American Heirlooms - December 2020

American Heirlooms - December 2020

302-653-2411

DECEMBER 2020

back, modulating your effort. You stick with your 20 miles. Then you reach the Colorado high mountains and get hit by snow, wind, and temperatures below zero — and all you want to do is stay in your tent. But you get up. You get dressed. You march your 20 miles. You keep up the effort — 20 miles, 20 miles, 20 miles — then you cross into the plains, and it’s glorious springtime, and you can go 40 or 50 miles in a day. But you don’t. You sustain your pace, marching 20 miles. And eventually, you get to Maine. Now, imagine another person who starts out with you on the same day in San Diego. He gets all excited by the journey and logs 40 miles the first day. Exhausted from his first gigantic day, he wakes up to hundred- degree temperatures. He decides to hang out until the weather cools, thinking, “I’ll make it up when conditions improve.” He maintains this pattern — big days with good conditions, whining and waiting in his tent on bad days — as he moves across the western United States. Just before the Colorado high mountains, he gets a spate of great weather and he goes all out, logging 40- to 50-mile days to make up lost ground. But then he hits a huge winter storm when utterly exhausted. It nearly kills him and he hunkers down in his tent, waiting for spring. When spring finally comes, he emerges, weakened, and stumbles off toward Maine. By the time he enters Kansas City, you, with your relentless 20-mile march, have already reached the tip of Maine. You win by a huge margin. Some people believe that a world characterized by radical change and disruptive forces no longer favors those who engage in consistent 20- Mile Marching. Yet the great irony is that when we examined just this type of out-of-control, fast-paced environment, we found that every 10X company exemplified the 20-Mile March principle during the era we studied. The evidence shows the 10X companies embraced a 20-Mile March early, long before they were big companies. Furthermore, every comparison company failed to 20-Mile March with anything close to the consistency shown by the 10X cases. In fact, this is one of the strongest contrasts in our study. Having a clear 20-Mile March focuses the mind; because everyone on the team knows the markers and their importance, they can stay on track. Financial markets are out of your control. Customers are out of your control. Earthquakes are out of your control. Global competition is out of your control. Technological change is out of your control. Most everything is ultimately out of your control. But when you 20- Mile March, you have a tangible point of focus that keeps you and your team moving forward, despite confusion, uncertainty, and even chaos.

TAKING OUR GOALS ‘20 MILES’ AT A TIME

We’re seeing the sun a little less these days. Dec. 21 marks the winter solstice, during which the earth’s southernmost pole is at its closest point to the sun. Residents of the southern hemisphere will bask in the longest day of the year, while up here in the north, we experience our shortest day of light. This annual phenomenon has me thinking about the value of each day and taking it “one day at a time.” What does that really mean? How do we make each day valuable? My son, Malcolm, has been asking for a dog for quite some time now, and finally, we agreed that we could get a Siberian husky by his birthday next fall — this requires a kennel remodel. The remodel includes cleaning out junk, ripping out old insulation, framing and installing windows and doors, running a water line from the house, installing insulation and heat and air conditioning, and replacing the roof.

At face value, that’s quite the list, but it’s not impossible. In fact, it’s very doable — if we take it one step at a time.

I believe the author Jim Collins explains this much better than I could in his book “Great by Choice.” This month, I want to share excerpts from his famed theory of the “20-Mile March” to illustrate just how powerful each day can be if we consistently work toward our goals. Enjoy.

–Ethan Zimmerman

Excerpts from “Great by Choice” by Jim Collins

Imagine you’re standing with your feet in the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, California, looking inland. You’re about to embark on a three- thousand-mile walk, from San Diego to the tip of Maine. On the first day, you march 20 miles, making it out of town. On the second day, you march 20 miles. And again, on the third day, you march 20 miles, heading into the heat of the desert. It’s hot, more than a hundred degrees, and you want to rest in the cool of your tent. But you don’t. You get up and you march 20 miles. You keep the pace, 20 miles a day.

Then the weather cools, and you’re in comfortable conditions with the wind at your back, and you could go much farther. But you hold

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’Tis the season for hot beverages! Sure, Americans love coffee all year long, but as the holidays roll around, hot chocolate sales boom. There’s something satisfying about sweet, rich chocolate topped with whipped cream and marshmallows. It’s a classic combination, but who says the classics can’t be updated? Broaden your hot chocolate horizons this holiday season with some truly unique recipes!

needed burst of fruity delight, especially when you swap out the usual milk chocolate with creamy white chocolate. Toss a few raspberries on top, and you’re sure to be enchanted by the colors and the flavor. Frozen Hot Chocolate If your winter wonderland view is less than snowy, you might be craving a cooler hot chocolate beverage. It’s your standard hot chocolate recipe, but it replaces the pot and stove with some ice and a blender! Yes, you can still top it with whipped cream and sprinkles. Whether you're a casual cocoa drinker or a true chocolate connoisseur, there’s an incredible recipe waiting for you. The best part? You can keep trying different hot chocolates until you find your new favorite.

(Pro Tip: Check out a new cookbook to find your own recipe, or use these variations as inspiration for your own creations.)

Aztec Hot Chocolate This spicy drink pays homage to those original chocoholics, the Aztecs. Cacao beans are native to Mesoamerica, and the ancient Aztec loved to grind the beans and serve them in a bitter, frothy liquid. In this recipe, dark chocolate, chili pepper, and cinnamon blend into a rich treat, but you’ll also have access to a couple ingredients the Aztecs didn’t have: sugar and milk. Raspberry Hot Chocolate Tired of the dreary, gray winter weather? It sounds like you could use a dash of sweetness! Raspberry purée gives this drink a much-

Psalm 2:1-12

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that

put their trust in him. King James Version

2 • THE SWISS CRAFTSMAN

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INGREDIENTS • 2 tsp yeast • 2 1/4 cups warm water • 2 tbsp. brown sugar • 2 1/4 tsp salt • 5 cups white flour

• 1 tbsp grated orange peel • 1/2 cup craisins (or dried cranberries) • 2 quarts water • 1/3 cup brown sugar

DIRECTIONS 1. Soften yeast in warm water. Add 2 tbsp brown sugar, salt, flour, orange peel, and craisins to form dough. Knead on floured surface until dough is smooth and loses its stickiness, about 5–10 minutes. Cover and let rise until double. 2. Form into 12 balls. Place on greased surface. Let balls rest briefly, then poke thumb through the center, twirling until the hole is 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Let rest for 5 minutes. 3. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 425 F. 4. Bring water and remaining brown sugar to a boil. 5. Place several bagels at a time into the water, cooking each side for a half minute. Then place bagels on well-greased cookie sheet. Bake 20 minutes.

Photo Credit: Heather Brooke Zimmerman

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Brought to you by KCS Builders of American Heirlooms and Penns Creek Furniture 291 Blackiston Rd. • Clayton, DE 19938 Phone: (302) 653-2411 • Email: [email protected] The Swiss Craftsman

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Inside this Issue

The Power of the 20-Mile March Page 1

Unique Hot Chocolate Recipes You Need to Try

Guidance for the New Year Page 2

Your Wood Stove Can Heat Your Home and Cook Dinner!

Cranberry-Orange Bagels Page 3

Fun Activities in Warm Winter Weather Page 4

Not all winters are below freezing. Some winters just never get cold enough, and some of us live in states where a cold winter is about as likely as lighting a match underwater. Fortunately, there are still plenty of ways to have fun when it’s not quite cold outside. Wildlife Watching It may actually be a little easier to spy wildlife in their natural habitat in a barren landscape without snow to obscure your view, even if there aren’t any animal prints in the snow you can track. With fallen leaves and less vegetation on the ground, you should be able to visit a nearby nature preserve, forest, or national park and see all kinds of animals! It’ll also be more comfortable catching them at the ideal times of day: early morning or late evening. Hiking There’s nothing like a winter hike! Depending on your locale, the perfect temperature might occur in the afternoon, early in the morning, or late in the evening. The same rules apply to winter hiking as the rest of the year: Dress for the weather and take along supplies like water, a phone, extra socks, and some snacks. If you choose to go it alone, make sure you tell someone where you’re going to be hiking. Even in warmer states, it can get cold when the sun goes down, so be sure to pack enough layers!

Seasonal Activities Just because it’s not snowing doesn’t mean you can’t find plenty of seasonal activities to enjoy! This time of year, many activities are free or inexpensive, so get out there and have some fun in the warm winter weather!

4 • THE SWISS CRAFTSMAN

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