7 Years, 7/7 Reflection

Walking my grandparents’ home. Being there for a dementia diagnosis of my grandpa and the heart failure hospital visits. Sleepovers with my Nana every weekend for 5 months when she learned she had Stage 4 cancer after losing my grandpa, her love for 66 years; but more importantly getting them to the beach house one more time, lake house summer weekends, Thanksgiving recipe shares, and all the Julie Ann’s frozen custard deliveries and mini moments I will forever cherish.

Witnessing the evolution of the factory – energetically, aesthetically and in operational capabilities. Reviewing the pictures from the first week on the job, not knowing how to turn all the lights on or what most of the equipment in the factory had as an intended use when it used to run or how much it would cost to replace (!), but feeling and seeing a vision that I got excited about even in the lowest of low moments when I was not sure we could revive the business or the task seemed to daunting.

All those along the way. Moving from a core team of 7 to 70 in 7 years and taking great pride in how to keep a cult.ure intact – to not forget the scrappy early moments but know we can rise to the occasion as we continue to scale. Each person who has shown up to be part of what we are building for however long or short, has made tremendous impact. And all of the clients that have believed in what we are doing at the factory who were willing to take a risk on us and put products here for us to manufacture and build a business. And vendor partners who wanted to work with us, not because we had the largest dollar value opportunity but could get excited about being part of something and know it will pay off in the long run.

Pushing for what’s possible not only in the business but also reform on infrastructure, taxes for small businesses, immigration, manufacturing in the global economy, STEAM programs, entrepreneurial classes, maker spaces, public art, climate change initiatives, fair labor wages and all the things that matter to us on a local and national level.

Being grounded in an integrated life – taking on this role allowed me to step off a jet plane and out of board rooms and hotel stays away from home, to get settled in a grounded life, in the countryside breathing and moving with nature amongst gardens, birds and grass instead of concrete jungles, and a partner that gets as excited about being a product junkie as me.

Manufacturing – I will never look at a product the same way now that I have walked this path for 7 years. I have the utmost respect for entrepreneurs taking the risk to make something meaningful, and to manufacturers who work tirelessly with so many competing priorities, shifting landscapes and complexities that make manufacturing what it is – an economic engine and heartbeat of the US. The capital intensity of manufacturing coupled with the lower margins overall makes it an incredibly difficult working dynamic and yet so, so rewarding.

PM 4.0 – I have grown into an entrepreneur, owner, investor, manufacturer, and CEO on this factory’s watch, and on a compacted crash course timeline. I have witnessed many challenging moments of being doubted, called a princess, a bitch, too girly, too Fortune 500, or 'just a marketer'. I have heard the business called unrevivable, antiquated and that we could not make it. I have had bankers tell me no and business prospects say no more than yes. I have struggled to make payroll or know when we would catch the next break. I have felt completely alone. I have heard days of no machines running (the worst for a factory), gone through letting people go and then finding my way to the bathroom to break down crying. And, to all of it, I say thank you. For in these moments, it has been the greatest catalyst for me to do my work and embrace vulnerability, to understand what I required around myself in life hacks, sanctuary space, meditation, rituals, a tribe, health, wellness, joy, mentors and teachers and sounding boards, and a manifesto that holds me to the course.

Cheers to seven years. Thank you, M4.

XX,

PM