From Kitchen Trials to Billion-Dollar Bites: The Power of Purpose

In 1990 Gary Erikson went for a long bike ride with some buddies. It was a 175-mile ride, and he packed multiple energy bars. After eating several bars he got tired of their taste and the lack of energy they provided. He felt he could make a bar with better ingredients and a better taste for a more sustainable energy source.

He had his mom, who taught him to bake, initially help him in her kitchen, using no oil, butter, or sugar. They tried various recipes using wholesome ingredients and initially, the bar tasted horrible, and after several attempts, he felt he had the perfect bar. He brought some of these bars to his friends and saw them grimace. Ok, he wasn't there yet but he continued to try various recipes. Several months later he found the right recipe and named it Clif, after his father Clifford.

He didn't have money for production and packaging, and he didn't have the equipment to produce the bars at scale. He focused on attending sports events and giving his bars out for free, and eventually started selling these bars at bike shops around the Bay Area.

The company continued to grow and in 2000, Gary received a $120 million offer to sell. After serious thought and a desire to have Clif Bar & Company continue to be a nutritious and socially conscious company, he decided that keeping the enterprise in his control would be the best way to preserve its impact . . . he declined the offer.

After his second marriage in 2001, he and his new wife, Kit Crawford, ran it as co-CEOs, and the company continued to grow. The company supported small and mid-size nonprofits, and they opened a certified “green” headquarters. This green categorization stems from the building complying with energy-efficient standards. All of the electricity came from the solar array on the roof.

In 2022 the company was bought for $2.9 billion from Mondelez International, the owner of the Cadbury chocolate brand, and Gary and Kit walked away with $1.5 billion in cash.....

Gary Erikson is an inspirational example of how one person can impact people and communities differently through purpose, time, and persistence. And with that, it can also produce an incredible profit.

Leading With Health

I've been trained to work harder, sleep less, eat on the move, and fit in more things to fill my day.

I'm still training… but now unlearning those habits to be productive, fulfilled, and happy.

But's it not enough to know what to do, but to understand why we should do it?

We were meant to prioritize sleep for restoration, a strong immune system, cognitive strength, and much more... so why sacrifice this for less important things?

We were meant to take our time eating, digesting, and enjoying the nourishment of our bodies. Focusing on what we eat instead of multitasking can serve our bodies and minds well.

Lessening "things" to do and leaving open space has been helpful to be present, to ensure gratitude, and to focus on the things that are our priority.

Leading ourselves with good health can influence others around us to prioritize it. This may sound simple but I have had to spend some of my adult years embracing these changes. I hope you are well along the way!

Mindset shifts can be transformative in how we perceive setbacks and opportunities. These are 5 mindset shifts I have leaned on:

1?? From Fixed to Growth: Instead of thinking your abilities are set in stone, adopt a growth mindset. I read daily to learn and get inspired.

2?? From Scarcity to Abundance: Stop thinking there’s not enough to go around, whether it’s opportunities or resources. As you learn, we can share it to deepen our learning and bring others along the way.

3?? From Victim to Victor: Replace the “why me?” mentality with a “what can I learn?” approach. The lesson is in front of us to act on... it may not be clear now, but we can revisit this situation when the dust settles.

4?? From Competition to Collaboration: Viewing others as allies rather than competitors can foster a positive and productive environment. What can I learn from them?

5?? From Perfectionism to Progress: Aim for progress over perfection. My definition of “perfect” is the process of learning daily.

These mindset shifts can serve as the building blocks to a more empowered and optimistic approach to life. Our awareness can start the process of change. Let's keep moving forward and help others along the way.

I hope you enjoyed this month's newsletter. Despite its new name and updated design, I'll keep bringing tales of underdogs who triumphed over adversity. We all need more inspiring stories, tips for staying prepared, and reminders that we're in this together.