We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Frankie Thaheld. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Frankie below.
Hi Frankie, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?
It can be hard to find time to or to remember to take time out for yourself. Between running a business more than full-time and having a family, there are few hours for self care and self reflection. Nonetheless, it is paramount to take that time and to get some “you-time”.
For me, that can be a 30 minute run at the house on a treadmill while the rest of the gang are at another task, or a 20 minute soak in the hot tub before bedtime after the rest of the house is asleep. Or a slow espresso on a Saturday morning before the rest of the house wakes, sitting on the porch taking in a bit of nature and lazily watching the birds feed. Regarding the office, I like to work from home one day a week to save me a 2hr+ commute and buy back another hour or two for myself.
These small moments add up overtime and help me to remain optimistic and fresh for the next day’s challenges.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
We are in the event business with all of its ebbs and flows. One week we are running at every moment playing catch up and hang on, and other weeks we are pining for any meager task to keep us afloat. The excitement is in the success of delivery. It could be a special garnish on a delicious bespoke cocktail, or it could be how the names and flavors just perfectly match the personalities of our clients, or a perfect flawless complicated service where the client never knows the hurdles we surmounted for their moment and celebration.
Particularly, we are a beverage catering company specializing more in memorable and esoteric beverage experiences than just standard bar service. We are the cocktail smokers, the Cocktail Graffiti artists, the vaporizers and the teachers. No challenge is too tall for us, we always find a way to make it happen. Whether bartending in the middle of a barren desert or on a lonely mountain top, to navigating production and produce needs in a complex urban environment, we will always get to the end zone.
We opened our hallmark venue, Julep, in 2019 and have been hosting unique and marquee events in our halls since then. We specialize in events 20-750 people with lost of versatility in decor and space use. www.julepvenue.com
I am proud of my team and what we have accomplished in the last 13 years and look forward to more venues for good times and beverage innovations to go along with them. www.snakeoilcocktail.com
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Humility, Boldness and Balance
Humility – There will always be others out there playing in your space. It is good to know who they are, their strengths and weaknesses and then learn how to be symbiotic with them. Understanding how to coexist without too much pride or conflict will likely bring new opportunities you had not dreamed of to your doorstep.
Boldness – Always be ready to try a new idea and test it out. If you spend too long in a laboratory, you will never know how many lives you may have touched by taking a few chances and having an earlier success.
Balance – Work and play. While we may work 80% of our time and play 20% of our time, it is important to make sure that the 20% playtime is well spent and that some of the playfulness is allowed to crossover into your work. This will enhance the office culture as well as bring more smiles and peace into your own life.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
A prioritized to-do list handwritten on paper. I find that the task of physically crossing things out on a list helps me see my progress and delivers more satisfaction. While a digital list may have similar intent, there is nothing like crumpling a completed to-do list in a ball and throwing it away knowing that it is fully accomplished.
The key is to start writing the list before you are overwhelmed and then actively adding to it as you get busier mono-tasking as much as you are able to. When you get down to one or two tasks on this full sheet of paper, add the to another fresh list to give yourself perspective on your progress and start the roll fresh. This will save you from major headaches and get you crossing off items quicker.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.snakeoilcocktail.com, www.julepvenue.com, www.cocktailgraffiti.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snakeoilcocktail/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SnakeOilCocktail
