A Little Suffering Can Do You Good

Hail, rain, and sleet marked this past Saturday's weather for the 5^th Annual Chicago Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk hosted by the Lustgarten Foundation. Being a cause near and dear to my heart, my entire family and I passed out Better Whey yogurts to the bravest of walkers. By the end of the day, we couldn't feel our fingers or toes, our muddied shoes would never look the same, our cheeks were scarred from pelts of hail, and yet we wouldn't have traded the experience for the world! Our bodies were cold, but our hearts were warmed. We "suffered" together, watching brave walkers walk in honor of their loved ones. We were touched by our dear friends who came out in our honor. As my sister-in-law said, "There is nothing like a little suffering to bring us together".

A mere few days later (just yesterday), I went to the plant to oversee our yogurt making. I was scheduled for third shift! While I'm usually a fan of beauty sleep, there is a certain bonding that occurs in the wee hours of the morning that is just priceless.

As I think about the warmth of “suffering,” I can't help but think of this past weekend's game in New England. Teams and fans "suffered" through the totally unexpected northeastern snowstorm while watching the Patriots blow out the visiting Tennessee Titans. Anyone watching that game will never forget it!

A little good suffering can make amazing memories that can warm your heart for a lifetime!

Gain Insight from Your Colleagues

Last month, I had the opportunity to be in the company of two multi-million dollar dairy CEOs: the CEO of Lifeway Kefir and the CEO of Chobani Greek Yogurt. Each left me with a strong piece of advice that, together, will hopefully be the recipe for Better Whey's success!

I first met with Julie Smolyansky. I asked Julie for advice in different areas. Her answers always started with "it depends on your end goal.” Julie pressed me to be sure I knew what I was striving to achieve in the long-term and to ensure every single decision worked toward that end goal.

I then visited with my dear friend Hamdi at his plant. Hamdi believes everything stems from a perfect product made by passionate people who work hard day after day. He pays incredible attention by watching every step of his yogurt making process unfold with perfection. He has an unwavering focus on consistently producing the best product. Hamdi's presence at his plant is an incredible force that keeps people present on the task of making great yogurt.

This is a simple recipe for success that we see over and over: know where you want to go and be present and carefully watch and execute each moment that unfolds.