An Ode to the Wedge Coop (or, the retraining of my Old Brain) January 11, 2012

Last fall, I was challenged by a new client.  She’d jump on the Catalyst Cooks wagon if I could commit to:

• buying Organic Fruits & Veggies, especially The Dirty Dozen
• buying Hormone- and Antibiotic-Free Meats

Harumph.

My approach to grocery shopping was built around some corner cubicle, engineer- and process-loving corporate principles.  I could stop at my local big box, Urban Cub, and be out of there in 25 minutes with $200 worth of food.

I’ve been shopping at Urban Cub since I moved to SW Minneapolis (14 years ago!) and I know the layout of that store like the back of my hand.  I bet I could do it blindfolded.  No Six Sigma, Kaizen, Process Improvement needed for my grocery shopping- I’ve got that bad boy so streamlined there were no improvements to be had.

Plus I always thought I was getting such a great deal.  While I wasn’t any “Extreme Coupon”er, and I’ve always spent more time in the Produce and Meat sections than the cookie and cracker aisle (meaning there were fewer coupons available- much of my Sunday coupon inserts went straight to recycling); I did frequently use that enticing $5 off coupon Cub sent to my doorstep.  Cost Savings!  Yay!

What could possibly trump a Fantastic Process with fantastic Cost Savings?

I was reticent when I met with this new client, DeAnne, to ask ”what organic and natural” meant to her.  Reluctant to adjust what has worked for me for years and years.  Rebelling against change.

But I wanted her business.  I went to the Wedge.  Decided to try this new way of grocery shopping on for size.  Worst case, I could go back to my old ways.

I’m a convert.  Why?

My Process is just as easy.  Where Cub is 20 blocks to the south, Wedge is 20 blocks to the north.  Getting through the store is time neutral.  The Wedge is probably 1/10th the size of Cub- less real estate to cover- with less of the processed food that I never purchased anyway.  I don’t wait in line at the Wedge- lots of cashiers and baggers are at the ready to help- always.  And on big food holidays (Thanksgiving for example)- the Wedge has cops helping to direct parking lot traffic.  Sweet!

My Costs are a bit higher (to the tune of about 5%- a manageable number in my budget).  This includes the $80 investment in a membership, which may have some additional financial benefit that I haven’t yet taken into account.

More compelling is how my Philosophy, and what’s important to me, has evolved:

• I avoid Antibiotics and Hormones in meat, and therefore my money doesn’t perpetuate their effects (For more on this topic, read Food Matters by Mark Bittman- or check this out, just published today).
• I choose bulk (oils, vinegars, grains, produce, flour/sugar, meat) - I buy exactly the quantity I need, without packaging – which results in more turns and less waste.
• I buy fresher, brighter and yummier food (think citrus flavor in zest or juice, the green/grassy taste of meat, the crisp and color of produce).
• I am drawn to local food and providers.  More of my money is going to the local economy… and less is going to transportation costs or mass production agribusinesses.

It’s definitely easier to buy within these parameters at the Wedge than it would be at Cub.

Thank you for challenging me, DeAnne.  I’m learning more about food, I’m changing my philosophy, and the new Catalyst Cooks out there will benefit!

The New Lifestyle January 26, 2011

Musings on the changes we’ve made here at the Antila household (compared to one year ago).

Purchased > Homemade  (Buy > Make)

Eat out > Eat in

Pay for it > Do it ourselves (like cleaning or shoveling or lawn mowing)

Follow someone else’s rules > Make the rules

Rote > Creative

Normal > Experiment

Go out > Host here

Rigid schedule > Flexibility

Follow someone else’s plan > Make my own plan

Wear Business Casual > Wear an apron

What change are you a big fan of?  What should I think about doing next?

Catalyst Cooks ® January 10, 2011

Happy New Year!

One year ago, in January 2010, I….

• said goodbye to my old way of life: rise, try to shine, feel less than sparkly, go home, sleep, repeat.
• said hello to feeling shiny – and happy, and joyful! – by doing what I love.
• figured out what ‘doing what I love’ means

(What are you doing in this new year to celebrate you?)

That soul-searching led me, of all places, INTO THE KITCHEN.  Who knew that the quest of happiness would take me from cubeland to the kitchen??!!?

Four months later, in April 2010, I had an idea and a name.  Catalyst Cooks!!!

You may have noticed a few changes to the website… little Rs with circles and such….

that is because, over 8 months after applying for a trademark for Catalyst Cooks ~

IT’S HERE!

 

Anyone out there have a trademark, or know someone who does?  Is there anything I should be doing next?

Woo hoo!!!

But I Digress (or, the correlation of aging and work) June 4, 2010

Yesterday, my friend Jennifer forwarded an article entitled “Are we Joyless working machines?”

I happen to be listening to a book on tape entitled “Three Cups of Tea.”

And I went to a winery event last night.

What do these three things have to do with each other, you ask?  Well- I’m thinking today about the correlations between loving work and living joyfully and looking young.

In Three Cups of Tea, this crazy-ass dude (Greg Mortenson) attempts to climb K2 mountain in Pakistan only to be stopped because he chose to participate in a rescue mission which ultimately drained his ability to continue climbing.  He was nurtured to health by a small, poor tribe in a barren village near the mountain, where the infant survival rate was around 50%.  The Balti people subsisted on next-to-nothing yet seemed to Mr. Mortenson to be the happiest people he’d met.  They reveled in their yak-dung fires and ate bits of ibex fat as a rare candy treat.  Food, fire and water were equally distributed amongst the members of the tribe.  They knew how to solve problems through consultation and discussion.  They enjoyed the simple things in life, like sex and food and fire. 

What is happiness and joy, anyway?  Is it working all day to be able to buy stuff?  How does anyone stay awake long enough to enjoy it?

How much work is too much?  Does it depend on whether or not it’s enjoyable?

Anecdotally, I think the more pleasure we feel, the happier we are, and the better we look and feel.  I submit the wine event I attended last night.

I was lucky to meet some great people- a couple (married 46 years) that grow grapes in Taylors Falls; a couple who just got together, and they’re both in their 90s; a woman who grew up in Australia and was wearing the most beautiful pink Indian top.  They all looked so vibrant, happy, and young.  Alan complimented me by saying he thought I looked not a day older than 27.  I retorted that he couldn’t be over 50.  We were both somewhere between 10 to 20 years off in our guesses.

I seem to be interacting more with people who absolutely love and feel passionate about what they’re doing.  And it shows in their demeanor and even appearance.  Correlation without causation?  I don’t think so!

Why do we feel compelled to be joyless working machines?  Do we have to be, in order to live?  I think I’ll pick young (looking at least) and happy.  So there.

Go out and have a great weekend!

Prose, Anyone? March 31, 2010

Not sure if this counts as high-falutin’ poetry, but I’m proud of the message, even if it wouldn’t make the list of Greatest poems.  Check out my Guest Blogger post at my coach Michelle’s website!

For those of you coming here from there- welcome!  Please dive in and read the crazy joy that I am catalyzing (i.e., making happen) over here!

Thanks to my little sis February 17, 2010

I’ve been working with a coach, Michelle, for a few months  (You can check out her blog at www.followingyourjoy.com).  Among other things- lots of other things!- through coaching, I learned that there are three fundamental reasons why I do things.  I haven’t found an exception yet.

• Stewardship: I love to take care of things and people.  For example, when I bought my first (very cute) house built in 1909, I felt that I was brought to that house to make sure it would be around for another 100 years.  Instead of following my first desire and replacing the avocado-green stove, I took care of: the roof, the furnace, the garage door, the plaster ceiling, and the plumbing first.  (I bought my dream stove last- and then moved 7 blocks west less than a year later!)
• FUN: I want to have max fun.  Whether it’s tailgating, connecting, cooking, hosting, at Lyon’s pub… I enjoy enjoyment!
• and last, but not least – Financial security.  I want to feel safe and secure- I don’t want to worry about paying my bills or negatively impacting my credit rating.

Financial security has always been a huge part of my decision making, and has driven me to always have a corporate job.  For much of my career, I sacrificed fun and stewardship during a majority of my waking hours, just to get the regular paycheck.  I was bound and determined to mold my effort and behavior to meet expectation and ultimately get the treat – a monetary reward. 

Soon, I found that my fun had dwindled to almost nothing.

After pondering that for a couple of months, I started to think ahead.  I decided to forgo financial security (in the short term), and have faith that it would come back via different means.  I decided to believe that there is a market out there, just waiting for my skills and strengths to come together in a way that allows me to have fun and be the steward.  I know there is a market that will invest in me, especially if I am at the top of my game and in a place where I can give (and not merely survive from one paycheck to the next)!

Whoa.  That was one big fat decision I made- of course with the help and support of my awesome husband, Neighbor Dave.

So I’m honing in, narrowing down all of the crazy brainstorm ideas, and things are coming into focus. 

So you’re probably asking, where does your sister come into this story?

Molly came over for Mardi Gras dinner last night.  She asked me, “what are you doing on your time off?  Are you eating bonbons?”  I said, no!  I am working!  It feels great!  I’m networking with people who have left the corporate world, to figure out how they did it and what I can learn from them.  I’m thinking a lot about cooking, coaching and teaching, and right now, all I want to do is talk about what I want to do with other people that love to do it too! 

And Molly said,

“why are you spending so much time thinking about others who like what you like? 

Shouldn’t you be thinking about and networking with the people who are going to pay you?”

Oh yeah!  Smart girl she is.

Our conversation turned to the people, market, groups, websites, magazines, forums that could be, will be, my target markets.  The people that will facilitate my financial security!  Feels like a great new pair of glasses I just put on.

Thanks Molly!

If I had a Dollar… February 10, 2010

for all of the fantastic and validating messages lately…

“You’re so brave/lucky/supported”

“You look so happy/relieved/joyful”

“I wish…”

… I’d be a rich woman today.

But oh yes, I already am, because happiness and joy cannot be purchased with money! 

What brings richness to your life?  What are the best words of encouragement you’ve heard lately?  Share the inspiration!

Last Old Monday February 8, 2010

One week from today I start my new Mondays!  I want to look forward to getting up and “going to work.”  What will that mean to me next week?

I want to establish a routine – get up early.  My friend’s words are on my brain:  “inactivity is your enemy.” 

I want to listen to my gut and pay attention to the signs around me.  What will be important first?  Where will my new focus be?  Will I pay attention to all of the cool things calling to me now, or will I conc entrate on one or two?  This will be a marathon, not a sprint… setting my pace will be important. 

I want to set intention on what next week will feel like, define success, mark achievements and celebrate them. 

Wow!  It’s my last Monday like this!

You say goodbye, I say hello February 4, 2010

Saying goodbye to my ways of worklife is bittersweet.  I so appreciate my friends and colleagues, I cherish each relationship I’ve developed over the past two years at my current “home away from home” (is that an appropriate term for the place where I spend 90% of my waking hours??)

As my coach has guided me to understand- I want to change the lifestyle, and I’ll keep the relationships.  They’ll just *look* different than they used to. 

I feel good – no great- about that, as I’ve successfully maintained relationships that were gifts from every major chapter in my life.  Including, but not limited to, lots of jobs!!!

The beginning of the end January 26, 2010

I’m Jen the catalyst – I make things happen.  Today, I announced my resignation from a large Fortune 50 retailer to begin something new.  What, you ask?  I’m not sure yet.  I know it’s going to be something great!