4,000 Days of Heart Leadership
I’m on Spring Break with my family this week. Enjoy a guest MIBE Message from Jason Sutton, our Director of Operations at Footers Catering. Jason was also named ICA Chef of the year by the International Caterers Association in 2024. I’m incredibly proud of his growth and development as a leader in the time he’s been part of our team!
-Anthony
A few weeks ago, I found myself in a debate with my daughter over how many days it has been since she was born. “10,000!”, “50,000!” she confidently told me not realizing as an 8-year-old her math was a little off. We quickly grabbed the computer and began to enter different dates into a calendar calculator we found online. One date that we popped in was April 1st 2014, the day I began with Footers Catering and we realized I was about to celebrate my 4,000th day with the company, a place that has shaped me as a chef, a leader, and a person. What started as a passion for food quickly became a deeper journey into heart leadership, culture, and the power of serving others, not just on the plate, but in life.
Looking back, I realize there are lessons I wish I could have shared with my past self along the way. This milestone has given me a moment to reflect on the advice I would have offered at different stages of my journey:
Day 1,000: Embrace the Hard Days
12/25/2016
A thousand days in, I was still learning what it meant to be a leader. I thought leadership was about having the answers. I was wrong. It’s about asking the right questions, listening, and standing strong in the tough moments. The long hours, the unexpected challenges, they weren’t obstacles; they were the training ground. I’d go back and tell myself: “Lead out of passion and love. Be a facilitator of change and lean into discomfort. Encourage positivity.”
Day 2,000: Lead with Heart, Not Just Hustle
9/21/2019
By day 2,000, I was fully immersed in the grind. I had the skills, the experience, and the relentless work ethic. But I realized that leadership isn’t just about doing the work, it’s about empowering others to rise with you. True leadership isn’t measured by how hard you push yourself, but by how well you inspire those around you to push forward together. I’d remind myself: “Work with the team, so I can work better for the team. My teammate’s success drives my success. Build a team that believes in something bigger than themselves.”
Day 3,000: Elevate Others & Lead with Purpose
6/17/2022
At this point, I had shifted from executing at a high level to helping others do the same. Letting go of control wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. I learned that leadership isn’t about doing it all yourself, it’s about building others up so they can thrive. I’d tell myself: “I know the path to success, I can walk that path and then I can show others how to follow and live in that success.”
Day 4,000: Keep Pushing for Greatness
3/13/2025
Now, as day 4,000 passed this week, I can say with certainty that leading with your heart is what has gotten me to this point. It’s not about the titles or awards along the way—it’s about impact. If this journey has taught me anything, it’s that success is never achieved alone. The true reward lies in seeing others grow, thrive, and become heart leaders themselves.
As I look ahead towards another 1,000 days my purpose continues to be the same; to inspire, uplift, and create a lasting impact for years to come.
