donate 10% of revenues to help cancer patients cover noninsured expenses. To date, Rhodes has given more than $7 million to her Glassybaby White Light Fund, a nonprofit organization based in Seattle, to assist Glassybaby in its goal to promote hope and healing. Despite suggestions to expand her product line, Rhodes, a three-time cancer survivor who is now healthy, keeps the business simple. “There's something to be said for sticking to what you're good at,” she says. “We make one thing really, really well.” While many told Rhodes that she would never succeed selling a single American-made product, she refused to believe she could not. Seems she was right.

Questions for Critical Thinking

1. Which classification of entrepreneur does Rhodes fall into? What qualities of an entrepreneur does she probably possess?

2. Discuss how struggling with adversity might have helped Rhodes begin her business. What kind of success do you think Glassybaby might realize if it didn't have a philanthropic focus as part of its business?