Mark Rampolla

Yeah, for sure. And I'll give you a story around that. So yeah, I love the way you think about, you talk about this and it's the way I think about this is, you know, every, there's multiple customers, right? And in our business, most of the consumer products business tends to be customers, a distributor, a retailer, and then the ultimate end consumer.

Yeah, for sure. And I'll give you a story around that. So yeah, I love the way you think about, you talk about this and it's the way I think about this is, you know, every, there's multiple customers, right? And in our business, most of the consumer products business tends to be customers, a distributor, a retailer, and then the ultimate end consumer.

Yeah, for sure. And I'll give you a story around that. So yeah, I love the way you think about, you talk about this and it's the way I think about this is, you know, every, there's multiple customers, right? And in our business, most of the consumer products business tends to be customers, a distributor, a retailer, and then the ultimate end consumer.

They're all extremely relevant in that process. So as a prime example, one of our main customers early on was a big distributor in New York by the name of Big Guys, a famous. They've put a lot of brands on the map, but these are like old school, New York, tough distributors. And to be very transparent, like it's not my people, right? It's not, I'm not exactly vibing with these guys.

They're all extremely relevant in that process. So as a prime example, one of our main customers early on was a big distributor in New York by the name of Big Guys, a famous. They've put a lot of brands on the map, but these are like old school, New York, tough distributors. And to be very transparent, like it's not my people, right? It's not, I'm not exactly vibing with these guys.

They're all extremely relevant in that process. So as a prime example, one of our main customers early on was a big distributor in New York by the name of Big Guys, a famous. They've put a lot of brands on the map, but these are like old school, New York, tough distributors. And to be very transparent, like it's not my people, right? It's not, I'm not exactly vibing with these guys.

And so, but I knew how important they were. And so I remember early on trying to get their attention. And by the way, they're selling to yoga studios. And I was more comfortable in that environment than I was with these children.

And so, but I knew how important they were. And so I remember early on trying to get their attention. And by the way, they're selling to yoga studios. And I was more comfortable in that environment than I was with these children.

And so, but I knew how important they were. And so I remember early on trying to get their attention. And by the way, they're selling to yoga studios. And I was more comfortable in that environment than I was with these children.

Yeah, exactly. But what was interesting is to be very frank, these guys weren't giving me the time of day and I was having a hard time connecting with them. I saw a young guy, Andy, that was working for a brand. Vitamin Water was taking off at the time. Andy was Mr. Cool. He walks through the warehouse. Everybody's high-fiving. He's telling jokes. He's having fun.

Yeah, exactly. But what was interesting is to be very frank, these guys weren't giving me the time of day and I was having a hard time connecting with them. I saw a young guy, Andy, that was working for a brand. Vitamin Water was taking off at the time. Andy was Mr. Cool. He walks through the warehouse. Everybody's high-fiving. He's telling jokes. He's having fun.

Yeah, exactly. But what was interesting is to be very frank, these guys weren't giving me the time of day and I was having a hard time connecting with them. I saw a young guy, Andy, that was working for a brand. Vitamin Water was taking off at the time. Andy was Mr. Cool. He walks through the warehouse. Everybody's high-fiving. He's telling jokes. He's having fun.

He was super comfortable in that environment and they loved him. And so what I realized is I need that. So I hired him. So you gotta know yourself. And what I find with great CEOs, great founders, they know themselves, right? It's impossible for everybody to be perfect at all levels of connection with everyone. And so in this situation, what I knew is I needed him

He was super comfortable in that environment and they loved him. And so what I realized is I need that. So I hired him. So you gotta know yourself. And what I find with great CEOs, great founders, they know themselves, right? It's impossible for everybody to be perfect at all levels of connection with everyone. And so in this situation, what I knew is I needed him

He was super comfortable in that environment and they loved him. And so what I realized is I need that. So I hired him. So you gotta know yourself. And what I find with great CEOs, great founders, they know themselves, right? It's impossible for everybody to be perfect at all levels of connection with everyone. And so in this situation, what I knew is I needed him

high-fiving and engaging with the distributors, I could upset the direction, but he was going to do that way better than I could.

high-fiving and engaging with the distributors, I could upset the direction, but he was going to do that way better than I could.

high-fiving and engaging with the distributors, I could upset the direction, but he was going to do that way better than I could.

And what was interesting is as we built our culture that had these different aspects to it, different personalities, different aspects that worked well, but all had this central core to them, what became so interesting is that culture became so strong, it helped me avoid mistakes. One example. I tried to hire a head of marketing and I was in this mindset where I knew better. I don't need any help.

And what was interesting is as we built our culture that had these different aspects to it, different personalities, different aspects that worked well, but all had this central core to them, what became so interesting is that culture became so strong, it helped me avoid mistakes. One example. I tried to hire a head of marketing and I was in this mindset where I knew better. I don't need any help.