GLJ is 8!
As we celebrate our 8th year around the cold pressed sun, I wanted to take the opportunity to look back and reflect a little . . . share my 2 biggest lessons of the past year, and give you a glimpse of what is ahead. And to keep this post in line with my current goal of “Do Less” I am even gonna write less! Skip my usual lengthy intro and get right to the good stuff!
The biggest part of the Good Stuff is the Good Crew you see here! These kings + queens are the absolute best part of this journey and the part I am most grateful for. THANK YOU!
LOOKING BACK
2 Biggest Lessons of the Past Year
Human Resources is the Hardest Part
Might not be much of a news flash, but there ya have it! Along with hiring and training intensively from Oct-May, restructuring the team, and taking more on in the HR department, this past year brought giant lessons! Tons of learning, big moves, mistakes, wins, and everything in between. I had to learn that sometimes, putting my needs before others is absolutely gut wrenching and even if you know it’s what you need to do, you can’t avoid how hard it is . . . and how long it can take to recover from.
Maintaining our company culture is precious. And even if it’s really hard, it will always be worth it.
Look at this team!! I am so in love.
2. Do Less to Attract More
Sometimes less is more. With work, with marketing, with how I schedule my time and life in general. This is a lesson I learn over and over again and is a huge work in progress. Always being on the move and on the go . . . that pushing, pushing and pushing is not an effective or sustainable way to run a business or a life. (But man oh man do I get sucked into that trap!)
The teams motto in recent months was “Stress Less Spring” and my personal motto right now is to “Do Less”. Goals that come on the heals of a year of pushing . . . it’s time for chillin!
LOOKING AHEAD
3 Main Goals for the Year Ahead
Work less / Do Less
My goal between now and September is to do less. Working part time this summer and spending more time with my kids is a priority that is taking months to plan for it so that it will actually happen. The key for me was setting up the company and the team so that my absence will be of no burden but rather give them the opportunity to shine without me - something they already do anyway! So, yeah - see ya at the beach!
2. HR Consistency / Finish Ops Manuals
The ability to easily on board and train new staff quickly and efficiently is the area I most want to improve within the company . . . We are getting there with updating our systems, creating our new hire packages, and finalizing a training program and schedule. Along with the manual for new hires, being consistent with meetings, check ins, and reviews with current employees is just as big of a priority for the year ahead. The day that manual is finished you can trust I will be popping champers with the team!
3. New Growth + Opportunities
Looking at the year ahead, it feels, finally, like we can look forward at the year ahead as an opportunity to FINALLY focus on new things!!! It was a year of survival mode through the pandemic, followed by a lot of changes to our HR structure and responsibilities shifting back to me for the first time in many many years - which all meant growth and new opportunities have been on the back burner.
Looking ahead what I am excited about
Expanding current line of products (snacks, desserts and collagen)
Launching a totally new product line (can’t reveal anything yet)
Becoming more sustainable (working hard to receive some grants or funding to help our vision come to life)
And for Fun! Here’s a little blast from the past of pics from the early days. :)
