Glasses up to all the incredible women the world over who help make the globe go round and round.

For those of you who may read and say “wait a minute…assigning gender makes WEB a sexist thing” - I can tell you flat out. You’re off base.

If you think WEB is about women, invest some time reading (better yet call me at 515.450.7757) and you’ll learn that Women Enjoying Beer is about education and experience for all. It happens to be an underserved and illserved population.

And at 50.9% of the population, it’s an enormous opportunity to address.

So a few women I’d like to salute today in the beer community include Jeri Kustelski, Rebecca Newman, Darcy Quinn, Teri Fahrendorf, Sebbie Buhler, Laura Ulrich, Rhonda Kallman, Corkie Odell, Melody Daversa, Jena Frances, Nicole, Danielle Amarotico, Christine McKeever and many others I’m surely forgetting at this exact moment.

Cheers!!

p.s. for those of you in the Southern Oregon Area…here’s our next event.

Snake River Brewing, Jackson WY

He’s indicative of the brewing community - generous, hospitable, smart, and all around really nice guy.

His blog sums it up well.

In addition to his personal hospitality, Snake River hosted an event with WEB. 19 beer enthusiastic women crammed into a small room to talk and listen. Great fun and education had by all. He’s right of course - their clientele knows their beer. It was fabulously invigorating.

Many thanks to him and his tolerant cats for letting us stay. We’re already plotting to return for another visit…welcome mat’s out in Ashland too, Chris.

I like talking to Zappos folks. They’re a service company that sells shoes (plus). Really.

Why the connect today of shoes to beer (kind of like Otto’s jewelry to beer thread)?

Because at the end of the message he said, “your blog is awesome - Women Enjoying Beer is so cool.”

Day maker! Graham - if you read this, tell me why you like it.

Cheers - beer and shoes. All good.

My recommendation? It’s a purposeful, educational, fun and very useful read - for anyone is any kind of hospitality business.

The beer business is very hospitable with out a doubt. If you’re in the industry, circling the beer community an any way as a vendor or supplier, a restaurateur of any genre, READ THIS BOOK.

It’s chock full of, yes, his anecdotes. Not withstanding, these are helpful stories from which you can apply concepts that would be productive and profitable.

It was inspiring and particularly applicable for me in my professional pursuits right now - and I’ve now made it a goal to meet Mr. Meyers. If you happen to read this, Mr. Meyers, it’d be my honor and pleasure to be at your service.

Read on.

What have you read lately that you’d recommend?

(p.s. sorry about the sideways picture - the server’s goofy today….)

I’m grateful for the comments from people who are understanding what we’re working towards and supportive. And I’m grateful for comments by people who clearly don’t ‘get it.’

Why, you may wonder?

Because people that are uninformed and off base, people who don’t try to figure out what’s what and just spout to crow, end up making themselves look just that - uneducated.

The first few times I heard some comments that made me bristle, I thought - what am I not doing right? How am I missing the message? How can I deliver it better to hit their mark?

You know what? Part of the onus in any two way conversation is on both parties.

You have to educate yourself before you form opinions.

So - to those of you who read and understand that WEB is not about gender - it’s about opportunity and education, I thank you. For those of you who think it’s some flaming feminist whatever, educate yourself.

It’s insulting to only you in the long run if you don’t make the effort to learn how things work.

Bring it on.

She shouted out a while ago and I feel compelled to share this link (she shared with me). Double whammy…maybe triple…

1. Beer community

2. Draft Magazine - nice! Hey Erika, Jessica, Austin (see you in Chicago)

3. Running (I used to be an active runner too)

p.s. Beer has Vitamin B (as in Beer?!)

Will it be cleaning? Will it be operations? Will it be other employees? Will it be supplies? Suppliers? Vendors? Ingredients? Community? Events? Sales? Donations? Service?

Will you give them some helpful knowledge on how to better inform your clientele? Will it be to challenge them to rethink the status quo - especially if the status quo needs a swift kick to re motivate?

Whatever you talk about, focus in. Make the time count, be prepared.

Success relies on preparation, thoughtfulness, discourse, action, follow up. Skimping on any of them does a disservice to all.

And in the beginning , middle and end, it’s all about service.

Justin, Ginger, Rhonda, Mike - last May in L.A.

Jim is right on in his goal as highlighted here. Many of the beer community members are like that. Which is where Jim and Rhonda began when they started Boston Beer.

Encouraging and making people rethink things is often where the challenge lies. Cracking open the thinking to allow for fresh thoughts, new patterns, new ideas and therefore encouraging more blood flow to our craniums is key.

Change. Rethinking.

Like Mike says, Change is coming one way or the other. May as well open up your arms to receive the hug. Here it comes!

Operating any household or business, organization or entity requires thoughtful action. Thoughtful as in thinking things through. Being full of thoughts on the issues at hand.

When you simply rely on or allow default, when you don’t address the issues as they need to be, you are defaulting on way more than that one decision. You’re defaulting on yourself, your colleagues, your beer, your customers and your expectations.

Would you brand your business “Default Widgets: The One To Fall Back On”? Did you open your business to just meet the bare minimum?

Is something ‘that’ll do’ good enough for you? Or do you purposefully strive for better?

People everywhere - including your present and potential customers - want and deserve more.