Cliff Wright’s Post

In most organizations, the Best Employee is like a bay leaf. Just as bay leaves are added to enhance the flavor of a dish during cooking, they are the first to be removed once the meal is ready to be served. Hardworking employees often face the same fate. They're initially appreciated and valued for their contributions, but once their value becomes apparent, they’re overlooked or discarded. It's a reality many face—acknowledged while needed, but quickly set aside when they’ve served their purpose. #Leadership #EmployeeRecognition #CareerGrowth #OrganizationalCulture #WorkplaceChallenges #EmployeeEngagement #Motivation #WorkplaceInspiration #CorporateLife #EmployeeValue #LeadershipLessons #BusinessInsights #ProfessionalDevelopment #WorkplaceEquality

Everyone knows what Ketchup is. So how do you maintain relevance and continue to be part of the cultural conversation instead of becoming a commoditized condiment that becomes an invisible part of people's lives, or worse yet, background noise? You tap into culture where it's appropriate for your brand. You find adjacent categories where conversations are already happening and you become part of those conversations. Kudos to Heinz for having the chutzpah to approve these creative activations that have kept them top of mind. From their pandemic puzzle to their role as "marriage counselor" between big buns and big wiener companies, Heinz consistently finds ways to "build the big tent" around brand-relevant conversations and invite people in. #strategy #creativity #innovation #heinz --------------------- Looking for more ideas, insights, and inspiration? Check out my weekly newsletter - Light Bulb at chriskocek.com/newsletter. Every Thursday, you'll get three aha moments that are guaranteed to inspire your next project, creative briefing, or campaign.

You know that feeling when you see a picture of a cold beer on a hot day? Today instead of associating it with the euros or chilling after a hard day it actually brought back memories. During the pandemic, I took on a side project, supporting a local brand by taking a small cafe in Beccles called Ronies and transforming it into ‘The Old Dairy.’ Despite the doubters, we persevered and went from a £5k month cafe to £15k a week. However, the rising cost of living, energy bills, and product costs eventually caught up with us and we shut it last year! This beer reminds me that what some might call failures are actually life refining moments. It’s okay when things don’t always go as planned. It’s learning from what didn’t work and ‘do better next time’. So, let’s raise a glass to failure – for it is through these experiences that we learn, grow, and eventually succeed. #Perseverance #Resilience #GrowthMindset #Leadership #Inspiration

Everyone has enough to eat was one our family values we brought into our family restaurant business. What it meant in practice was developing our people as much as developing our new business. The nourishment of growing together was the fuel to grow without leaving anyone behind, especially during those days when our performance wasn't what we expected it would be. We didn't chalk it up to outside forces, or someone else to blame. If nothing else, it was an actual reflection of what we did, what we learned, and what we could do better. The nourishment was real feedback among our team to sustain a feedback loop of communication that often doesn't exist in a company. We shared those feedback meetings in real time when we could, and at the close of every week. The struggles are some of the best learning experiences you'll ever have, but only if you actually learn something other than embarrassment, frustration, shame, disgust, or assignment of blame. We organized those weekly meetings over a meal with team members so it was actual nourishment for body, mind, spirit, and profits. Ask employees in many companies how they feel about their career advancement, and they'll tell you they feel like they're on their own. So this picture of Coach Levy I noticed as my wife and I enjoyed dinner was a great reminder of his pre game expression, "Where else would you rather be than right here, right now?" It's about being good neighbors, as a family and a business. Funny thing too, the business will keep on growing even without a trophy this year. #leadership #familybusiness #evokegrowth #GoBills

To everyone working the 'shadow' Friday between Thanksgiving and the weekend—thank you for keeping things running while others enjoy leftovers and holiday naps. Leadership isn’t just about being in charge; it’s about showing up when it counts. To the IT pros on call, keeping networks secure and systems humming: you’re the unsung heroes of the holiday season. Now the real question—did you bring turkey sandwiches or pie for lunch? 🍗🥧 Let’s hear how you're spending your Shadow Friday below! #ThanksgivingLeadership #ShadowFriday #ITHeroes #GratitudeInLeadership

A Slice of Connection: Pizza Party with the Team 🍕 Today, our #Eany office transformed into a hub of laughter, conversations, and delicious pizza! We organized a casual pizza party, but it wasn’t just about the food—it was about something much deeper: connection. The highlight? An open and relaxed discussion with our CEO and coworkers. No agendas, no presentations—just authentic conversations. It was refreshing to hear insights from leadership and share ideas, challenges, and even a few jokes with colleagues. Moments like these remind us how vital it is to pause, connect, and build relationships beyond day-to-day tasks. They foster collaboration, trust, and a stronger sense of community. Grateful to be part of a company that values the people behind the work. Sometimes, the best ideas (and memories) are born over a slice of pizza! #Teamwork #OfficeCulture #Leadership #Connection #PizzaParty #Eany

🏕️ Leadership Lessons from Late Night S'mores Last night, attempting to make s'mores from a google-inspired 2-ingredient recipe with my family in our front-yard holiday home (because why not add a little Aussie twist to an American classic?), I had an epiphany about leadership... Sometimes the best solutions aren't the obvious ones. There I was, balancing chocolate-coated biscuits and marshmallows on the grill, thinking about Sarah, a client who'd been struggling with her team's resistance to change. "They're stuck in their ways," she'd said. When considering this, I realised that her approach was like trying to melt a marshmallow from a distance - nothing was happening. Just like my first few failed s'mores attempts (pro tip: direct heat = burnt disaster), Sarah was applying too much pressure, too fast. The secret to both? - Create the right environment (indirect heat works better) - Be patient (good things take time to melt/change) - Stay present (walk away and things burn) Sarah's team is now leading their division in innovation. My s'mores? Well, let's just say I’ve been crowned "Backyard S'mores Queen" 👑 Sometimes the best leadership happens over casual conversations and melted chocolate, not boardroom presentations. What unexpected places have you found leadership insights? P.S. Want my secret Aussie S'mores recipe? Drop a "🔥" below! #LeadershipLessons #AussieStyle #WorkLifeBalance #SummerNights

Lifeway Foods, Inc. Foods Family Feud Heats up as Shareholders Push CEO to Resign. Edward and ludmila smolyansky have filed a consent statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, reigniting their efforts to remove CEO Julie Smolyansky. They argue that Lifeway Foods is in dire need of a leadership overhaul to address what they describe as “significant and repeated failures” in governance that have affected the business and its financial performance. As key shareholders and family members, Edward and Ludmila are pushing for fresh leadership that can rejuvenate the company, align it with market trends, and honor its legacy while securing its future. This high-stakes family dispute underscores the critical importance of effective leadership and governance in ensuring business success and protecting shareholder value. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gCg9yhST #FlavorWiki #Leadership #CorporateGovernance #FamilyBusiness #LifewayFoods

#wednesdaywisdom Ops Journal #25 - Dealing With Adversity 😬 Floating along nicely at work but hit a brick wall at home? We have all been there 🧱 Through this, I'm reminded of a short story once shared with me at a coaching session from my formative leadership years. ✅️ - "A young man named Donnie was feeling overwhelmed by the challenges in his life. He went to his grandmother to seek advice on how to deal with adversity. - She took Donnie into the kitchen and placed three pots of water on the stove. Once the water began to boil, she placed potatoes in the first pot, eggs in the second pot, and coffee beans in the third pot. After some time, she turned off the stove and asked Donnie to observe the changes. 🫖 - First, she asked Donnie to touch the potatoes. He noticed that the potatoes, which were once hard and strong, had become soft and weak. Next, she asked Donnie to peel the eggs. He saw that the eggs, which were once fragile and delicate, had become hard and strong inside. Finally, she asked Donnie to taste the coffee. Donnie smiled as he tasted the rich, aromatic coffee that had transformed the boiling water into something delightful. 🥔 - His grandmother then explained, "The potatoes, eggs, and coffee beans each faced the same adversity—the boiling water. However, each reacted differently. The potatoes went in strong but came out weak. The eggs went in fragile but came out strong. The coffee beans, however, changed the water itself, creating something new and wonderful." 🍳 - She continued, "In life, we will face many challenges and adversities. How we respond to them is what truly matters. We can choose to become weak like the potatoes, strong like the eggs, or transform our circumstances like the coffee beans." ☕️ The choice is yours Donnie. 💯 #making #history #together

You can build any strategic plan but as soon as you lose what your employees value and change company culture, your strategy will become rehiring.