18 Years X 2: A Story of Growth, Gratitude, and Redefinition

 

Last Friday, April 3, 2026, marked a milestone that has prompted a period of deep reflection for me. It was the 18^th anniversary of my resignation from The Coca-Cola Company, and with that, I have now spent more time “out of Coke” than I did working there—almost 18 years from 1990 to 2008. While I am proud of my years at Coca-Cola, this anniversary has stirred thoughts and perspectives I’d like to share in this essay.

As a dear friend likes to remind me, “let’s start with gratitude.” I am sincerely grateful for my time at Coke. Those years allowed me to work with—and for—some truly remarkable people, forge lasting friendships, and learn invaluable lessons about business and leadership. Reflecting on the dramatic moments throughout those years, I realize that every crisis brought personal growth and learning. There were tough times and challenges, including peers and bosses who fell short, but those experiences helped me mature as a business person and a leader. I am appreciative for the growth I experienced and what it enabled me to accomplish after leaving Coke.

The 18 years since have been transformative, offering me the opportunity to redefine myself both professionally and personally. One important realization was that my identity—professional and personal—would no longer be tied to The Coca-Cola Company. In 2009, I found my way to Bolthouse Farms (more on that soon), but that first year post-Coke was challenging and crucial. It forced me to reassess my sense of self and focus on a personal goal: to become an inspirational business leader rather than simply a senior executive at a single company. Consulting for numerous companies across various industries helped me build skills and grow, learn new industries and expand my impact. Additionally in  2009 I began this blog. Now, 18 years and 300+ essays later, I am still posting content—a journey of personal expansion that continues today.

Joining Bolthouse Farms in 2009 was another turning point, and I am deeply thankful for the privilege of being part of that adventure. I was 48 when I started, with much to learn about agriculture, plant operations, commuting, private equity, and so much more. Before retiring in 2024, I had the honor of serving as a senior executive ( ultimately President and COO) for Bolthouse Farms for nearly 12 years. I genuinely “fell in love” with the company, the team, and those Bakersfield days. We created significant value and success together, and today, as a “cheerleader from the sidelines,” I am proud of the teams currently leading the company and the strong legacy they are building.

Looking ahead, now in board roles as a “trusted advisor,” my goal is to make an impact and leave a legacy built on the foundation of these two 18-year chapters. It’s humbling to have a professional history (41+ years) that predates the birth of many I work with today. I am committed to translating those years of experience and learning into meaningful advice and support. Wherever you are in your professional journey, I encourage you: keep learning, keep growing, and don’t let any single company, role, title, or boss define you. You are the owner, creator, and definer of your personal brand—and only you can guide your path.

In Memory of my sister, Alice Levisay

 

Alice Marie Levisay Obituary

Celebrating a Life of Compassion, Leadership, and Global Impact

With broken hearts, we share with you the passing of a beloved wife, mother, sister and aunt. On December 14, 2025 Alice Marie Levisay, 60, passed away in her home on Bainbridge Island, Washington due to cancer. She died peacefully, in the company of her devoted family. Born on July 14, 1965, in Berea, Ohio, Alice was the cherished daughter of Dale and Arline Levisay, by whom she is predeceased. She is survived by her husband of 33 years, Jan Willem Rosenboom, her daughter, Johanna (Hanna) Rosenboom, her son-in-law Dillon, and her loving brothers, Mark and Bill.

Raised in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, Alice excelled academically, graduating as Valedictorian from Franklin Regional High School. She continued her studies at Rice University, earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. She was then awarded the prestigious Watson Fellowship, which she used to study traditional healthcare delivery systems in India, China, Egypt and Kenya. This experience was professionally as well as personally formative; she first met Jan Willem during her stay in Nairobi.

Following this fellowship, Alice began her early career in Sierra Leone, West-Africa. She worked on Lassa Fever Research and AIDS education efforts with the CDC. She found her calling to improve health care in underserved communities around the world, and continued her education at Johns Hopkins University, where she pursued a master’s degree in public health. Now married, Alice and Jan Willem moved to Cambodia in the early 90’s where Alice worked with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), in roles focusing on rebuilding and strengthening the nation's health systems. Two years following Hanna’s birth in 1998, Alice’s commitment to improving health systems led the family to Dhaka, Bangladesh, where she worked as the health specialist for HLSP Asia focusing on health sector reform and aid effectiveness. From Bangladesh Alice returned to Cambodia for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), where she would rise to the position of Country Representative. In 2010, Alice and family moved to the US, where Alice joined PATH in Seattle. A few years later she transitioned to working as an independent consultant so she could spend more time with Hanna and focus on her role as a community member. 

Alice loved her life on the island, volunteering for the salmon monitoring program, singing in various choirs and developing a community of friends. The family home welcomed guests from around the world, sharing the beauty of the Puget Sound and the Pacific Northwest. Having to give up singing, first during COVID, and later when the cancer she had been living with (and trying to subdue) since 2020 reached her lungs, was a huge disappointment to her. In her final professional role, Alice served at the Gates Foundation, leading efforts with the Global Health Agencies and Funds (GHAF) strategy, joining a team she deeply enjoyed working with.

Alice’s remarkable journey touched communities across the globe—from Vanuatu, Lao PDR and Tonga, to India, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, Cambodia, and Bainbridge Island, among many others. Her legacy is defined by her intelligence, strength of character, unwavering willpower, and infectious laugh. Though her life was cut short by illness, the impact she made and the memories she created will be treasured by all who had the privilege to know her. Alice’s absence will be deeply felt, but her spirit will live on in the lives she changed and the love she shared.

A celebration of Alice’s life will be held later in January (and will be accessible remotely).

Jan Willem and Hanna would like to thank the medical teams at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, and the nurses, social worker, nursing aids and others at Multicare Hospice, who cared for Alice with expertise, kindness and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to USA for UNFPA, providing care to women and girls in underserved communities, or Helpline House, providing food assistance and social services to those in need on Bainbridge Island.

Civility, Stability, and a Generosity of Spirit... Leadership traits to model today!

 

Modeling Positive Leadership in a Time of "Anti-Models": Reflections on Civility, Stability, and Generosity of Spirit

Learning from the Best—and the Worst—for Leadership That Matters

Throughout a long career, one may accumulate lessons from a remarkable array of leaders—some who illuminate the path forward by the force of their example, and others who serve, almost as powerfully, as anti-models whose flaws become cautionary tales. In this essay, I want to share decades of experience reflecting on the indelible marks left by both types. I do so not with the wistfulness of nostalgia, but with the urgency of a call to action—a call made especially acute by the troubling rise of “anti-models” in today’s turbulent political and workplace landscapes.

If leaders are, in part, creatures of imitation, then the imperative to model what is right, rather than what is toxic, becomes a matter not only of personal integrity but of societal survival. I want to suggest that leadership is always, at core, an act of modeling; the behaviors we choose are magnified in our organizations and ripple outward into the culture at large. The importance of this modeling has never been more apparent than now.

The Power of Models and Anti-Models

Opening with a spirit of gratitude, I need to acknowledge the positive influence of great leaders across my career, two of which I mentioned in a recent essay: Neville Isdell at The Coca Cola Company, and Bruce Paynter at Kimberly-Clark. These individuals, and many others like them, have left me with enduring blueprints for effective, humane leadership. Yet, in the same breath, I want to be candid about the negative examples that I have encountered across the decades: those who, through arrogance, incivility, hubris or instability, became “anti-models.” These individuals modeled exactly what not to do.

Rather than merely lamenting these negative influences, I view them as instructive. There is wisdom in learning what to avoid, and in deliberately choosing to “do the opposite” of the “jokers” whose leadership failures cast long shadows. This duality—the presence of both models and anti-models—enriches the legacy of lessons available to any leader willing to observe, reflect, and act.

The Rise of “Anti-Modeling” in Today’s Landscape

I want to pivot in this essay to a broader concern: the proliferation of “anti-models” in the modern public sphere, particularly in politics but increasingly within business. Today’s leadership rhetoric at the highest levels has grown more vitriolic, aggressive, and destabilizing. The danger is clear; as young business leaders witness and internalize these behaviors, they risk carrying them into their own spheres of influence with harmful consequences.

The tendency for leaders to “model” what they see is natural, but when what they see is corrosive, intolerant, and destabilizing, the effect is “deeply dangerous and concerning.” Thus, there is a pressing need to “call out” these trends, to say clearly that such behaviors are not worthy of emulation, and to offer positive alternatives.

Three Habits to Model Now: A Counterpoint to Anti-Modeling

Against this troubling backdrop, I want to share three fundamental leadership habits or traits that deserve urgent modeling. These are not presented as abstract virtues, but as actionable, practical antidotes to the poisonous influence of today's anti-models.

Civility: Returning to the Foundation of Respect

The first trait is civility—a quality that seems almost quaint or outdated in an era dominated by shouting matches and online flame wars. Civility, as the Britannica Dictionary reminds us, is “polite, reasonable, and respectful behavior.” This is not a superficial politeness that glosses over difference or suppresses dissent, but an abiding respect for the humanity and dignity of others.

I lament that the “golden rule”—to treat others as you wish to be treated—has fallen out of favor, dismissed as old-fashioned; yet I argue for its renewed relevance! In organizations and communities where people must live and work together, civility is not optional; it is foundational. I must underscore the dangers of name-calling, derogatory language, and vindictive personal attacks—patterns that have become pervasive and corrosive in today's political and business spheres..

Civility is more than the absence of rudeness; it is the active presence of empathy, listening, and the willingness to engage with difference without diminishing or demeaning. Leaders who model civility set a tone that enables collaboration, creativity, and trust. In so doing, they reinforce the most fundamental of all social principles, one desperately needed today.

Stability: The Anchor in Turbulent Times

Next, I want to highlight stability—a quality whose value becomes most apparent in times of crisis. Stability means being “not easily changed or likely to change,” “not easily moved,” and “emotionally or mentally healthy.” In an era marked by genuine emergencies and manufactured crises alike, stability is at a premium.

I need to draw a vivid contrast between autocratic leaders who generate instability for personal gain and the stabilizing influence of leaders who offer predictability and calm. The memory of leading Bolthouse Farms through the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic brings this concept to life. At that moment of unprecedented uncertainty, the simple act of showing up—consistently, reliably, with a steady demeanor—became a powerful reassurance to the team. .  I remember specifically during the summer of 2020 leading Bolthouse Farms and being a consistent voice of daily and then weekly “Virtual Town Halls.”  In those early days we had implemented stringent “physical separation” rules, and my “workstation” was at one end of the plant, far from my historic office.  Thus, I worked out of a conference room next to a trusted work partner David’s office.  I remember so clearly getting numerous notes and emails from team members saying they were happy and reassured “seeing me” on zoom from that same conference room, with the little Bolthouse Farms sign taped to the wall behind me, day after day/week after week. In that time of real crisis and emergency, having me show up on zoom, at first daily then ultimately weekly, was a reassuring sign of “stability” and predictability in a time when nothing seemed stable or predictable.

Stability is not the same as inertia or resistance to change; rather, it is the anchor that allows organizations to weather storms. Leaders who embody stability create environments where people feel safe enough to take risks, confident enough to innovate, and calm enough to persevere. I want to encourage leaders to “find ways to be a calm, stable and predictable leader”—habits that will be recognized and appreciated by their organizations, especially in unsettled times.

Generosity of Spirit: Building Relationships Beyond the Zero-Sum Game

Finally, I want to turn to generosity of spirit—a quality that transcends transactional thinking. Generosity of spirit is “the quality of being kind, understanding, and not selfish,” and the willingness to give, not just of money, but of time, ideas, attention, and care.

Too many interactions today are governed by a “win/lose” logic rooted in a scarcity mindset.        I want to encourage Leaders to reject this paradigm. Instead, they should pursue “win/win” solutions, even though such outcomes require effort, imagination, and, above all, generosity.  Generosity of spirit means being open with your time, sharing ideas and lessons, nurturing curiosity, and listening deeply to others. It is a refusal to be petty or self-protective. Leaders who embody this quality create cultures of trust, collaboration, and growth. Their influence extends well beyond the bottom line; it shapes the moral and emotional climate of their organizations.

Leadership as Deliberate Modeling: A Call to Action

In closing I want and need to reinforce that now, more than ever, our companies, teams, communities and countries NEED models (not anti-models) to bring better leadership traits to life.” The three virtues outlined—civility, stability, and generosity of spirit—are not abstract ideals but urgent necessities.

Every leader, whether in a boardroom, a classroom, a family, or in political office is a model. Others are watching, learning, and imitating. The choice, then, is not whether to be a model, but what kind of model to be.

I want this essay to be a call to those with influence to reflect on the behaviors they transmit, to double down on the positive traits learned from the best leaders, and to be vigilant in recognizing—and rejecting—the toxic influences of anti-models. It is a reminder that the work of leadership is never finished, that each day brings fresh opportunities to embody and transmit values that will nourish organizations and communities for generations to come.

In modeling civility, stability, and generosity of spirit, leaders do not merely respond to the challenges of the day—they shape the world of tomorrow. The need has never been greater, and the time to take action is now.

 

Innovation can come from some surprising "corners".... be ready and be open!!

 

It may seem odd that I touch on the topic of "Innovation" and use heirloom tomatoes as my inspiration.  It is from this "surprising corner" of our garden this spring that I am reminded of the unusual and unexpected sources of "Innovation," and I want to encourage leaders to be open, willing and ready to be surprised as innovative ideas/products/processes show up on their radar screens.

I have been an avid gardener my whole life and come from a family of very keen gardeners.  My paternal grandmother ( "MaMa") kept a large garden for decades, canning green beans, pickles, stewed tomatoes and other treats that she grew herself.  My brother is a master gardener, and produces an incredible array of fruits and vegetables every year.  As for me... a self described gardening "novice," my focus is on tomatoes... and specifically two varieties of heirloom tomatoes.  One variety has been raised in my family for decades... certainly more than 50 years... and maybe longer than 75.  MaMa raised them for years in her garden, then my father kept up the tradition, then passed the seeds along to my brother and me.  I have raised them for more than 25 years and have shared the seeds with friends and fellow gardeners across the globe.  Its a determinate ( only grows to a limited height) tomato plant, with serrated leaves, that puts off orange "tennis ball" sized fruit that show a faint pink stripe when ripe... I call them "MaMa's old stripers." The second variety was given to me by the parents of my childhood friend Dave Carfang.  This variety has been grown by his family or ours since the mid 1970's, and is an indeterminate ( grows to an unlimited height) tomato plant, with smooth edged leaves, and produces very large pink fruit... sometimes between 1-2 pounds per tomato... and we call them the "Carfang big pinks."  Every year I keep the seeds from one exceptional tomato from each variety, prepare them and set them aside for the following season.  This year that process has produced some unexpected outcomes... an unexpected "Innovation"...that I only recognized once the seedlings were transplanted into the garden. 

The picture above is of this "unexpected innovation" which came from the seeds of a single  "Carfang big pink" from last summer.  It's tall, growing well and the same height as the other "big pinks'... but it has serrated leaves..just like the "old stripers!"  Over the decades that I have been growing the "big pinks," I have never seen this phenomenon... this permutation.... this "innovation" before!  The first picture below is of a small "old striper" in the garden today (note the height and serrated leaves) and the second one is of a "big pink" plant, also in the garden today(note the height and the smooth leaves.)  I have no idea what this "new tomato plant" will produce, or whether it will actually bear fruit this season.... but I can't wait to see!!  I knew that heirloom tomatoes (unlike hybrid varieties) are open pollinators and could be "open" to cross pollination... I just had never seen it before and was certainly not setting out to create a new varietal!

I will keep everyone posted on the progress, and hopefully the fruit, of this new tomato variety... but I share this story to make a point.  I have been gardening for decades... and my family has been "in the garden" for more than 100 years for sure.... and this little "new" tomato plant has blown me away!  In that same spirit... as leaders of businesses, organizations and teams I want to encourage each of you to be ready to be surprised by innovations in areas that you thought you knew very well... areas that you have worked on for years or maybe decades. Be ready... be open ... be flexible for the innovations happening in "your gardens" right now and enjoy the process and get excited about the unique/unexpected examples of "Innovation" that may surprise you when you are least looking for them!

“Legacy” requires action !

 

 

With a blog titled “Find Your Legacy,” it’s not difficult to uncover the plot of my story.  For the past 16 years, 275+ essays, and over 180k pageviews I have been focused on this idea from many angles.  Literally 20 years ago, in the spring of 2005, I published a “little book” with this title as a leadership “training tool” when I was an executive at The Coca- Cola Company.  I have been thinking about, speaking about, and writing about “Legacy” for decades now and I keep learning new lessons on the topic and a call I received last week shed new light on that exact issue. To maintain confidentiality, I will use “L” rather than the actual name of the caller.

 

Early last week, my cell rang and out of the blue I saw that “L” was calling.  “L” is an executive at Bolthouse Farms whom I have known for many years and whom I worked closely with when we bought the company back from Campbell’s in 2019.  I literally hadn’t heard from her since my retirement party in Bakersfield, late January 2024, and I wondered if everything was ok.  Quickly “L” assured me that all was well with her, her family and her professional life and that she was calling just to say “thanks,” and candidly I hadn’t a clue at that second what I should say “your welcome” for!!  She reminded me that back in 2021/2022 she met with me several times to work on an area of her development plan that she struggled with … she hated speaking in public.   I remembered us working on a number of her presentations, role playing in different settings and different group/audience sizes and I remember her making good progress in our work sessions.  She shared on the call last week that she had taken those early “lessons” and kept working on this area, and that just recently she had become the head/chair/president of the “toastmasters chapter” at the company and that she wanted to share that news and say thanks.  I was floored, humbled and so proud of “L”, now head of the “toastmasters chapter” … and starting from those humble “lessons” behind the admin building at Bolthouse Farms.

 

I was so touched by her call, so proud of her and wished her the very very best as we hung up the call last week.  Clearly a moment of “Legacy” alive in world today… but a “Legacy” story that had a clear reminder to me personally.  I thought back to those early “lessons” with “L” and remembered that the reason we met outside behind the admin building was that we were in the heat of Covid and beginning the process of trying to vaccinate (on site) the employee population.  It was incredibly stressful, and an incredibly busy time (business results were getting shaky as well) and I remember back to 2021 wondering whether I really had time for the “lessons” with “L.”  I was commuting to Bakersfield from Atlanta on top of it all and I came close to NOT being available for those “lessons,” NOT being generous with my time, NOT taking action to pass along a little “legacy” that might help the next generation of leaders at good old Bolthouse Farms.  I came close to really blowing it… and thankfully I didn’t!!

 

Even after all the years, decades, essays and speeches I am reminded once again that OUR legacy that we leave behind every day is based on our ACTIONS…. not our INTENTIONS!  WE need to continue to work on our actions and find ways to ACT generously as leaders, look for ways to leave our legacy… or maybe just have time for a few “lessons” outside behind the admin building … with our teams today regardless of the pressures/challenges of the moment!

 

 

I have known her for my entire life and will miss her forever

 It is with a heavy heart this morning that I pass along the news about the passing of our dear "Aunt Lorraine."  Lorraine has been a large, loving and powerful presence in my life for the entirety of my 63 years and I will miss her dearly and deeply forever.  I share this news here because over the years I have referenced her across numerous essays, and probably the widest read story being the one focused on her now famous "Aunt Lorraine's Law"  ( https://fylegacy.blogspot.com/2009/03/aunt-lorraines-law.html) 

Below is the obituary that I drafted yesterday, and that we are posting this week.  Join me in remembering her smile, her generosity, her recipes, and more broadly her legacy. 

 

Lorraine Ann Wark Diamond
January 19, 1933 – February 15, 2025

Lorraine Ann Wark Diamond, 92, of Tom’s River, New Jersey, passed away on February 15, 2025, after a long and fulfilling life. Lorraine was born on January 19, 1933, in New York City to Fred and Kunigunda Wark. She was the beloved sister of Arline Marie (Wark) Levisay and the cherished aunt to Mark, Bill, and Alice Levisay.

Raised in Brooklyn, New York, Lorraine attended PS 104 (The Fort Hamilton School) before graduating from high school in 1954. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from The Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. After completing her education, Lorraine began her career at General Foods Corporation before joining the world of advertising at Young & Rubicam (Y&R) where she ran the test kitchens. For over 30 years, she worked at Y&R’s 40th and Madison offices alongside her friends, Audrey Wardly and Barbara Badyna, and her husband, Alfred Diamond.

Lorraine lived for many years in Baldwin, New York, with her parents, Fred and Kunigunda Wark. After their passing, she married Alfred Diamond in 1975, and they enjoyed a loving marriage until Alfred's passing in 1994.

An avid traveler, Lorraine explored many corners of the world, with a special fondness for Zermatt, Switzerland. After retiring from Y&R, she moved to Tom’s River, New Jersey, to be closer to many of her dear friends including Audrey Wardly and Herbie Smarro.

Lorraine was an ever-present and supportive figure in the lives of her niece and nephews after the death of her sister Arline in 1974. Known affectionately as “Aunt Lorraine,” she was a constant source of love, humor, and strength. Her independence, sassiness, generosity, and caring nature left a lasting impact on all who knew her.

Lorraine will be deeply missed and forever remembered for her sharp wit, loving spirit, and dedication to family.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in Lorraine’s memory to Lutheran World Relief. 

Aunt Marge's Rolls

 

As we get close to Christmas, Hanukkah, and the end of year holidays, I thought it was high time to dig back into my family’s recipes to share a treat that is perfect on any holiday table… none other than “Aunt Marge’s rolls!”

My Great Aunt Marge was my paternal grandmother’s (MaMa!!) younger sister (pictured here) who lived on a farm near Staunton Virginia most of her adult life and who was an incredible cook.  MaMa used to pose the question of who the better cook was, she or Marge, and I learned early in life not to “take the bait” and find a way to steer clear of that perilous question.  Aunt Marge was quite a character, outspoken and full of life and would share a delicious dinner when we would come visit her and Uncle Adley at the farm when we were kids.  While all the dishes were incredible, her rolls were exceptional, and my brother and I have worked to recreate the recipe ...the best we know how.  What follows is a recent “translation” that comes close to original, though Aunt Marge would have used probably used lard (most likely “leaf lard”) and would have omitted the dill during our summer visits.  The picture below is the batch I made last week following the recipe below. 

 I wish you all peace, love and understanding as you take some time off for the holidays…. in these times filled with conflict, division, and uncertainty here at home and all over the world, my hope is that you all can take some time over the holidays with your family and friends , share a meal and some stories... and don't forget to enjoy the rolls!!

                                              

Aunt Marge Rolls

 

 

Using my brother Mark’s “recipe” as a foundation, here is my version

 

The way I start is to put 1 cup of All Purpose flour in a bowl with 1/4-1/2 cup Whole Wheat flour

A little less than 1/4 cup sugar

1 heaping tablespoon (or 1 packet) Instant or Rapid Rise yeast

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup chopped dill

Mix dry ingredients with an electric hand mixer

 

When the dry ingredients are mixed, add 1/4 cup “Crisco” oil (you could melt solid Crisco) 

1 cup hot water, ½ cup buttermilk and make a "batter" with the hand mixer.

During the mixing process, add 1 egg and up to 1 more cup of All Purpose flour. 

 

Using a hand mixer, I stop adding additional flour when it starts to bog down.

With a wooden spoon I continue to add regular flour until the dough is dry enough to knead.  There is no exact amount, as it will depend on exactly how much water you use, the size of the eggs and the relative humidity.

Once the hand mixer “bogs down”, keep adding flour and mix with a wooden spoon It will probably take at least 1- 1& 1/2 cups AP flour more (3&1/2 - 4 cups flour total +/-)

 

Turn out onto a floured bread board or your countertop and knead until the dough is quite resistive.

Place dough into a large, oiled bowl and spray a little oil on top.  Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until it has doubled in size.  This should take 1 hour, depending on room temp.  (I place mine in an oven with the oven light on)

Take dough out onto your floured board and cut into the number of pieces you want for the rolls.  This sized batch of dough makes 16-18 of the "Aunt Marge" rolls. Cover with a light towel.

Let the rolls rise until at least doubled in size-an hour or more this time.  More rising is better.

Bake at 400F for about 16 minutes (less if you do individual “chef's hat” rolls in muffin tins) or until the tops are nice and brown. 

 

 

Lessons from Venus!

 

I had the chance recently to attend the annual general meeting held by Butterfly Equity, the PE firm that I have worked closely with over the past 5+ years when we bought Bolthouse Farms back from Campbell’s.  I am proud of the Butterfly team and their incredible growth and am very proud to serve on the board of the Butterfly Equity Foundation whose focus is to support non-profits in greater Los Angeles in nutrition security, food as medicine, and increasing healthy food access in underserved communities.  To see more about Butterfly Equity or the foundation, see: https://www.bfly.com)

 

While the meeting this year was primarily focused on the growth and success of Butterfly Equity broadly, and the specific performance of its companies, it was a real treat to get to see the guest speaker, Venus Williams, share her thoughts and learning from across her incredible career in Tennis and in life.  Venus was very gracious and candidly very humble as she spoke to the crowd and as she answered questions that came from the audience.  Here are few specific Q&A “moments” that struck me as deeply true and incredibly applicable in business and life today:

 

Ø  “Challenges”: An early question had to do with the incredible amount and breadth of “challenges” that Venus had to deal with across her youth, her playing career, and today as an entrepreneur.  How did she handle them and what advice would she give for those facing challenges in their businesses today.

 

o   Venus responded, ” you don’t want to ask for fewer challenges… you ask for and work on building more skills.”  She NEVER stopped trying to get better at Tennis, and she worked on that objective every day for decades!  That I idea that we all should focus ourselves and our teams on “building skills” every day for decades is a powerful inspiration!  Our businesses and our companies WILL face more challenges ahead, and we can’t just wish them away.  

 

Ø  “Pressure” : a  question from the audience had to do with how she and her sister Serena handled the pressure of growing up and training so hard from very early ages to excel at tennis and what does she think about the pressure facing on kids today.

 

o   Venus responded that “pressure was a privilege” in her mind and that “kids without pressure won’t be ready for life.”  I won’t focus on the parenting lesson in this comment (though I deeply agree with Venus on this one!!) but we must convert our thinking and the headsets of the key leaders in our organizations to take this idea on… how to think that “pressure is a privilege.”  Every business I know is facing a wide array of pressures every day, and rarely (ok, never!) have I thought about them as a “privilege” personally… but the power of building the strength and grit of an organization is built on that simple idea…and ALL organizations would benefit from building “grit!”

 

 

Ø  “Legacy”: Now this topic is close to home for yours truly… having written a blog

 (“Find Your Legacy”) on this topic since 2009 and have been speaking about this topic since the time my grandmother died in 1998!  

 

o   As Venus was wrapping up her comments, she shared her thoughts about where she was in her life today and what she thought her “Legacy” was as of today.   She commented that “Legacy was about what you can give… not what you take” in life and that she wasn’t done “giving.”  I loved the response to remind all of us that we aren’t done leaving an impact in life … leaving a legacy… and whether you are a world renowned Tennis star, a business leader, or a simple attendee at a great meeting in Southern California ( referring to yours truly) we all have the chance to haven an impact, leave a legacy, on those we connect with today or in the days to come!

 

 

I hope that a few of these ideas/inspirations from Venus’s talk connect with you personally and that you can see ways to apply them in your work ahead.  Work to think about how they may apply to your personally, and then think of applications for your team/teams broadly.

Living without Regret... The lesson of Zermatt

 

It humbling to realize, but it was 15 years ago this week that my old boss and dear friend Bruce Paynter passed away after a battle with ALS.  Bruce meant the world to me then ( and in the years before his passing) and I think of him often today.  Bruce is very much in "present tense" with me today and so many times over the past year leading Bolthouse Farms I have often thought back and wondered... "what would Bruce say/do in this situation."  It was almost exactly 15years ago today that I wrote an essay ( one of a number) that was inspired by a final conversation that I had with Bruce, titled "Living without Regret," ( read it here...https://fylegacy.blogspot.com/2009/07/living-without-regret.html)   "As I sit here today, this topic of "Living without Regret" is again on my mind, and I wanted to share a few thoughts/learnings that might be helpful.

In my readings this week, I came across a CNBC article that dug into a book (You only Die Once: How to make it to the end with no regrets, by Jodi Wellman) on this topic.  A very insightful part of the article was the author's description of "Regrets of Commission" vs "Regrets of Omission" and how they were different and had different dynamics.  In the author's view, "Regrets of Omission" were the really dangerous ones... things you regret NOT DOING in your life.... and areas to focus on and work on in your life.  This idea really got me thinking and in the soul searching I became center on a story from my life and a lesson in this specific area that I describe "The lesson of Zermatt."

While I have never been to Zermatt (YET!!), my Aunt Lorraine spent many trips when she was younger ( quite literally skiing there in the 1960's with a group of here closest female friends) and for her Zermatt ( with the magnificent views of the Matterhorn) was one of her most precious spots on earth.  I knew this growing up, and thought about Switzerland/Zermatt/The Matterhorn as a sort of mythical Swiss "Valhalla"where the cows wore bells, no cars were allowed and the Swiss chocolate flowed from every corner.  I thought to myself when I was young that someday ( when I hade "made it") I would treat Aunt Lorraine to a trip back to HER Zermatt!

Well, the years and decades moved on, and as a person busy with a family and a business career, I never had the time for the big Zermatt trip.  It wasn't until 2015, after selling Bolthouse Farms to Campbell's and thinking my time was done in "carrot-land" ( oh how naive!!) that I talked to Aunt Lorraine about my big idea... how about we take a big trip back to Zermatt??  Now this was 9 years ago, and Aunt Lorraine was in her 80's still doing well ( in my eyes) but she quickly said that while it was a great idea, she couldn't go!  I was dumbstruck and started selling... I would pickup the tickets, I would come get her in NJ.... I wanted to handle all the objections!  Aunt Lorraine was patient, but persistent to say that a trip like that would have been great a few years ago, but in 2015 it would be too much... too scary... here capabilities too limited...and she wasn't up for a trip like that anymore.... she would never go back to Zermatt.  While at first I was frustrated with her, I realized that I was the culprit... I had blown it; my intense regret ( "Regret of Omission") was my burden and in many ways still is!

While Aunt Lorraine is still alive, she is now in hospice and is nearing her end-of life and I have deep and precious memories of her across my entire life.  I share this story as a personal nudge ( to myself and the readers) to say that life is short and very fragile and if there are any regrets ( and especially "Regrets of Omission') in your lives today, it high time to take action NOW!  Someday I will find my path to Zermatt, and will take a keepsake of Aunt Lorraine with me on that trip in honor and in memory of that incredible woman.  I will also keep Zermatt active in my mind today... thinking about what actions I NEED to take NOW, focused on the "Regrets of Omission" in my life today, and I encourage all readers to take a few minutes and do the same... do you have any "Zermatts" in your life that need action now??

It's official!

 Early today I posted the following on "Linkedin," after sharing the news with the company yesterday at a virtual town hall.  Filled with emotions, I wanted to share the posting here:

It is with great pride and gratitude that I share the news today of my retirement from Bolthouse Farms.  I need to acknowledge and thank so many talented and dedicated “Bolthouse People” that have been part of my journey at the company since I first joined almost 15 years ago.  Many thanks to my long-term business partner Jeff Dunn, who asked me in 2009 to be part of this amazing company, to be part of a leadership journey which drove dramatic business growth, a sale of the company to Campbell’s, and a repurchase in partnership with Butterfly Equity. Together, along with the Executive Leadership Team, we led Bolthouse Farms through a global pandemic, the acquisition of Evolution Fresh from Starbucks, and ultimately prepared the company for its next chapter of growth and success as two separate business entities.

 

I am very proud and excited to pass the business along to Tim Escamilla who will run the Ag- Centric farming business under the company name “Bolthouse Fresh Foods,” and Steve Cornell who will run the CPG-Centric Beverage and Salad Dressing business under the company name “Generous Brands.” These two “sister-companies” will create unique value and drive growth in their respective markets, and I am confident that Tim and Steve will have a strong impact in the next chapter of the company’s 100+ year history!

 

While I am “retiring” from Bolthouse Farms, my plan is to pivot my professional path towards opportunities where I can leverage my 35+year career in board roles, and to act as a “trusted advisor” to CEOs, foundations, and non-profit organizations.  I am humbled by my experiences at Bolthouse Farms, and I know the organization will continue to grow, overcome challenges, and thrive as it continues the next chapter of its legacy.

 

 

A tasty family Legacy: 2023

 

I have no idea how old I was when I first enjoyed our Aunt Lorraine's "Jelly Tarts" at Christmas.  Maybe I was 5 or 6, but I remember them so fondly and always craved more... each year there was only enough for each of us to get 1 or 2 of these incredible treats. She and my maternal grandmother would make a bounty of Christmas cookies each year, but the "Jelly Tarts" were the clearly the "star on the tree" among the many choices.  The picture to the right is a current one of our daughter Marie and I with a plate of OUR Jelly Tarts that we made last weekend; working hard to keep Aunt Lorraine's legacy alive this Christmas season!

The impetus for me of writing this essay, and candidly what started me on this entire journey of writing this blog in the first place... now 260+ essays and 15 years ago... was this idea of "legacy."  In my life, I have been touched by so many people who have left their "mark" on me,  both personally and professionally and I feel so lucky to have had the chance to learn and grow from these "legacies."  Whether lessons from my grandmother MaMa,  https://fylegacy.blogspot.com/2009/03/legacy.html, or Mrs. Carfang and her feast of the Seven Fish https://fylegacy.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-kindness-remembered.html, or the lessons of Bruce Paynter https://fylegacy.blogspot.com/2010/07/legacy-of-bruce.html, my first boss at Kimberly-Clark who passed in 2009 from ALS, or tasty memories or rules about "small bites" from Aunt Lorraine, https://fylegacy.blogspot.com/2009/03/aunt-lorraines-law.html, or.... literally the list goes on and are spread across the hundreds of essays that I have posted on this blog.

This is the third or fourth year that Marie and I have made Aunt Lorraine's "Jelly Tarts" and while our technique is growing, it's a pretty simple recipe that is VERY hard to get exactly right.  Always tasty, each year we try to get closer and closer to "how Aunt Lorraine" made them... and I hope we get the chance to keep trying to perfect this specific "legacy" for years to come!  Give the recipe a try, it's highlighted below, signed by the creator herself!  

Merry Christmas!

"Authenticity"... the 2023 word of the year!

The following clip from the BBC hit my feed earlier today, and now more that ever it seems VERY appropriate…

 

Merriam-Webster has picked its word of the year - and it's legit. 

"Authentic" is the top word of 2023, according to America's oldest dictionary.

Merriam-Webster said it saw a "substantial increase" in online searches for it this year. 

The interest was "driven by stories and conversations about AI [artificial intelligence], celebrity culture, identity, and social media", the dictionary publisher said. 

One reason many people search for the word is because it has a number of meanings, including "not false or imitation" and also "true to one's own personality, spirit, or character". 

"Although clearly a desirable quality, 'authentic' is hard to define and subject to debate," Merriam-Webster said. 

The publisher added that the popularity of the word, which had been highly searched in the US in the past, grew this year as "the line between 'real' and 'fake'" became increasingly blurred.

 

“Authenticity” is a concept or actually a principle that I have focused on numerous times across the 250+ essays that I have posted on-line.  I have always considered “Authenticity” a foundational principal for leaders, and my experiences in 2009 around the passing of my first boss, Bruce Paynter, provide vivid memories that I reflect on often today.  After battling ALS for months, he was nearing his passing, and I had the chance/honor to spend a few days with him at a hospice center.  Across that time together, we had three deep profound conversations, one centering around this idea of “Authenticity.”  He deeply felt that “Authenticity” was the foundation for leadership, and successful, effective leaders.  We talked for hours about this idea, comparing notes on business leaders we both knew, and talked about what made some effective and others ineffective and we kept coming around to this concept… “Authentic” leaders were effective and impactful leaders…. period.

 

Bruce had me draw a grid… his “grid of authenticity” … that had “Words” and “Actions” identified on each axis, and “+” and “-“ symbols at the ends of each axis.  In his mind… his definition…an “authentic” leader needed to ensure that their “Words” and “Actions” we aligned.  He had be draw a line from top right (positive “words” and “actions”) to the bottom left of the grid (negative “words” and “actions”) and he called this his “rail of authenticity.”  Effective leaders operated as close to the “rail” as possible, working to have their “words” and “actions” as aligned as possible.

 

As I sit here, writing this essay 14+ years later, I still remember that time in the hospice center and those powerful conversations.  In reflection, I think back on the discussion highlighted above and am deeply moved and strengthened by the TRUTH that Bruce’s “rail” is deeply true and has been a model that I have tried to embody in my personal and professional lives.  Let Merriam-Webtser’s “top word of 2023” be a driver for you… and a reminder that we all need to focus on our “words” and our “actions and find ways to come closer to “Bruce’s rail!”

p.s.  here is the link to the original essay that I wrote just a few days after that fateful "authentic" conversation back in 2009... take a look.  https://fylegacy.blogspot.com/2009/06/authenticity-foundation-of-leadership.html

p.p.s. the pic above is from a flipchart in my office ... the product of a recent conversation with a young leader on our team ... the "legacy of Bruce" still active in Bakersfield in 2023!

 

100k… and I was the “doubting blogger!”

 

 

 

I wanted to take this moment, in the summer of 2023 to say thanks to the thousands of readers of this blog, and the essays that I post regularly (ok, about monthly!) trying to touch on “lessons of leadership and life.”  As you can see by the “dashboard” below, I hit the milestone of over 100k pageviews in the past few days, covering the 254 essays that I have posted over the past 14 years.

 

  As I sit here writing essay 255, I think back to the start of this little adventure and how close I came to killing the idea before it started…. I was certainly a reluctant and “doubting blogger” back in march of 2009 when I posted the first essay titled “Legacy” which you can see here:  https://fylegacy.blogspot.com/2009/03/legacy.html.  At the end of the opening paragraph, I included a line that still rings true today...

 “Regardless of age or experience, no one is too old to learn, to grow, to see new insights and I am hopeful that this blog will foster growth in the writer and reader alike.”

 

This platform has certainly fostered growth for “yours truly” over the years and I am so grateful that I DIDN’T let my own reluctance/doubts/uncertainties stop me from posting that first essay so many years ago!  I had left working at The Coca-Cola Company in 2008 (hard to imagine that it has been 15+ years) and as I started to transition to other endeavors, I had some of my old “Coke friends” ask me to share a s few of the stories that I told in meetings back at the company.  Like the “Turkey Bag Story” featured in the first essay and the link above, I had a few “old stories” that I had shared over my 18 years at Coke.  I had never written them down, so I had no easy way to share them with others.  One of the folks asking for the stories kept at it and suggested that I create a blog and post them on-line.  It seems crazy today, but at that moment the suggestion of me “writing a blog” seemed ludicrous…. I wasn’t a blog writer sitting in some wayward coffee shop (naïve and insulting!!), I was a corporate exec working towards my next gig… (Bolthouse Farms was still six months away.)  Well, my reluctance was worn down over a few months and I posted the first essay, and ultimately five others in March of 2009 thinking that might be the end of it…. a blog of six stories for easy reference… little did I know that almost 250 essays later, decades in the future, I would be sitting here today highlighting all these essays and the 100k pageviews.

 

It’s interesting to look back at those first essays, which not only include the “Turkey Bag Story,” but also feature a personal favorite “Aunt Lorraine’s Law,” and one of the most read essays of all the 254 posted “The Three Impact Points of Leadership.”  They were relevant then and still resonate today.  If you think about the metrics, with 100k page pageviews, and 254 essays posted the average essay would have 394 pageviews (it’s just math.)  Well, the bell curve on this blog doesn’t work like that, there are the “Top 10 Most Popular Posts” (you can see them over on the left side of the blog, just scroll down a little) and each of them have more than a 1000 pageviews per essay, many essays have a few hundred pageviews, and there are dozens with less than 50.  Some of the “Top 10” were written back in 2009, yet two were written in the past few months.  One of the things I have learned through this writing/posting adventure is that you never know what essay/topic will hit home, and literally be shared and read by thousands across the world, and which will be read by 20-30 folks and sit quietly on the sidelines… it’s not up to the writer for sure.  Once you post an essay, its literally “out there” and the rest is up to the readers to decide!

 

I will close with a big and humble thank you… thanks for taking the time over the years with these stories and thanks for sharing them with others.  I will keep adding to the essays “regularly” and I hope that a few stories in the future months and years will hit home like a few have done over the past decades.