Story & Lesson Highlights with Martin Chesno of Chicago

We recently had the chance to connect with Martin Chesno and have shared our conversation below.

Martin, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Coffee first.
My best days begin with a Yoga set, a routine I have developed over the last 20 years 🙂

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Martin Chesno and have been the ‘rainmaker’ at The Mulberry Silk Co for just over 20 years.
We are manufacturers of Mulberry Silk bedding, this includes Mulberry Silk filled Comforters, Mulberry Silk Linen – comforter covers and sheets and of course Mulberry Silk filled pillows and Mulberry Silk pillow cases.
And although I entered the industry by chance, I quickly realized that this is a unique niche, with most Comforters being made with Down.
Mulberry Silk presented an alternative to the bedding market, being both lightweight and offering hypo-allergenic properties. With a definite appeal to all those that suffer with night sweats, especially middle aged women and great for those that suffer from allergies.
We started out as traditional importers and distributors supplying some of the ‘big box’ stores and online retailers, before moving our focus to our own online store, where we can control the service levels to match a world class product.
The rest is history as they say.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
The Power of Speech. When used badly, as in talking negatively to another or about another we literally can destroy that person. And there world.
And the reverse holds true too. When we speak well of others or compliment a person directly we build them up, creating a positive atmosphere and the possibility to build trust and long lasting relationships.
Our words are our bonds that bind us to each other. And these words need to be met with the right actions.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has taught me the art of being patient. Being in uncomfortable positions is part of life’s ups and downs. A quote I like to remind myself is ‘you can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf’ (by Jon Kabat-Zinn). Keeping a balanced approach through the hard times will help alleviate the suffering to some degree and as times change and you continue doing the right actions this will inevitably lead to success.
With suffering and the patience one needs to get over this, helps build resilience and create a deeper sense of appreciation. This can easily be lost on those that reach success ‘without much effort’.
So suffering can really make you into a better person. Which is possibly hard to accept when you are the one suffering. But a reminder to be patient and to continue to persevere will bring about the desired outcomes you seek.
Another popular saying that I grew up hearing, is that ‘good things come to those that wait’. And that has been my lived experience. With the taste of success being so much sweeter.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am totally committed to offering a healthier alternative when it comes to sleep comfort. Debunking the myth that you need a heavy, thick comforter to keep you warm (and then you need to throw off when the weather warms), or you can use a Mulberry Silk lightweight comforter that regulates your body temperature and in that way helps to keep you cool in Summer and warm in Winter.
I have been in this industry for over 20 years and feel we are still just scratching the surface. With many more people still unaware of our Mulberry Silk range and the benefits of sleeping under Mulberry Silk.
My philosophy is literally one bed at a time and therefore we now deliver direct to your door and in that way we cut out the middle man too.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will say that I was honest and fair in my dealings and willing to help others and to share of myself for the betterment of all.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
All images are owned by me.

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