INNOVATOR
CONTENT Things that matter - COVID-19 4 Four Ways to Calm the COVID-19 Anxiety 6 Studios and Gyms offering Free Online Workout Classes!
Interview 8 Sixteen Qs With Natasha Case from CoolHaus 14 Meet Leslie Nguyen from Bosscat Kitchen + Libations
Motivation 20 Important Life Lessons from NBA Legend Kobe Bryant 22 FiveMotivational Quotes to Stay Motivated this 2020
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Four Ways to Calm COVID-19 Anxiety
There’s a fine line between staying informed and feeling overwhelmed by the news. Try reading information from reliable sources and such us the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. Limit your intake with fake newss and social media.
Psychologists recommend that one way to calm anxiety in this situation is by writing down your feelings. It’s also not only a simple technique but an enjoyable one. 4
Also, following a new routine can be very calming in a situation like the one we are living in. Try scheduling for yourself if you’re telecommuting that allows you to take proper breaks for meals and get enough sleep. Also, try doing exercise and eating healthy. You can do it!
Not knowing what will happen in the futue is one of the most stressful things. A great way to reduce this anxiety is by focusing on the present by using meditation or other mindfulness exercises, like yoga. 5
Studios and Gyms offering Free Online Workout Classes! PLANET FITNESS
Planet Fitness is offering online workouts for anyone and everyone. Stay active with their trainers and even some surprise celebrity guests.The workouts will be live-streamed at 7 p.m. ET each day for the next two weeks. And if you can’t make it live, the workouts will be available on-demand on Facebook and in Planet Fitness’ YouTube channel. No equipment is needed, and the classes last 20 minutes or less.
BARRE3
Build strength, restore balance, and get remarkable results with unlimited barre3 workouts. Barre3 is offering a free trial of its video workouts for 15- days. With your free trial, you’ll get access to everything a barre3 subscription has to offer such as unlimited access to hundreds of streamable workouts, progress-tracking features, and much more.
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COREPOWER YOGA
Everyone - including members and nonmembers- will have free access to a special collection of online classes through CorePower Yoga On Demand. The studio will publish new online classes to their On Demand portal each week. All of their most popular class styles, including C1, C2, Sculpt, and Hot Power Fusion, will be available.
RUMBLE BOXING No matter the circumstance, Rumble will be posting Rumble-inspired cardio and bodyweight workouts. Everyday at 9AM EST, Rumble will be going on Instagram Live to show their followers a workout they can do in the comfort of their own homes, without any equipment necessary.
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INTERVIEW
Sixteen Qs With Natasha Case from CoolHaus
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atasha Case is the co-founder of Coolhaus Ice Cream, the Los Angeles based brand of super-premium artisanal ice cream which also was built on the concept of Farchitecture (Food + Architecture). In an exclusive interview with Innovator Magazine, Natasha talks about her inspiration for creating the brand, how she continues growing in a competitive environment and industry, and her life as a succesful enterpreneur. Don’t miss it! What inspired you to enter and a lot of uncharted territories. SoI started different projects the ice cream business? around that umbrella as food My background is in design meets architecture. And one of and architecture. I wanted to these projects was around when find a way to make architecture I was working at Disney Imagmore fun, accessible and make ineering. Disney was hit really those connections with people. hard by the recession, so I startI discovered food as a way to ed baking cookies, making ice do this because food is the ulcream from scratch and naming timate; we eat together and the combinations after archiwe celebrate together. There’s tects. I would give it out to peomemories created and there’s ple to sort of lighten the mood so many great emotions around in the office. It’s such a comfort it. And I found that there was a food and it’s something you eat ton of intersections and overin a boom and in a bust. laps where food meets design
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I found that ice cream was a great fit with what I wanted to accomplish in that moment. There’s just infinite possibilities of what swirls, textures and infusions, and all that those things can mean. Each department has a daily huddle where each person goes around the room and gives a 30 second update on what they did yesterday, where they can improve, what new strategies they can implement to hold each other accountable.
How do you continue finding innovative ways to remain competitive in the ice cream industry? I think we’re not finding innovative ways, but more like we are the innovation. That’s how we see ourselves. That’s such a core fundamental to our brand, our team and the way we make decisions. When you’re looking for a new flavor or doing something different outside the box, and when you’re looking at different products in the space and how you can do something new or re-invent a familiar product like an ice cream cone or a Bon Bon. You can always consider that anything’s possible and I think we’re lucky that we have our shops where we can really test ideas. That really allows us to get more contraction behind the outside the box ideas. This is something that people love and we can really take it to the next level.
What are some ways you have seen Coolhaus make a positive impact in your community? One of the big things is women leadership and mentorship. We’ve done a lot of different programs, events and media around the inspiration of the next generation of girls to feel that anything’s possible for them. We’ve hosted groups here where I make ice cream and I talk about the story whether it’s through internships. We also did a partnership with GoldieBlox which is particularly about STEM, inspiring young girls to do it and showing them that it can be something fun like ice cream. You just have to be the example for them. You know, it’s hard to be what you can’t see. And I think just showing them what you do. Being open, a mentor and advocate is huge. I do a lot of public speaking on my own as well, and I’ve had so many people that reached out saying that I helped them realize that we all go through some struggles but we can still succeed. Also, innovating our trucks was a great way to change the game with very low impact on the environment. It’s an adaptive reuse of a truck that’s sitting in a junk yard. The packaging that we serve from the trucks is edible so there’s no waste at the end of an event and we’re always looking for new ways to create more sustainable products.
What is your definition of providing the perfect customer experience? For us I think it’s providing an extremely memorable enjoyment in all fronts. Giving people something that’s special, that they’ll never forget and that blows their mind as far as an ice cream can be. Whether that’s because we have to brand an edible wrapper, or create a unique flavor, or even offer just a simple flavor but that’s done really well. We’re also always here to listen to any customer’s opinion. Whether it’s good or bad, we’re so grateful for our community.
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How do you keep your team aligned with What are some obstacles you’ve experiyour core values? enced while running a business and how did I would say, real transparency. Always being able to you overcome them? talk and communicate what’s working and what isn’t because that’s internally an opportunity to become better. Being very clear about what they are, outlining them and also, putting them on the wall. Making it a mantra that you repeat again, and again, and again. And also, I think that implementing a corporate retreat or just a team bonding activity, can help reinforce the team working together.
I think you have to see obstacles as not necessarily quote on quote problems but challenges. They are always a test of your abilities to solve them and that’s why you’re here. If everything was perfect you wouldn’t need leaders, you wouldn’t need managers. It just runs. So, knowing that each one is an opportunity to not just solve problems and make somethings better, it makes you think outside the box as What have you implemented at Coolhaus to far as how that’s possible. Just be noble about how help your team improve on communication you approach them. Sometimes it’s a very hard decision and you just have to land on it and keep movand productivity? ing forward. I think the biggest thing is having flexibility. We just had our team reviews and the flexibility that we of- What are some sacrifices you’ve had to make fer is really important. That can mean working from in order to get to where you are today? home or working elsewhere for a day. It works for us I don’t really think of it as a sacrifice in some ways as long as you’re getting eveything done and you’re because I’m so glad I have this opportunity. But, if clear about what you need to do. We totally value I think about it, to have started the business at 25 that and trust our team to accomplish those tasks. I years old, in the first few years, it really took over my have an enclosure in my office but most of the team life. You don’t see friends a lot, it was me and Freya sits in an unenclosed open space which is great for all the time in the work and she was still working collaboration and the social element, but it can be another full-time job. And it’s stressful on the relavery distracting. So, for those people who have a tionship too. There’s a lot of arguing and it always pile of work and just need to go home and crank it came to a higher ground, but it was intense. And out, it is more than okay. It also saves people from without that, I probably would be working more in the commute; you know the time and the stress of a job where you really have your weekends and all that. So, I think that’s major for us and just inspir- that. But, you know, I’m so glad that I had something ing people to love what they do will make them be that I wanted to do all the time and then now I have a more productive. If it’s fun at work, it’s a cool work. very sustainable existence. I’m able to take vacation If you feel good about it, if you feel motivated and and trust my team to hold the fort down and I’m able powered, you will absolutely do that work and get it to have real weekends. We have a son and a baby girl on the way, so it all worked out. done.
What is a milestone you would like to reach What’s your daily routine at the office? by the end of 2020? I definitely believe in exercise. I believe that the I think I’d like to have a couple of new products to days you work out you actually get more done even launch in both dairy and dairy free which are things though you spend time working out. I can deal with that we’re already working on now. Of course, I want my thoughts; I can have that time spent for me, that’s to hit the financial goals both top and bottom and I motivating. I used to do more green transportation to want to have built that growth that’s sustainable so my office whether that was riding my bike or walkthat in 2021 we can take things to an even higher ing, but it’s a little harder now because I take Remy everyday to pre-school which is like a quarter mile level. from my office, so I have to drive him in to do that, 10
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I think being the leading women founded ice cream brand in grocery and in the country is a game changer for the category for the next generation of women.
-Natasha Case, CEO at Coolhaus
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lean into the flexibility. Go play tennis for an hour if you have time, go see a friend, enjoy the fact that you don’t necessarily have to answer to anyone. And then when you are doing those things, like when I’m with my son, I really try to not to have my phone around. I really just try to be in the moment with him. Now you can work anywhere, anytime which is cool, but it can also be that you’re never fully working and you’re never fully taking a break. So, you really need to draw that line in the sand.
because of his car seat of course. But I do miss that, and I’m trying to find unique ways to get back to that. We’ll find another chapter for that. I always have music on in my office, I love to explore music while I’m working, and my days are very just versatile. I do a lot of interviews like we’re doing now, team meetings, spending time just going through what I need to do, seeing innovative work, testing out new products, choosing flavors, everything.
What’s the best time management skill you Where do you see Coolhaus in 5 years? have developed over the years? I think so much is about listening and figuring out I really see us becoming the household brand of our what motivates people and giving them exactly that. generation and that we have changed that market I think that’s really, really key. Kind of understanding penetration to be a significant player that is really who’s on your team and what’s going to make them stocked in a large amount of U.S. homes. feel the most empowered because everyone’s dif- What does your ideal weekend look like? ferent. I also believe that when you have fun, you do your best work, it’s kind of ironic that you want to Definitely something active whether that’s pilates or work more when it’s fun but that’s how we function a class or just being active. I’m in a softball league as human beings. So, I do believe that everything in Malibu and I love to do that. We’re also in a basketball league but those games are during the week. can be fun. We play golf and I love just being active. We always What is some advice you would like to share have a couple of things planned for Remy to do, that with someone who is looking to starting their he loves, and we can share with him. We also love own business? hosting people at the house, we love to entertain Think really big and at the same time start the idea and have friends over for dinner. I think combinawithout throwing all the eggs in that basket. Test tions of that and maybe a little weekend getaway the idea, let it live somewhere for a year before you is also great to get you outside of your day-to-day. throw everything away that you have because you Luckily in L.A. you go an hour in any direction and need that stability to incubate ideas, especially in you’re in a whole new kind of paradise. food. Even for companies now, that you see they start making $30, $50, $100 million and then you read about the founding story, and in a lot of them, the founder was at it for decades. It does not happen overnight so give it time to incubate and do what you can to mitigate the risk, and when you can no longer do both things, well, that’s when it’s time to do that new line of work full time.
What’s your biggest achievement since you’ve started the journey of being an entrepreneur? I think being the leading women founded ice cream brand in grocery and in the country is a game changer for the category for the next generation of women. So, I’m just really, really proud of that, and I’m proud to do something I love and stand for it. And to show my family and be an inspiration to them as well.
How do you find a work/life balance? I think embracing the flexibility yourself. I think there’s a lot of guilt for founders and leaders around taking time off, but you have to realize you need that time off to restructure and to get outside of the dayto-day to do your best work. So, don’t feel guilt and 11
INTERVIEW
Meet Leslie Nguyen from Bosscat Kitchen + Libations
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eslie Nguyen showed us in this interview that she is for sure the real boss. Founder and Creative Director of Bosscat Kitchen + Libations, her portfolio includes four restaurants: Bosscat locations in Newport Beach, California and Houston; Ten Asian Bistro in Newport Beach; BCK: Kitchen & Cocktail Adventures in the Houston Heights; and Miss Mini Donuts. This time she talks to us about her inspiration for creating Bosscat, and the story behind the brand. Her life as a successful businesswoman is a must read! Check it out. What inspired you to be a Boss? I was a bartender for a long time, and I worked for a young couple that inspired me to be an owner. They were absentee owners at the bar, I was bartending at and I was pretty much running the bar. And I was like; if they can do it, I can do it. So, working for them inspired me.
How did you come up with the name of your company? Bosscat is actually my nickname. My business partner, John, would come into the bar all the time and as I was running around, he asked me, “do you need help?” And finally, one day I’m like, “yeah, come help me.” He would help me on the weekends and then, eventually, became my business partner. His friends all used to call me ‘Bosscat” to make fun of him because he’s a 6’11 tall guy. And they would make fun of him saying that I’m the real boss, not him. I would stamp Bosscat everywhere, like I would put it on my car and we would just joke around while we were coming up with names for the business. Like, “oh, we should call it Bosscat Kitchen + Libations.” And at first, I thought he was going to say no, but he said, “you know what, let’s do it!”
How do you find innovative ways to remain competitive in the restaurant industry? It’s very simple, have a good service and a good product. Now, it’s different. Marketing a restaurant is completely different from back then. Social media is huge, so you have to think about 14
the product and how the product looks, because that’s going to be photographed on social media and people are going to come in, take a picture of it and spread it all over. So, we do know that the presentation of certain foods, the color of it, the way it’s presented on a plate, and in cocktails also matters.
How do you build a successful customer base? Once you get people through the door, that’s your job then to make them fans. It’s the ambiance that you create to make someone feel a certain way. You can eat or drink anywhere, but you walk into a place that’s beautifully built, that’s going to touch something in your heart or mind, and emotionally tie you to that place.
What are some ways you have seen Bosscat Kitchen + Libations make a positive impact in your community? We work closely with Goodwill. They have an interactive program with their kids to try to get them in the workplace. Some of them are specially challenged as they can’t get jobs in a normal work setting. So, this gives them the opportunity to get out of their normal environment, have a job and get paid for it through the program. We also get involved with a lot of community events. Some of our chefs go monthly to Mexico to cook, teach kids how to cook and feed the orphanage. And in Houston, we do “Restaurant Week”, where a part of the profit gets donated to charity. We also do a lot of offsite catering and events that are all tied to different charities.
How do you keep your team aligned with your core values? A lot of meetings and emails. We have different teams. So, we have an ownership team where we have summits for them. My goal was to create more owners if people had the dream of owning their own business or owning their own Bosscat, J.T.. I also wanted to create a team that give the opportunity to people who are loyal to us and have been with us for a long time, people who have shown that they are Bosscat 15
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I’m not driven by money and we’re not driven by how many stores we have. I am driven by the lives that we touch, and my success would be changing other people’s lives.
-Leslie Nguyen, Owner at Bosscat Kitchen + Libations
owner types and give them a piece of what they’re working for because we’re all working a million hours. And we wanted to give them the opportunity to do so. Our culture is very family oriented, which is one thing that we’ve been able to carry along. We help each other. For example, one of our chefs just got attacked by a dog. So, we pitched in and helped cover her medical bills. When we do our pre-shifts, we don’t talk about the food special or anything like that. We talk about how we can help other people be better people in life because we feel that’s more important. If they’re happy and if we can create a work environment that they’re happy in, then the food and the drinks will follow through.
earlier than 9. Now, I’m waking up at 4. Now I’m learning that if I wake up at this time, I have an extra time slot to do extra things.
Right now, we’re building the Bosscat in Orange, so I usually head to Orange and check on everything and like today, we had a managers meeting. Every Wednesday, we do a manager’s meeting at 9 AM, between that I’ll work out. I did donuts this morning, went to the gym, and then the meeting, and then came here. But it changes routinely. I’m not in the restaurant running the floor anymore like I used to do. These last 6 months, I’ve been less on the floor. Maybe even than the last year, because I do all the marketing for the restaurants and the creative conceptualizing and designing.
you’ve started the journey of being an entrepreneur?
What is some advice you would like to share with someone who is looking to start their own business? Make sure that you are doing something that you love because to make that succeed, you’re going to spend a lot of time on it. And if you’re not doing something you love, it’s going to show and then you’re not going to succeed and you’re going to give up. So, for something to work, you have to do something you love passionately.
What is a milestone you would like to reach How do you define success? by the end of 2020? That’s been the ultimate question lately. I guess, Open a donut shop. We’re actually building a Boss- happiness. I’m not driven by money and we’re not cat in Orange, CA and we’re working on opening a driven by how many stores we have. I am driven by the lives that we touch, and my success would be storefront for the donut shop. changing other people’s lives. What are some obstacles you’ve experienced while running a business and how did Where do you see Bosscat Kitchen in 5 years? you overcome them? I don’t know because so much has changed even in I think, especially in California, lawsuits. That’s a big the last 2 years. We could have 40 stores in 5 years. obstacle. The bigger you are, the more you are a We’re already working on our 2021 projects. But in 5 target and it’s easier to be a target in this state. years, I definitely see us in multiple states. What’s your daily routine? What’s your biggest achievement since
I think just growing Bosscat to where we are now. I started as a bartender and growing from 6 employees to 220 is amazing. We just had our holiday party last weekend, and I look at J.T. and I’m like, “I can’t believe we have so many employees.” We went from literally 6 to 220 and that’s probably one of the greatest things. Providing jobs and opportunities and supporting their families.
What’s the best time management skill you have developed over the years? The best time management skill is waking up earlier. You would never see me up earlier than 9 o’clock three years ago. There’s no way I would’ve been up 17
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You can eat or drink anywhere, but you walk into a place that’s beautifully built, that’s going to touch something in your heart or mind, and emotionally tie you to that place.
-Leslie Nguyen, Owner at Bosscat Kitchen + Libations
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MOTIVATION
Important Life Lessons from NBA Legend Kobe Bryant
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uring his entire 20-year career, Kobe Bryant was able to show his true strength, dedication, and passion to the game. As an athlete, father and community leader, Bryant learned a lot about dedication and success. Take a look at one of the most important life lessons we should learn from this NBA legend. 20
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Life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged. You have to keep moving. You have to keep going. Put one foot in front of the other, smile and just keep on rolling.
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Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant showcased that discipline, effort, and persistence can truly make a difference in our own lives. That meant early-morning workouts on game days. Workouts after games. Shooting in dark gyms because no one was there to turn on the lights. Working out numerous times a day, every day. As Jalen Rose said, “He was the smartest guy in the room… and the hardest-working guy in the room.” When Kobe thought he was exhausted, when he thought he was fried, when he thought he had done all he could… that’s when he dug deep. That’s when he found a little more inside. And then made that his new level of expectation. He constantly raised self-imposed limits (because most of our “limits” are actually self-imposed) in search of achieving what was actually possible. You may not be as experienced, as connected, or as talented as other people…but you can always out think, out hustle, and outwork everyone else. Kobe didn’t want to just achieve. He wanted to overachieve. He followed the same approach in his post-basketball life: Cold-calling entrepreneurs to learn how to achieve business success. Developing a production company whose short animated film won an Oscar in 2018 and dedicated himself to his family. 21
Five Motivational Quotes to Stay Motivated this 2020
“We all get the exact same 365 days. The only difference is what we do with them.” -Hillary DePiano
“Every risk is worth taking as long as it’s for a good cause, and contributes to a good life.” -Richard Branson
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“They key is not to prioritize what is on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” -Stephen R. Covey
“I don’t run away from a challenge because I am afraid. Instead, I run towards it because the only way to escape fear is to trample it beneath your foot.” -Natalie Comaneci
“Your minute is your hour is your day is your week is your month is your year. If you want to make this year better, make each minute better.” -Billy Cox
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