Eddie’s Energy Bars Blog

Here I am, sitting at my desk, the eve of my 20th birthday (well, really twenty minutes before), and I am contemplating the last twenty years of my life.

Turning twenty makes me think of all the things I have accomplished, and all the things I would like to accomplish.  At 20, or nearly one quarter of my life, I have:

• Survived being a pre-mature baby (the first baby, along with my twin sister, that was born in the ICU in Burlington, Vermont).
• I had the greatest kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Wintersteen.  She made us learn the days of the week in French!
• Along with my classmates, I have written an award winning “Kids are Authors” book, Night Time, in 1st grade with Mrs. Dutil, whom I visit frequently when I am back at home.
• I went on a great trip to Boston in 4th grade after raising the money with candy bar sales.
• (I am skipping middle school because I didn’t really like it)
• I explored the world of high school, met many of my favorite teachers, and landed on High Honors almost every semester.
• I started Adams’ Cookie House when I was 15 selling cookies outside Bridge Street Hair.
• I sat in on a committee to form advisories at the high school.
• I started Eddie’s Energy Bars during my sophomore year, and launched into retail stores in April 2006.
• I have been to China, Austria, Germany, France, the Bahamas, Ottawa and Montreal, and many states.

The list could go on, but I need to get to what I want to still accomplish:

• Travel more, really, anywhere in the world.  After sixteen hours on a plane I can take anything.
• Hike anywhere, and possibly some mountain biking.
• Get back onto the slopes after my two year hiatus from skiing.
• Read more to learn more.
• Road trip across the United States.
• Grow Eddie’s Energy Bars to a regional brand after I graduate by executing my very exciting five year plan.
• Develop a deeper product line that helps me better serve my customers (more on this later).
• Make Eddie’s more socially responsible, and a “greener” business.

This list also goes on, but it’s what I can think of right now.  There is so much in life that people don’t get the chance to do because they choose to do other things.  It’s called opportunity cost.  For everything you do, there is something else you could be doing.  After traveling to China for two weeks, I have realized that I need to get out more.

The business is one thing, but my life is another.  I will have to make sacrifices, but traveling, getting outdoors, eating great tasting food, family, friends, ambition, and independence are all of my core values.  It’s time I embrace them and do what I want; what feels good to me.

Part of that is living in Vermont.  I miss it so much when I am here at school.  It’s just different in Vermont.  The people are nicer and more welcoming, the scenery is beautiful, and the small, locally supported communities are something I miss, not to mention real maple syrup, farmer’s markets, creemees, my family, and friends.  I won’t get too into it, but Matt Lauer said it best,

“Vermont is not just a state, it’s a state of mind”.

I am making a birthday resolution to make life an adventure, all day, every day.  Anyone with me?

Michael Adams, Owner
Eddie’s Energy Bars

As most of you know, I love the beautiful state of Vermont. Well, I got an e-mail from my mom today, head of operations at Eddie’s (that basically means I would have no company without her), who sent me an e-mail with Jeff Foxworthy’s comments on the Green Mountain State. They are as follows:

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September
through May, you live in Vermont .
If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance
and they don’t work there, you live in Vermont .
If you’ve worn shorts and a parka at the same time, > > you live in Vermont .
If you’ve had a lengthy telephone conversation with
someone who dialed a wrong number, you live in Vermont .
If you measure distance in hours, you live in Vermont .
If you know several people who have hit a deer more
than once, you live in Vermont .
If you have switched from “heat” to “A/C” in the same
day and back again, you live in Vermont .
If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during
a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Vermont .
If you install security lights on your house and
garage, but leave both unlocked, you live in Vermont .
If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows
how to use them, you live in Vermont .
If you design your kid’s Halloween costume to fit
over a snowsuit, you live in Vermont .
If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph — you’re
going 80 and everybody is passing you, you live in Vermont .
If driving is better in the winter because the
potholes are filled with snow, you live in Vermont .
If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter,
mud season and road construction season, you live in Vermont .
If you have more miles on your snow blower than your
car, you live in Vermont .
If you find 10 degrees “a little chilly”, you live in Vermont .
If you actually understand these jokes, and forward
them to all your Vermont friends & others, you live in Vermont ..

I just thought I would pass these Vermont jokes along. Go ahead and laugh, because most of them are true. It’s just how we are in Vermont. And you’ve got it–the people that run Eddie’s Energy Bars are just as cool.

Michael, Owner
Eddie’s Energy Bars

Happy New Year!  2007 was a fantastic year, and all of us at Eddie’s Energy Bars are ready to jump head first into 2008.  We’ve got a lot of great events coming up this year, so be sure to stay tuned to the blog.

Ok.  Now for ways to keep your resolution.  I have compiled the three things that I think will help people the most in satisfying their resolution.  Here we go:

1. Tell Everyone: Let your friends, family, and co-workers know what you’re trying to do, so that way, they can keep you motivated to complete the task.  If only you know, you will find personal excuses to not get off the couch, for example.

2. Set Realistic Goals: Now that you have told everyone your resolution, it’s time to set goals.  Make sure your goals are reachable.  For example, to lose two pounds a week is a better resolution than losing ten pounds a week.  Or, helping out at three school events is better than helping out one. The more you do with your child, the better he or she is likely to open up to you.

3. Reward Yourself:  So many people (myself included) don’t reward themselves for doing job well done. Go out to dinner after your goal is reached.  Write the rewards down before you make your resolution, so you have something to look forward to after the goal has been reached.  However, it is important to not over do it.  Don’t reward yourself with a whole deep-dish pizza for losing ten pounds.  Then, where has all the hard-work gone once you have eaten the pizza?

If your resolution is to knock off a few pounds and start eating healthier, Eddie’s Energy Bars are the perfect addition to any New Years resolution.

Like my tips?  You can find monthly updates on Eddie’s as well as health and fitness tips in our newsletter.

Click here to sign up for our newsletter!

Michael Adams
Eddie’s Energy Bars

Most people either like or dislike massages. I like them, and have started to really like them to the point where I think I need one monthly (ok, maybe not monthly, but probably four times a year).

On the last day of the expo we attended, I got smacked with a horrible headache. I seriously thought my head was going to explode. I did everything in my power to try and relieve it (with no access to advil). I drank lots of fluids, ate a rather large lunch, and it ended up getting worse. I then saw that one of the booths was giving out free massages. There was no line, so I jumped on the opportunity.

The woman who gave me the massage was Suzy Finnefrock of Bodhi Wellness Studio. I let her know that I had a horrible headache, so she took that into consideration while giving me the massage. Despite being in the middle of the crowded expo, it was the most rejuvenating massage I have ever gotten. It relieved my headache and gave me energy throughout the rest of the day to finish the expo.

A lot of people think massages are girly, and guys shouldn’t get them. Well…it relieves stress, relaxes my body, and gives me more energy. Yep–I think those are three pretty awesome things.

Bodhi Wellness Studio is located in Waterbury, VT. If you frequent them, there is a chance you just might meet me, owner of Eddie’s Energy Bars!

Michael

I got a call today from a customer of mine who wanted to introduce her daughter to the wonderfulness of Eddie’s Energy Bars–god bless her soul!  The only dilemma she had was that her daughter is a vegetarian.  She wanted to know my thoughts on how to introduce her daughter to the bars.  Should she just put them in her lunch box or tell her about them.  Well, I opted to have her tell her daughter about our energy bars.

As vegetarians don’t eat meat, they generally lack ways to get their protein.  Here is where Eddie’s Energy Bars come in.  Our bars have a high amount of protein in each bar, as well as fiber, and complex carbohydrates.  Educating young vegetarians is important, and I told her to let her daughter know why she needs protein, and what our company is all about.

I think by letting her child know what goes into these energy bars like all natural ingredients and no preservatives, and that they are handmade and homemade right here in Vermont is important. The difference between our bars and the bigger brands are very apparent.  Once her daughter tries our bars, I don’t think she’ll ever go back to the other kinds!

If you have a child that’s a vegetarian, educate them about what they are eating.  Make sure to point out their lack of protein, and ways to get a decent amount, as well as the importance of eating good, wholesome foods.  There is nothing wrong with eating vegetarian, just be aware of what you need to eat.

Michael
Eddie’s Energy Bars