Episode 245 Discover the Secret Ingredient to Achieving Your Dreams!

Sales Meetings Topics. Lisa Thal, an Author, Inspirational Speaker, and Business Coach with over 37 years of marketing, sales, and leadership experience, is the mastermind behind the book Three Word Meetings. Lisa's coaching is about creating sales and business meetings with fun and interesting 3-word topics that spark conversation and ignite excitement in sales teams.

 

Episode 245, Discover the Secret Ingredient to Achieving Your Dreams. "Work For It!"

 

I want to share a story about a friend, a community leader, and a client I have known for over 25 years.

 

Elmer Hensler, the visionary behind Queen City Sausage, left us a few weeks ago. His life story, a testament to the power of hard work and determination, will ignite a fire in your heart and inspire you to chase your dreams.

 

Elmer's Story…

 "I knew at an early age that if I wanted anything in life, I would have to go out and work for it."   These words, spoken by Elmer J. Hensler, echo his unwavering determination that led to his remarkable journey.

 

Elmer Hensler was a storyteller. His life experiences teach us something in the ways all good stories do:

• The very early struggles.
• The determination to overcome those struggles.
• The results of a well-lived life.

 

Elmer was born in 1930 in Cincinnati's West End, the edge of Cincinnati's meatpacking district, fondly known as Porkopolis.  One of nine children.  Poor but never hungry.  Elmer lived about a block away from active slaughterhouses.  He was an eleven-year-old boy who showed up to work at 4 am before school.  Can you imagine your child going to work at 4 am before school today? His discipline and determination set the tone and pace for Cincinnati's future Sausage King. He faced the harsh reality of poverty and the need to work from a young age, but he never let it deter him from his goals.

 

Elmer's determination was unwavering, even in the face of discouragement. He disliked the formality of classroom learning,  with his mind set on earning money and building a future.  The nuns and teachers at the time always warned him in fear; "You will never amount to anything."  Elmer's response, "Just give me a knife and steel, and I will do the rest!"  He left formal education shortly after the 8th grade to begin his sausage career, a testament to his determination that can motivate us all.

 

Elmer worked all aspects of the Cincinnati meatpacking business. From the fast pace of the slaughterhouses to driver sales and management, he quickly learned from the very best.

 

By 1965, with a vast array of meat industry skills, Elmer started his own sausage company.  He gathered 2 master sausage maker partners to find Cincinnati's iconic Queen City Sausage Company.  Closing in on 60 years of craft sausage making, the company has expanded 15 times.

 

Elmer's love for Cincinnati was evident in his stories of the early days and the struggles.  He was always thrilled with how much the people of Cincinnati embraced the bratwursts, smoked sausages, and deli meats his company made.  His famous motto was "Never cheapen your product."  And "I don't want to be the biggest, just the best!"  His love for his city and his commitment to quality can make us all feel a sense of connection and pride.

 

 

As we wrap up, please reflect on your aspirations and remember, the key to achieving them is to Work For Them, just like Elmer did! Remember, success is not handed to us, we have to work for it. So, let's all take a page from Elmer's book and put in the work to achieve our dreams.

 

Stay inspired, stay motivated, and keep learning!  Work For It!

 

Learn more at www.Threewordmeetings.com.