The Billion Dollar Rocket

Massive day yesterday for Liquid I.V. getting acquired by Unilever. Sheeeeesh!

This company was already on a rocket ship but something tells me Unilever is only going to add a TON more fuel to this engine! 

As soon as the news broke on a 9am Zoom call with the entire LIV team and new faces from the Unilever team, I wanted to share it with the world. After the call I immediately called my mom to pass along the news as she’s truthfully always been my number one supporter. Then I went around posting it to all my social accounts. Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn… EVERYWHERE! Biiiiig content guy.

To be acquired by a company like Unilever isn’t pure luck, it’s the product of so many variables. Incredible company culture, top of the line product, a leadership team that can navigate the uncharted path etc. It sure does take a village to build something great.

This morning after I finished running, all these thoughts and emotions were running through my mind. In just this small window of time I’ve seen what it takes to build a soon to be 10 figure annual revenue company. Let me save the math in your head… that’s a BILLION! I’ve been able to experience something that so people would pay BIG money to be part of. I’ve read, listened and watched success stories of people from the past but to have a seat on this rocket is truly a priceless experience.

For me, sharing it out with the world is my way of expressing my gratitude for being part of this team. 

That’s what social media and content creation has been for me over the past four plus years. Whether it was podcasting, writing, vlogging, tweeting or this blog, it’s been a medium for me to share my feelings and voice with the world. This was a moment I was extremely proud of because I was part of something sooo much bigger than me! Shit, even bigger than my beard.

When I think back to all the jobs I had growing up, I always took pride in what I did. I wanted to be a team player whether people took note of it or not.

Whether it was watering flowers at my first job for Class Grass Garden Center in Granby MA, stacking yogurts in the diary department of Big Y in Chicopee, MA, bringing out three pairs of kicks for someone to try on at Finish Line in Holyoke, MA or slaying the Uber streets of Boston / Los Angeles, I take pride in what I do. 

Did I always love those jobs? Was I thrilled to be there? Not always, but I learned to accept the situation I was in and stepped up the plate to go above and beyond. I just wanted to be the best I could possibly be.

Top salesman in the North East for Finish Line, top 2% Uber Driver in the WORLD! Do we a see a pattern? I PUT IN THE WORK BABY!!!

Maybe that was the work ethic I learned from that first job when I was 12? I’d like to believe so but I was also fortunate to be raised by two amazing parents that put a roof over my head where food was always on the table. They provided the basic necessities and plus some but anything outside of that, it was one ME to go get it. That grit and hard work under the sun in the summer heat or those busy holiday weekends making sure the dairy shelves were stocked with product taught me many lessons.

Fast forward 14+ years later, working for a company like Liquid I.V. and I still incorporate some of those lessons I learned from all my previous jobs.

Be professional. Be on time. Be flexible. Be accountable. Be an excellent communicator. Be a go-getter. Be open-minded. Be a team player. Be present. Be the best that I can be.

I’m sure there are plentyyyy of incredibly talented people out there that could fill my position as Liquid I.V.’s Podcast Specialist. As the saying goes… I’m not THEE brightest bulb in the box BUT I always put my best foot forward, strive to grow & learn from my mistakes.

To Brandin Cohen, the founder and CEO of Liquid I.V. : You’re someone I truly aspire to be like. Seeing you operate and what it takes to build an incredible business like Liquid I.V. has been inspiring to say the least. Never thought I would end up working for one of the people I met through podcasting but maaan am I glad Blake Pinsker connected us in 2018!!! I truly mean this when I say this… there is no other CEO / founder I would rather work for than YOU! You deserve everything you’ve worked for brother. Thank you for being the leader that you’re!

And so the story goes on ladies & gentlemen. One chapter closes and the next one begins.

Houston… we have a lift off!

The Bearded Man