The Great GORP Project

The Art of the Start. .. .

Once or twice a year I go STARK RAVING WILD in Indigo and buy 500 self help/business books.O.k. fine. .. it's more like 10 but it feels like 500 when I look at my visa bill. . he he oops! But I have to say. .. this one makes up for any duds that snuck their way into my cart. This fellow (Guy Kawasaki, former Apple guy who was one of the genius's behind the success of Macintosh) he had me at Hello.

His first words on the inside cover were: "A child is the ultimate start up, and I have three. This makes me rich."

I love it. This guy is a cut to the chase, no bull shit kinda writer. But with an encouraging wit and candor that doesn't make you feel bad about everything you aren't doing right, he's just downright motivating without an ounce of ego to leave a sour taste on your tongue and a furrow in your brow. I think I'm in love.

On page 1 of Chapter 1 I already know this book was worth every penny. He starts with stating and defining the 5 things anyone starting anything must accomplish, here they are:

1) MAKE MEANING

2) MAKE MANTRA

3) GET GOING

4) DEFINE YOUR BUSINESS MODEL

5) WEAVE A MAT (MILESTONES, ASSUMPTIONS AND TASKS)

I fell in love with this book at MAKE MEANING. It's that intangible sense in my brain that drives me. .. but I never knew how to define it. .. of course. . .it's the deep seeded desire for purpose, to make meaning.

I think we all have this desire. .. but it's not always defined in our own brains so effectively, and often gets confused or mislabeled resulting in a sense of deprivation because on some level we are unhappy or stressed about our life but don't know why. It's probably because we desire to MAKE MEANING but don't aim our decisions in a direction that will accomplish this because we don't realize that that's just what we want. .. MEANING. .. just a thought?

He throws in this quote which sums up the concept perfectly:

 "I have never thought of writing for reputation and honor. What I have in my heart must come out; that is the reason why I compose."

- Ludwig van Beethoven

How awesome eh!? What is inside your heart that has to come out? Not for what other people will think of you. .. but simply because it was put in you, you were created for it to come out?

Such great thoughts. .. and all that was on the first page of this book. .. .there are a ton of other "dang this guy is smart" moments. . .I'm on page 106 and can't wait to start reading it over again the moment I turn the last page. He also wrote a book called "Rules for Revolutionaries" which I can't get to the store quick enough to snatch up.

 

In other news:) Listen to CJOB on Saturday morning at 8 a.m. to hear mine and Grant's interview with Larry McIntosh from Peak of the Market on his radio show called "Food and Friends with Peak of the Market's Larry McIntosh"!!!! So exciting. . . .ALTHOUGH. . .I have to say I'm a little nervous about hearing my own voice on radio. . especially my cackle which I was lucky enough to inherit from my dear old uncle Buck. .. hmmmm. . ..

Anyways. .. think about the MAKING MEANING thing in your own life. . .it's an awesome conversation to have with yourself:)

GORP out.

 

2 years ago today. . .

I lost my dad to ALS 2 years ago today. It kind of snuck up on me. . .sideways like.

Maybe because lately I've been feeling like a 35 year old little girl. (The crying incident from my last post might have something to do with that;) But, in the last few months I've been having a lot of firsts, and maybe that's why I've been really feeling the void of my father. He was also a "serial" entrepreneur, (which I believe is a gene yet to be discovered). . .for better or worse, he passed that DNA down. He would just love to be a part of what I'm going through right now. .. .and funny enough I miss him the most when I'm standing in my shipping area packing boxes. We spent many hours together in the shipping department at Word Alive, the business I grew up watching and working in, and boy did we laugh. . .he was such a GIANT GOOF! Plus he had the best smile, also GIANT and contagious. . . .ahhhhhh. . . . . stink. . . I feel the tears welling up as I type. . .I've apparently also inherited the inappropriate crying gene. .. .;)

. . .I so want to talk to him right now.

Yesterday one of the guys that works with us on the farm was driving his father around the yard and we stopped and talked for a few minutes. . .and then it just smacked me in the face. How neat would it be to have a father alive when I'm in my 40's and 50's. . and even 60's?? A silly revelation that shouldn't have really hit me my surprise. .. but it did. It's kind of weird though. .. how God knows what you need before you've even consciously formed the thought. He seems to put some pretty cool people in my path. . .people that want to help me for no reason. . .people who in some small way provide the shot in the arm to me just when I need it. .. kinda like a father would do. . . He's such a good God.

Nobody will ever measure up in the goofy department though and that's o.k. . .I don't even want them too. . .that was his. . .and I want to keep missing him for that. . .he's not replaceable.

Well dad. . .I'll see ya on the other side. . .while I'm here I plan to swing for the fences and die trying!

. . .missing our laughs in shipping and uncontrollable fits of giggles in Costco. . .thinking of you today.

Love col

single weak female. . .or?

This week was a tough one. .. .and a great one. Not all at once. But eventually. I won't go into great detail. . .but let's just say I did one of the most embarassing, unprofessional things ever. . .something to stroke off the Dorky Bucket List. I cried. Not just any cry. The ugly cry. . .and not alone. Oh no. . I was not alone. I was at a business meeting. . . .and I was powerless against the force that are my emotions. There was mascara smearing, snot wiping, relentless tear pouring and what would all that be without the shaky voice quiver?? Yup. I played right into the "weak woman" sterotype. . .in spades.

Now, I am not a weak woman. I am also however not a person who puts up guards, and I tend to play my cards on the table, and wear my heart on my sleeve. I actually think one of my greatest strengths is that I know that I don't know. .. .WHAT I DON'T KNOW. There's no pride here. I am always trying to talk to people smarter and more experienced than myself because I'm acutely aware that I'm GREEN.

. . .but it really bothered me that I lost composure. .. especially in a professional setting. It was nobody's fault but my own. . and I was beating myself up over it, until I just had to stop, cause what's done is done. I think maybe it was just a build up. .. this has been a long and often lonely road getting this business going. .. and I've made more mistakes than I care to remember, it's also not just a business to me. . I want GORP to be responsible for some pretty amazing world changing, people helping things. There's more at stake to me than a healthy balance sheet. There is an idealistic angel on one shoulder and an even more idealistic entrepreneur on the other. . .it's how I'm wired. Is that o.k.? I don't know. . .

The first thing I thought after my breakdown was how can I make sure this never happens again. . .but then I thought, I might not like the person that I need to become, for it not to happen again. . .I don't know the answer. I can put on my hard ass hat if I have to. . .but I hate that hat. ..it tends to look better on people that aren't me. Plus, I'm pretty sure it makes me look fat;)

Looking forward, in the opposite direction of the saltwater flooding incident. The kids and Grant (who took time out of crazy harvest days) helped me put up my GORP field signs last night. . .I love them:) We put them on the fields where we grow ingredients that are in GORP bar. The honey we use comes right off our own canola fields. .. .I think that's pretty cool.

Another great announcement from yesterday was I delivered my very first WINNIPEG RETAIL ORDER!!! A big thankyou to Cramptons Market on Waverly for being so awesome and willing to work with a small gal like me. . .go check them out. .. they have amazing customer service and lots of beautiful local produce and products. .. like GORP BARS:)))

SO. I've dried my tears and I'll put one wet sock in front of the other till they dry out. . .I will persevere. I will sell these bars. I will not always be able to stop the tears. But I will not give up.

I will not apologize for this being my story. I've been told many times I shouldn't share so much, but I want to inspire real people,(maybe even people who cry at inappropriate times), not people who make everything look easy when it's not. For better or worse.

Gorp out. . .

 

Competitor bar tasting:)

I routinely buy gobs of competing bars just to keep an eye on what's going on in retail land....the kids already know to moan and try to escape when I start setting up the taste testing line....true to form...they seem to know exactly what faces will make
their momma smile....just hope they are being honest;)



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Beautiful

Farming for life ...

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Mosey in the morning!

 

I LOVE BEING A MOM. .. a heart full of grateful and a big smile:)

Did it!

With 4 kids in tow I busted it to the nursery and probably made some poor choices due to the general excitement/chaos and merry making in the bathroom that ensues every time we go anywhere....HOWEVER...it's done...and even though the well intended know it all lady at the nursery was against all my choices (because of the indoor location) I don't care...if they die they die...in the meantime I'm enjoying the earthy smells around here:)

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Project of the day...

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Mail from PhotoShake

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2012-07-28

Nothing beats suppers in the field...:)
It's like we step into another world...

Happy weekending all!