Bob Sutherland, founder of Cherry Republic, started his business in 1989 selling t-shirts out of the trunk of his car. After a few years, the company expanded into selling other cherry products and now sells over 200 products produced with the fruit, from cherry salsa to cherry wine. Cherry Republic has a flagship campus in the town of Glen Arbor on the lakeside in northern Michigan and three more stores around the state that employ 80 local people. In his free time, Bob loves to run and bike the trails he first found as a boy growing up in the region, with his wife and two sons.

Bob joins me today to share his experience of growing up as one of six children on the shores of Lake Michigan, and how his mother and father, both educators, encouraged their children to do their best and have fun doing it. He discusses his love of northern Michigan and why he is passionate about supporting local farmers, helping to preserve the local lakeshores, and why Cherry Republic gives 1% of all sales to charity. Bob also shares how he came up with the Cherry Republic mission and vision key words and why they remain an essential part of his team's core values, which they strive to live every day.

"Nothing is more important than giving yourself the mental space to think hard" - Bob Sutherland

This week on The Wow Factor:

• How he started his career as an entrepreneur with small summer businesses
• The importance of understanding the abundance mindset
• Why and how Bob started Cherry Republic
• How he encourages personal growth at Cherry Republic
• How he promotes positive energy and the value of generosity as part of the Cherry Republic culture
• The value of different personality types to enhance your team
• How he finds innovative ways to overcome problems
• The importance of gaining education and experience before you plant your stake in the ground

Bob Sutherland's Words of Wisdom:

Hard thinking is the key to achieving your goals, take time to plan and dream. Give yourself the space to visualize a successful outcome.

Connect with Bob Sutherland:

• Cherry Republic Website
• Cherry Republic on Facebook
• Cherry Republic on Instagram
• Cherry Republic on Twitter
• Cherry Republic on YouTube

Connect with The WOW Factor:

• Website
• I Like Giving: The Transforming Power of a Generous Life book by Brad Formsma
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