In this episode of the Real Food Brands Podcast, host and Natural Food Brand Strategist Katie Mleziva shares a story that highlights why sometimes you need to just put in the work and watch out for shortcuts, what might happen when you change directions, and why you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help.
My friend, a behavioral psychologist, told me that the number one thing we can do for ourselves in any stressful time is getting physical activity because it’s a way to reduce anxiety. I’ve been biking with my son, and it’s actually taught me some valuable lessons you can apply to your business. Today’s episode is a little different than most solo episodes, but I hope you enjoy a lighter approach during a stressful time!
The Hill
I was riding my bike on a particularly beautiful day, early on into quarantine, and it just felt good to be outside. I live in a Milwaukee suburb and it’s fairly hilly. My son, who was riding with me, was on his electric scooter he had saved up for and we were having fun on a long ride. Pretty soon, we hit a large hill.
My sister, who ran cross country in high school, shared something with me one time that’s always stuck with me. She said that “races are won and lost on hills.” That when other people let up, that’s when you dig deep and go for it. So whether it’s my competitive side or my stubbornness not let the hill get the best of me, I have always worked hard to accelerate when I’m going uphill.
On this particular ride, however, my son—or really his electric scooter—was getting the best of me. Someone going the other way commented as we passed, “looks like he has the right idea!” I laughed, but then thought about that comment: would I rather take a shortcut to get to the top? Or would I rather put in the work now so that each time I ride up the hill I get stronger and can get to the top a little easier? The view from the top was the same for both of us, but shortcuts need to be carefully considered.
We’re all climbing up some hills in our life and business right now. But with every step, you get stronger. We’re trying new paths, sometimes falling, making adjustments, and getting back out there. We need to build the muscles to do better each time we go out, and we also need to know when to ask for help.
You can hear the rest of the story in the podcast episode, but I do want to outline the 8 Strategic Priorities I shared at the end of the episode that will help your decide where you need to focus. It’s really important to get your Financials and Brand Strategy in place first, then prioritize other activities based on what you need most now in order to progress your food business towards your goals. For example, visibility may not be your #1 goal if your operations aren’t in place and you can’t scale to meet increased demand.
- Financials
- Brand Strategy
- Operational Efficiency
- Marketing and Visibility
- Product Mix
- Distribution/Channel Mix
- Customer Experience
- Leadership/Building Your Team.
My expertise is Brand Strategy development and helping you align the front and back end of your business to consistently deliver on your promises to help set your brand apart. If I can be a resource for you, please send me an email at katie@realfoodbrands.com or a DM on instagram, @realfoodbrands.
And, by the way…the electric scooter battery broke a few weeks later and my son had to get back on his bike. Let’s just say that he was more than a little embarrassed to be beaten by his mom up that hill.
Now, let’s go shake up shopping carts!
In This Episode:
- How races are won and lost on hills.
- Why working hard now can pay off in the future.
- The risk of taking shortcuts too soon.
- How changing directions is important but needs to be done carefully.
- Why we need to be able to ask for help.
- 8 Strategic Priorities to help you prioritize how to spend your time.
Quotes:
“Sometimes in your business, you may catch a lucky break and get a ride to the top and it works out, but it can be risky. Other people choose to go up those hills and build the muscles that will help them go further in the long run. What approach feels more like your style?” – @RealFoodBrands
“Knowing your financials and especially your cash flow situation are #1 right now, with your brand strategy a close second. You can’t stay in business with financials that don’t make sense.” – @RealFoodBrands
“Without your strategy in place to serve as a north star, it’s too easy to get lost and have inconsistent messaging, product mix, channel strategy, and the list goes on.” – @RealFoodBrands
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