最佳实践：Ayesha Curry如何加剧并保持大流行期间保持平衡
Editor’s note: The news can weigh heavily on all of us during these strange days, and especially on small business owners and employees whose jobs have been altered by the pandemic. Hey, we could all use a little inspiration and light, so we’ve launched Best Practices, a new column foryabo sports官网 , to share how leaders are facing unprecedented challenges head on during the pandemic while growing personally and professionally.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Back in 2017, about three months into my job atFood & Wine，我们发表了一个故事，其中包括Ayesha和Stephen Curry的感恩节盛宴。我喜欢篮球，因为这是最终的团队运动，当游戏真正流动时，它为个人如何在和谐时表达自己表达自己。斯蒂芬·库里（Stephen Curry）和金州勇士队（Golden State Warriors）的自由轮，即兴创作的游戏风格表达了这种流动感。这个故事的演出中最吸引我的是库里家族的感染力，永远存在的游戏感，这是由阿耶沙（Ayesha）引起的。每张照片都显示家庭跳舞，播放音乐或与孩子咯咯笑，更不用说桌子上充满了鲜艳的食物了。亚搏电竞
Ayesha, aNew York Timesbest-selling author, entrepreneur, and TV host, has used that same reservoir of positive energy to keep herself and her family healthy this year while launching several new projects, including the charityEat.Learn.Play，她和史蒂芬（Stephen）创造的目的是帮助孩子们发挥自己的全部潜力。该组织专注于教育，提供安全的空间以及结束童年的饥饿，并与世界中央厨房和当地社区食品银行合作，向奥克兰统一学区的学生提供超过500万种早餐和午餐。亚搏电竞
She and business partner Michael Mina have put expansion of their San Francisco-based global barbecue restaurant国际烟on hold for now, focusing on takeout and delivery to keep the lights on, like so many other restaurants across the country right now. “From the hospitality side, it’s such a bummer because I’m most passionate about taking care of people,” she said.
库里将很快在奥克兰开设一家新的七月七月商店奥普拉最喜欢的东西2020列表，她的新家庭友好食谱The Full Plate, and a甜美的七月lifestyle magazine, published byFood & Wine’sparent company Meredith.
“Yes, we launched a new magazine in the beginning of the pandemic,” she said. “People need a bright spot and something positive to lean on.”
您在核心团队中雇用了多少人？
Eight. We’re spread out all over the place. I have the production side of things, my internal day-to-day team that has their hands on everything, and we're opening a Sweet July store in a couple weeks here in Oakland, and so I have that core team, too. And then, also, everyone that works on the magazine. There's a lot of WebEx, Zooms, Google Meets. But we're still managing to get things done. From a business perspective, it's been nice to see that we can be so resilient and quick on our feet.
Is there any crossover with the way you talk to your team and the way that you talk to your kids about the pandemic in terms of keeping morale up?
At International Smoke we’re family and operate like that day to day. I take the cues from Michael Mina who is keeping everybody amped. There are parts of this business where we've been so blessed with seeing growth. We’re fortunate to be able to fulfill takeout and curbside and delivery. It’s enough to keep things afloat. We’ve figured out innovative ways of takeout and delivery. The Michael Mina Group has housed all their restaurants under Mina Family Kitchen to offer each restaurant’s top selling selections. It’s a one-stop shop that can be delivered to your home in sustainable packaging. The biggest change that I’ve seen to our menu is comfort food right now. We have 10 different mac ‘n’ cheeses. Of course delivery of alcohol has been great for everybody.
From the hospitality side, it’s such a bummer because I’m most passionate about taking care of people. We were open for a week and a half and then just shut back down in San Francisco when the city mandated it. We’re all learning on the fly here and trying to keep up with what’s going on. Where morale is low because of the uncertainty of the restaurant we encourage everybody that it’s going to be okay.
What’s your criteria for saying yes to a pitch about something with your name on it?
During the first five years I said yes to everything. I didn’t want it to pass me by or be off-putting. I was overloaded. You have to be more strategic and meaningful with your choices. I’ve been saying no to 95% of things coming in. It comes down to this: First, will it take away from my family with three small kids—they always come first. Then, is it a true interest of mine? Three, does it spark joy and impact my life in a positive way and will it bring joy to other people? Four, when it comes to brand partnerships, it has to be something I use in my everyday life.
Tell me about your creative process.
My book process forThe Full Platewas totally different than the first bookThe Seasoned Life, which was full of my second-nature recipes that I cooked all the time. The first book was always there in my head, and I was ideating all along, and then put it on paper to make it clear and concise. This new book is true and meaningful because I created this arsenal of recipes not only for everyone else but also to have ones that I could rely on, too. Breakfast and lunch in our house are always on the fly. I focused on dinner and worked alongside my sister on the recipe development. While creating, we were texting, working on flavor profiles. It was a fun process from a family standpoint, and it strengthened our relationship. We homed in on the recipes to make sure they’re true to my life, and also fun and nostalgic.
What are some things that you've been doing differently because of the pandemic that will carry over into your life once we're out of this mess?
Fitness. I work better and parent better when I implement physical activity. Growing up it wasn’t a part of my life. Now I have more mental clarity and get so much done in a day. I’m grateful for this time and the opportunity to realize that.
另外，我们的慈善机构Eat.Learn.Play，我于7月与史蒂芬（Stephen）推出。它着重于结束童年的饥饿，教育，并提供安全的空间。它的缩放速度比我们想象的要快。我们必须在奥克兰社区那里。
What are other non-negotiables, the things that you have to do to feel whole?
咖啡。即使在厨房岛上，我们也必须在桌子上吃一顿家庭用餐。我们必须在一起吃饭和交谈。沟通总是如此重要，甚至在此时更重要。心理健康是不可谈判的。这是一个多米诺骨牌的效果：如果我们作为父母跌倒，那么其他一切都会掉落。
Is there any piece of technology right now that's making your life better?
Fitbit. It buzzes my arm if I haven’t gotten enough steps in. I track my heart rate.
How about an album you’ve been listening to nonstop?
For two years strong now, the汉密尔顿soundtrack. It’s on heavy rotation in the house.
If you have a mentor, what’s a valuable lesson they've taught you?
My mom taught me to put myself first. It sounds so narcissistic and crazy but for a long time I wasn’t putting myself first. She was a hairstylist for over 40 years and spent so much time working and never put herself first. She really made it a point that I take care of myself first. When I do, I find everything else in the house moves better.
根据一篇文章甜美的七月，“黑人妇女如何使其运作”，美国有270万个黑人拥有的企业。谁的公司现在最激发您的灵感，为什么？
我们甜蜜的店7月在奥克兰包围bunch of female-owned black businesses. I love the vibrancy they bring to the community. All the women on the block are holding one another accountable. We have a Zoom call tomorrow to come together to do some Christmas planning. I love that about it. One business—McMullen, a womenswear boutique, is celebrating their 13th anniversary today. Talk about longevity. That’s Sherri McMullen.
YourDutch ovenmade Oprah’s list of Favorite Things this year. What’s on your list?
Can I pick something from my line?铸铁煎锅。您只需要一个。这是一个非常坚固的铸铁煎锅。我爱我的，因为它很可爱，而且很容易。
我今年给孩子们买了一个3D打印机来制作自己的玩具。和一个好的戒指。您不必成为YouTuber即可使用这些东西。
Who do you look to for inspiration for how they modeled their career?
It’s still Jessica Alba from a business standpoint. She came up with an innovative business model that nobody had done before. She was always so honest, very vulnerable, and smart. Chef Michael Mina is my mentor when it comes to food. He’s a role model because he has the same excitement and lust for life for his first restaurant that he does with every new restaurant.
