I was leading Heinz Ketchup when Dip N Squeeze came out. It was a massive upgrade from ketchup packets. Consumers LOVED it. Problem was we couldn’t get any of the big fast-food players on board. Dip N Squeeze was 3-5x (I forget the exact numbers) more expensive than packets, and they were free for customers. The key question was “does having Dip N Squeeze drive more volume?”, thus justifying the incremental cost. It was nearly impossible to prove. Every penny matters to these operators, so every sales meeting was the same. “We love it, but no.” Chick Fil A was the only yes. They didn’t need “proof”. They operated under the assumption simply giving their customers a better experience would pay off in the long run. Incremental cost be damned. Their conviction was impressive. They viewed every decision thru the lens of their customer. A much different approach from the other big players. I assume they treated countless other decisions the same way. This was ~15 years ago. CFA has been on quite the run since. (separate but related, I believe being a private co is a massive competitive advantage for CFA)

BOMBSHELL: Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton’s own mother urges voters not to vote for her daughter. “My name is Donna Arthur and I’m Amy Acton’s mother. I worked at Children and Family Service Association, building one of the first two sexual abuse programs in America. I love my daughter, but when I saw her lying about her opponent—and it’s not easy for a mother to say this—but Amy has a serious problem. She is a liar. She lies about her past. She says she grew up living in a tent. None of that is true. She’s lied her entire life. My daughter needs help, and she can’t help you if she needs help herself. People can change, but first they have to tell the truth, and my daughter still isn’t doing that. Don’t vote for people who lie. Don’t let her become your governor. If you think she’ll make your life better, you’re fooling yourself. It will only get worse.” That’s one hell of an October surprise.

Wonderful catching up with Maria Bartiromo backstage at the National Italian American Foundation's 51st Anniversary Gala. A memorable evening celebrating Italian American heritage and the community that keeps it thriving. 🇮🇹🇺🇸 #NIAF #NIAFGala #ItalianAmerican

College football needs another hefty lefty tossing the pigskin

⚡️⚡️⚡️ #GoBears