Soup: A Recipe to Nourish Your Team and Culture

Introduction

When I think of soup, I think of my grandmother. She loved to cook, and food and love were one and the same to her. When she cooked, she wasn't just making a meal. She was pouring out the love in her heart and sharing this love with her family. When we ate her food, we loved her back. And no soup, no matter who made it, ever tasted as good as hers. Her love made the difference.

I've discovered that who stirs the pot has an impact on what's in the pot. For example, did you know that some wine experts can determine the personality of a winemaker simply by tasting the wine? There is a common challenge experienced by chefs I call the "stirring-the-pot phenomenon." No matter how carefully different chefs follow the same recipe, the final product always varies a little bit because we can't separate who stirs the pot from what's in the pot.

The same is true in business and in every aspect of life. Every day you are stirring the pot of life, and the most important ingredient you can put into your soup is you. Your love, optimism, trust, vision, communication, authenticity, appreciation, and passion make life delicious, and the relationships you create at work and at home determine the substance and quality of your soup.

In my work with countless businesses, professional sports teams, hospitals, and school districts, I've seen firsthand how one person who grabs the spoon and decides to stir the pot can make a difference. One person who decides to bring out the best in others by ...