Ken and me at my favorite place to take industry friends…Sushi Samba. Love them!! South Beach, NYC, Vegas and Chicago. FYI

I really don’t know what to say…..I am never speechless, okay so I am not speechless, but I am certainly blushing a whole bunch.   I was really excited to finally meet Ken, who until yesterday was the only contributor I had never met in person. I have to say that his observation hit home a bit. Interestingly enough, Ken uses the word “balance”…..I have to be honest and that word is something that I said and THOUGHT I understood, but until only recently did I really.

 A person like myself puts more pressure on them self than anyone else ever could, so you can easily get to the point where, when someone  makes even the slightest request (including the hubby), you just can’t deal.  You can get so sick with what you are trying to accomplish that  the word balance is so far from existence. You can’t see anything but the goal. Well, I am just “lil ole me” (I actually say I am just a “little shit”-haha) and as much as I want to be everything, I have to remember what is most important first and constantly remind myself to let things evolve naturally. I get it now……..Note to self: Dear Julia, Put the shoes and fashion shows away for a minute!! lol    Seriously though…..Thank you Ken!! Your words are incredibly kind and very much appreciated. I do like the roller coaster….and the big one! lol  It’s my guys like you that make what I do so fun and as much as you guys have been around yourselves for a long time, you are fairly new to me and I like you guys!!  I am so incredibly appreciative of my friends in the industry. You know who you are! Also, I should mention that I love being the fresh air in a stinky plane. -Julia

This weeks topic: Meeting Julia, Seth and Nina

Here it is…Every word the truth…

A good business trip for me is when the hotel I am in has free wi-fi…The take out Chinese food delivers and is palatable, and the electronic key works in the door.   Sad to say but after 21 years on the road, this is how I define a successful trip.  Enter Julia, Seth and Nina.

My first inclination that this would be no ordinary business dinner was the restaurant  Julia chose.   I was on her turf, so she picked a Sushi, Peruvian, Brazilian hot spot that most certainly did not have a children’s menu.   I was escorted to my seat and there was Julia and Nina with smiles that one could land a plane by.   After hugs and handshakes, we sat down and for the next 3 hours, marveled as to how parallel our lives are.   We are both small business owners…both married to conservative types….and most importantly, both are passionate about our respective companies.  

I honestly believe that everyone who works with Julia and has been in this business for more than 5 years should have dinner or drinks with her.   Julia has passion and moreover  an enthusiasm for this business.   She is intoxicated by it and breathes it.   This was no “hey..remember when” kind of dinner.   We did not speak about the past, only the future and how we both see real growth opportunity.   We swapped ideas and war stories over a glass of wine and tappas that were spectacular.   I then had the good fortunate to meet Seth, Julia’s husband.   I say good fortune, because having met Julia, I now know what kind of man she needs to be married to, to have a successful professional career.   A guy that is exactly like Seth.   Seth is down to earth, cerebral and a pragmatist.   He is completely content to let the light shine on Julia….all the while, making sure that he has her back.

While we dined, I spoke about the movie “Parenthood” with Steve Martin.   In it, the Grandmother character utters this short, but memorable line “I remember when your grandfather took me on the roller coaster.   I could not understand how I could be overcome with fear and excitement at the same time.   Oh, some like the carousel.   You always know where you are headed.   I prefer the roller coaster”.   Julia and I prefer the roller coaster, Seth…by his own admission..prefers the carousel.   My Wife Margo does too.   Julia roles the dice….Seth likes predictability.   It was fascinating observing these two balance themselves in work and marriage.  

Before we departed, I used the following metaphor: Having dinner with Julia is like sitting on a stuffy airplane when all of a sudden, the pilot spools the engine and you get airflow on your face.   Everyone reaches up to open the air vent at the same time.   Sometimes, we industusty vets need to open the air vent instead of complaining about the hot conditions.   We should re-energize instead of complaining about shoes/economy/company/boss/retailers.etc.

Julia does not have longevity in the business but before I left, I told her something that just may have been the chardonnay talking: “When you don’t have any experience, you don’t know what you can’t do”…You keep moving forward..

Trust me, Julia will!   

Ken

www.twigfootwear.com