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WRITTEN BY HEATHER ROTHBAUER-WANISH
Edie McDonald is a busy woman. As co-owner of McDonald Company, she manages Goldsmith Coffee Bar and Five Star Catering, using both to give students hands-on business experience. She is also a wife and a mother. In all of her endeavors, Edie understands the importance of a strong value system. And she juggles her multiple responsibilities maintaining focus on her family and her faith.
Faith
Edie’s grandparents played formative roles in making faith an important part of her life from a young age. “When I was young, I looked forward to going to church in the summers with my grandmother. I was always excited to spend time with her alone—with no one else around,” explains Edie. “I would sit next to her in the pew, singing and listening to the homily. I don’t remember them now, but I know I listened because we would talk about them afterwards.” Although she doesn’t remember a great deal about her grandfather because he died when she was young, he still made an impact. Edie remembers him telling her that God is everywhere, and we can pray while out in the field or wherever we are. She adds, “Granny said that God likes you to visit him at His house when you can. He likes you to make an effort to come and see Him, too.”
Even though her career keeps her busy, Edie is happy that faith intersects daily with the McDonald’s businesses. From offering hope and encouragement to a couple starting their own business journey to saying a prayer with someone over a cappuccino, faith guides her day.
Family
Edie and her husband, Paul, live in Paul’s hometown of Chippewa Falls. They have three children: Elsie, age 15; Samuel, age 12; and Lillian, almost eight years old. “My favorite thing to do with my family is to cook and eat together. It’s a teaching tool as well as a method for building memories together,” tells Edie, who has fond memories of time in the kitchen with her grandmother and her mother: “They were both very passionate about feeding their family, and I think that is still important, especially in today’s fast-paced lifestyle.”
Friends
Although time with friends can be at a premium, Edie realizes the significance of maintaining these contacts, “Friends are very important to making one laugh or cry, depending upon what your needs are at the time … My friends usually will stop by the coffee shop or we’ll plan to meet up afterwards.”
Fitness
Like many women, Edie knows how difficult it can be to find time for fitness. She has learned to plan, plan, and then plan again; and she encourages others to do the same, “It can be difficult, but planning your day in advance really makes a difference so that you don’t feel like you’re running around putting out fires all day.” The key for both fitness and other ventures is goal-setting and aligning objectives with values.
Finance
Managing several businesses and a household requires a keen eye for finances. Edie has learned many lessons along the way that she is happy to share with others. Foremost, figure out what type of budget you need and stick to it. She says, “The money is out there, you just need to go and get it. Learn how money works and don’t be afraid of it. Make money work for you, not you for it.” And she adds, “Ignorance isn’t an excuse, it’s a state of mind that will kill you and all of your dreams.”
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Through it all, Edie’s primary focus always remains with her faith and her family: “Find your faith—let it guide you in every decision and you will never go wrong.”
