Author Archives: Ashton Gustafson

Nov 09 2017
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art, Awareness, Change The World, Creativity, Discipline, Focus, Imagination, Leadership

The sting.

Regret.

It’s the most excruciating sting in the human experience.

What we didn’t say or convey. What we didn’t do or create. What we kept in our head and hearts instead of handing off to another.

These are the roots of so much that stings in our lives.

So before the clock hits 5:00,

…before you head home,

…before you turn on Jimmy Fallon and fall asleep,

…what will you do to avoid the sting?

…Who will you connect with?

…How will you touch the world, your industry, or your neighbor?

What will your verse be?

In the end, I’m glad I did > I wish I had.

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Nov 08 2017
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Awareness, Creativity, Imagination

Re: Minders

 

  • You have more choice than you realize.
  • People matter.
  • Everything doesn’t matter equally.
  • Know your metrics for life, relationships, and vocation.
  • Wisdom is the highway to liberation.
  • Wonder > Success.
  • Your interior world > Your exterior world.
  • Things end so new things can begin.
  • I’m glad I did > I wish I had.
  • Say what you need to say.
  • Do what you need to do.
  • You are more than your title(s) and role(s).
  • “History doesn’t repeat itself but it rhymes.” Mark Twain
  • Life is happening for you.
  • Keeping score can keep you from scoring something beautiful.
  • Pause by orchids and the autumn trees shedding their leaves.
  • Listen to the birds sing.
  • Be love.
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Nov 03 2017
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Awareness, Business, Creativity, Discipline, Focus, food, Imagination, Leadership, Let The Music Play

The Chef Sessions No. 4 with Greg Wade | Publican Bread Co.

greg wade

America’s in the midst of a bread renaissance – just ask Publican Quality Bread’s Head Baker, Greg Wade. Growing up outside Milwaukee, Greg was raised baking with his mother and grandmother, but it wasn’t until years later that he discovered his passion for whole grains, long fermentation and all the other things he speaks effortlessly about under the humble guise of “nerding out.”

After enrolling in The Illinois Institute of Art’s Culinary Program, Greg began to notice a void in the Chicago dining scene – excellent restaurants had the desire to serve quality breads made from hydrated doughs and whole grains, but they were hard-pressed to find the space and expertise necessary to bake in their already-bustling kitchens. From that epiphany, Greg found his first home as a baker at Wicker Park’s Taxim, where he specialized in breads and pastries. As his knowledge continued to grow, Greg joined the opening team at Girl & the Goat in 2010. Wade excelled under Chef Stephanie Izard’s tutelage, and in 2013, he moved to Little Goat to oversee bread baking at Girl & the Goat, Little Goat and Little Goat French Market.

Now at the helm of Publican Quality Bread, Greg works hand in hand with Chefs de Cuisine, farmers and retail owners to develop breads to fit restaurant menus and storefronts within and outside the One Off family. Since joining our team in 2014, Greg has grown Publican Quality Bread from a seedling operation within the kitchen of sister restaurant Publican Quality Meats, to a full-fledged wholesale wing. In 2017, Greg’s passion and skills were recognized with a James Beard finalist nomination for Outstanding Baker, alongside people he’s admired greatly throughout the course of his career.

As Publican Quality Bread’s Head Baker, Greg oversees the bread program for all of One Off Hospitality Group, with a focus on whole grains and fermentation. Apart from his day-to-day leadership, Greg is an active member of the local, regional and national farming communities – every July, you can find him leading a two-day Bread Camp along with Marty and Will Travis at Spence Farm in Fairbury, IL. Online, you can witness his technique and commitment to ethical, quality ingredients in the newly released documentary, Sustainable.

You can listen to this episode and all other episodes of Let The Music Play Podcast at Sticher or iTunes.

Show Notes

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Nov 01 2017
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art, Imagination

That’s Amore

 

Maybe it was a meal. One where you could graph each flavor on the fork. The wine seemed to be encoded with a holy memo. And the conversation felt as though it was tied to something that always was and always will be.

Maybe it was with a child. You saw they had no sense of yesterday or tomorrow. The moment, the now, was all that they knew. It was all there was and all they had capacity for. And they were delighted to be your teacher as you became their student.

Maybe it was a flash of a moment on an autumn walk. As golden leaves swirled above, below, and around you, you felt connected. Connected to all of it. It was like you were the point of origin for heaven and earth to conspire in the universe.

Or maybe it was walking through an airport. Strolling through faces you started to see eyes. And after you saw the eyes all you started to see was the soul and the essence of each individual. All you could take in was our unity and likeness. Uniformity was nowhere on your radar.

That’s amore.

That’s all we’ve ever lived, moved, and had our being in.

The moment.

The now.

No past.

No future.

Enjoy.

 

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Oct 30 2017
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art, Awareness, Books, Business, Change The World, Creativity, Discipline, Focus, Imagination, Leadership, Marketing, success

A letter from what you want

Good morning.

With only 1,440 minutes available for you today, it’s best if we keep this short.

We typically are found in the realms of what is hidden and unseen.

Many call the avenues that lead to us boring and lacking with any entertainment value. Unless, of course, you understand the beauty of the human experience. If so, you’ll find our music, poems, and metaphors quite liberating.

Spamming your way to us looks like an effective approach. Trust us, it isn’t.

You won’t find us where everyone is. We hang out on the fringes where one can actually see the forest for the trees.

There’s a few things we love: seasons, humanity, sustainability, rest, connection, unity, art, friendship, and simplicity. We hope you’ll learn to love them too.

The few that have found us will always share what they feel, what they felt, and what they have found. But they won’t shout it aloud. Sharing and shouting never have danced well together. Hint…hearing starts in your eyes.

So don’t forget to ask others about us along the way.

Remember to seek beauty, flavor, meaning, love, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.

Knock on many doors and know who you are so you can answer ‘Who’s there?”.

And always onnect with contribution and consistently sow with the seeds of generosity.

We hope to see you soon.

 

Truly yours,

Success – Satisfaction – Fulfillment – Wonder – Awe

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