Beautiful, Maria! I’m inspired by your bravery to address the hard stuff about family business, and share so honestly about your experiences too. You are a gift! ❤️
Beautiful, as always, Maria. I was proud to work for the company Bob Rodale built. I learned so much, gained invaluable experience and did feel good about the work I was doing.
I began my career at Rodale a few years before the industry started to implode. I wouldn't wish the role & timing you inherited on anyone. (Anyone I liked, at least😂.) I remember it well.
Rodale was a small town inside a small town; and having grown up in one of those, the energy around the time was quite similar, palpable.
I knew it wasn't roses for you or anyone within the family; but always admired the grace and devotion you carried such a responsibility with. You (collectively) served your mom, dad and J.I.'s hard work, vision and legacy very well. ❤️
I so admire your authenticity. You offer a wise perspective with food for reflection for all of us. This is a story for all families, too. I hope you decide to write that memoir!
I can only comment as an outsider because my family had no business or even a building to give me, but having worked in other people's family businesses and knowing people who run businesses, the issues here sound less about business, and more about parents needing to reframe their priorities, work-life balance, and the upbringing they want to give their children.
I have spent my whole career dreaming of owning/ running a family business and have never been in a position to take on the risk. I appreciate your openness of the “darkside” and your appreciation of all the good you have done and do and all the lives you’ve touched. We can never really understand another’s pain without walking in their shoes but I hope you can be proud of all the good you and your family have done. You have to agree a small part of the world is a better place because of you.
Thank you for this! I was co-owner of a family garden center business for 35 years. I eventually sold it to my nephew, who's doing a fantastic job carrying it forward. Those early years (working with my dad) were tough both physically and emotionally, as we were as different as night and day, but we worked through it. I'm still processing what it took from me and what it gave me. What kept me going all those years was my love of native plants and photography. I may have even licensed a few photos to Rodale 😉. I am now retired, but I share my love of nature and native plants with other groups and still grow and maintain an extensive native plant garden at home.
This makes me so nervous that I have to reread it several times. What the he'll did you feel when you were writing this? How long did it take and how many times did you have to stop and say, I can't. For me, I feel that on paragraph two. Literally cannot finish it in one whop. I am sorry for your suffering. I can imagine.
So much to process here. I love your words and the emotion that goes with it! Let me add this... In the 1970's, my brother and I were experimenting with farming (my dad was a lawyer but had some farmland) and for whatever reason we were attached to Organic Gardening Magazine even though that was not the main messaging of that time. I ended up (in my 60's) with a progressive organic and sustainable landscape company with future endeavors into premium living soils. My brother has a winery and while not registered as organic, he uses no chemicals. And my oldest brother is a diehard personal organic gardener. This doesn't even include my 2 sisters that are avid gardeners and would never consider using a chemical. YOUR FAMILY WAS INSTRUMENTAL TO WHERE WE ARE IN LIFE! Your dad wasn't producing 2,4D, glyphosate, synthetic nitrogen, etc, etc. He was carrying through a lineage that stretched back 12,000 years of organic farmers. Sometimes we can't see the good we are doing in the world as we are caught up in our own personal story. YOU ARE PART OF THAT STORY! I have so much respect for your family as you carried through in the midst of the chemical revolution. You knew the truth (well, at least your dad knew the truth) and that has influenced millions of people just like me. My point being, don't beat yourself up. Screw the yacht! Screw the plane! Some things are much more important in life...
And, I personally agree and am thankful for this: "We employed thousands of people over the decades who made decent livings and felt part of something good. I’m incredibly grateful and proud of that."
Wow, good for you for writing this - you really got it out there and it will be helpful to many people.I do not envy you that time, though ultimately I know you have gained a lot of self-knowledge from it. And from the other side, having worked for the Taunton Press for 11 years and watched the transition from parents to kids go not so smoothly (for many of the reasons you site... the kids had lives and other interests and families of their own, what their parents did could not be repeated, and then of course a good business model didn't (entirely) hold up when the whole world of publishing changed) I can say it wasn't comfortable to be part of. I really salute you for honoring what your family did but also being honest about how cumbersome it is to maintain a family business through generations.
You are far enough away to have gained some perspective. Even when I was there, I did not envy you. I thought “it must be hard.” And now I think, you are brave to say it. When we speak the hidden truth, we are free.❤️
The bright side is, because of it, you evolved into who you are today. Someone who cares about the world, bats and other creatures. Your shamanic adventures give you deep insights to the simple wonders most people can not glimpse. We are all who we are, because life molds and shapes us to choose our parhs. Your path moving forward is something you should be proud of. Your article shows you have faced and come to grips with many of your dark internal shadows. Most people ignore them. You not only did not ignore, you courageously revealed them publically. I bet your possible next book about you growing up would make an awesome movie or documentary.
"That experience, my friends, is nothing to envy.”
it’s always amused me, how often people mind other’s “action reels,” and pay no mind to the “cutting floor.” if anyone knew your—maria’s personal—“cutting floor” trims, surely there wouldn’t be any envy.
i’m glad for your family’s next generation, that they’ll not be bound by the same generational “inheritance."
What a beautiful piece of truth and love and encouragement. You’ll always feel like family to me, that one Aunty who introduced me to a whole different way of being. And even though it took nearly two decades for the shift to occur for me, you and your family are the ones who planted a seed that led me to a beautiful, happy, dreamlike life. A place where we have been able to heal so much of the generational and lived trauma. Thank you thank you thank you!
Beautiful, Maria! I’m inspired by your bravery to address the hard stuff about family business, and share so honestly about your experiences too. You are a gift! ❤️
Maria--your substack is utterly wise and brilliant. Inspiring,
Beautiful, as always, Maria. I was proud to work for the company Bob Rodale built. I learned so much, gained invaluable experience and did feel good about the work I was doing.
I began my career at Rodale a few years before the industry started to implode. I wouldn't wish the role & timing you inherited on anyone. (Anyone I liked, at least😂.) I remember it well.
Rodale was a small town inside a small town; and having grown up in one of those, the energy around the time was quite similar, palpable.
I knew it wasn't roses for you or anyone within the family; but always admired the grace and devotion you carried such a responsibility with. You (collectively) served your mom, dad and J.I.'s hard work, vision and legacy very well. ❤️
I so admire your authenticity. You offer a wise perspective with food for reflection for all of us. This is a story for all families, too. I hope you decide to write that memoir!
I can only comment as an outsider because my family had no business or even a building to give me, but having worked in other people's family businesses and knowing people who run businesses, the issues here sound less about business, and more about parents needing to reframe their priorities, work-life balance, and the upbringing they want to give their children.
Ok, so this left me in tears. Bravo for finding a way to articulate what so many of us are living. 👏🏼
Thank you for sharing Maria.
I have spent my whole career dreaming of owning/ running a family business and have never been in a position to take on the risk. I appreciate your openness of the “darkside” and your appreciation of all the good you have done and do and all the lives you’ve touched. We can never really understand another’s pain without walking in their shoes but I hope you can be proud of all the good you and your family have done. You have to agree a small part of the world is a better place because of you.
Thank you for this! I was co-owner of a family garden center business for 35 years. I eventually sold it to my nephew, who's doing a fantastic job carrying it forward. Those early years (working with my dad) were tough both physically and emotionally, as we were as different as night and day, but we worked through it. I'm still processing what it took from me and what it gave me. What kept me going all those years was my love of native plants and photography. I may have even licensed a few photos to Rodale 😉. I am now retired, but I share my love of nature and native plants with other groups and still grow and maintain an extensive native plant garden at home.
This makes me so nervous that I have to reread it several times. What the he'll did you feel when you were writing this? How long did it take and how many times did you have to stop and say, I can't. For me, I feel that on paragraph two. Literally cannot finish it in one whop. I am sorry for your suffering. I can imagine.
So much to process here. I love your words and the emotion that goes with it! Let me add this... In the 1970's, my brother and I were experimenting with farming (my dad was a lawyer but had some farmland) and for whatever reason we were attached to Organic Gardening Magazine even though that was not the main messaging of that time. I ended up (in my 60's) with a progressive organic and sustainable landscape company with future endeavors into premium living soils. My brother has a winery and while not registered as organic, he uses no chemicals. And my oldest brother is a diehard personal organic gardener. This doesn't even include my 2 sisters that are avid gardeners and would never consider using a chemical. YOUR FAMILY WAS INSTRUMENTAL TO WHERE WE ARE IN LIFE! Your dad wasn't producing 2,4D, glyphosate, synthetic nitrogen, etc, etc. He was carrying through a lineage that stretched back 12,000 years of organic farmers. Sometimes we can't see the good we are doing in the world as we are caught up in our own personal story. YOU ARE PART OF THAT STORY! I have so much respect for your family as you carried through in the midst of the chemical revolution. You knew the truth (well, at least your dad knew the truth) and that has influenced millions of people just like me. My point being, don't beat yourself up. Screw the yacht! Screw the plane! Some things are much more important in life...
And, I personally agree and am thankful for this: "We employed thousands of people over the decades who made decent livings and felt part of something good. I’m incredibly grateful and proud of that."
Wow, good for you for writing this - you really got it out there and it will be helpful to many people.I do not envy you that time, though ultimately I know you have gained a lot of self-knowledge from it. And from the other side, having worked for the Taunton Press for 11 years and watched the transition from parents to kids go not so smoothly (for many of the reasons you site... the kids had lives and other interests and families of their own, what their parents did could not be repeated, and then of course a good business model didn't (entirely) hold up when the whole world of publishing changed) I can say it wasn't comfortable to be part of. I really salute you for honoring what your family did but also being honest about how cumbersome it is to maintain a family business through generations.
You are far enough away to have gained some perspective. Even when I was there, I did not envy you. I thought “it must be hard.” And now I think, you are brave to say it. When we speak the hidden truth, we are free.❤️
The bright side is, because of it, you evolved into who you are today. Someone who cares about the world, bats and other creatures. Your shamanic adventures give you deep insights to the simple wonders most people can not glimpse. We are all who we are, because life molds and shapes us to choose our parhs. Your path moving forward is something you should be proud of. Your article shows you have faced and come to grips with many of your dark internal shadows. Most people ignore them. You not only did not ignore, you courageously revealed them publically. I bet your possible next book about you growing up would make an awesome movie or documentary.
"That experience, my friends, is nothing to envy.”
it’s always amused me, how often people mind other’s “action reels,” and pay no mind to the “cutting floor.” if anyone knew your—maria’s personal—“cutting floor” trims, surely there wouldn’t be any envy.
i’m glad for your family’s next generation, that they’ll not be bound by the same generational “inheritance."
Well I’m crying...
What a beautiful piece of truth and love and encouragement. You’ll always feel like family to me, that one Aunty who introduced me to a whole different way of being. And even though it took nearly two decades for the shift to occur for me, you and your family are the ones who planted a seed that led me to a beautiful, happy, dreamlike life. A place where we have been able to heal so much of the generational and lived trauma. Thank you thank you thank you!