Last year I started working for a new client and taking a job with this group was truly a game changing decision for me.

The definition of a game changer is:  an event, idea, or procedure that affects a significant shift in the current manner of doing or thinking about something.

Working with the Unreasonable Institute was a game changer for me because it caused a significant shift in my current manner of thinking about nearly everything and how I live my life.

How can catering for a group of people change me so much?

The people who are involved with the Unreasonable Institute are good people.  Like I always tell my kids, “who you hang out with is important.”

I have never been around such a committed and positive group of people in my life.

The people who work at the Unreasonable Institute are good people, doing good things and having great success at it.  They are supportive and encouraging people who work tirelessly at the things they believe in.   Good people.  I can go on but that statement pretty much says it all.

Now, I am a much better person than I was before.  I am happier and work harder and it is all because I responded to a Craig’s List posting that I was not sure I wanted to respond to.  I did not want to take on retreat catering clients but I am sure glad I did for this group.

Here is a bit from the Unreasonable Institute website.

What is the Unreasonable Institute?

We exist to give entrepreneurs tackling the world’s greatest challenges an “unreasonable advantage.” How do we do this? Each year, we match a dozen carefully vetted ventures from around the world with 50 mentors (including the Chairman of Whole Foods, a guy who’s helped over 20 million people out of poverty, and a Time Magazine Hero of the Planet) and 100+ funders at 5-week bootcamps.

After the five weeks, we provide entrepreneurs with pro-bono executive coaches, support in sustaining their relationships with relevant mentors and funders, guidance and connections from a dedicated team whose main job is to get these ventures funded, and access to our network of 250+ partners, 100+ mentors, 250+ funders, and 82 ventures from 37 countries. Our goal is to help each of these ventures scale up to meaningfully impact the lives of over 1 million people each.

I get to cook for these people and it is the best job I have ever had.  It is a privilege and an honor to work for the Unreasonable Institute.  I am cooking for my second summer for the amazing ventures, mentors, investors and Unreasonable staff and having a blast.

My granola is popular at the Unreasonable Institute so I decided to share the recipe.

Make your own granola.  It is super simple, tasty and cheaper than store bought granola.

Make your own Tasty Granola

or

Unreasonably Easy and Tasty Granola
Ingredients

3 cups rolled oats
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup pumpkin seeds
3/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup real maple syrup
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup dried fruit like raisins or cranberries

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

Mix everything in a big bowl.

It is that simple.

Spread it out on a large cookie sheet that has been sprayed lightly with non-stick spray and bake for about 1 hour at 250 degrees.

Turn your pan around, in oven, every 20 minutes.  Stir up the granola.

Finish baking.

Feel free to get creative with your ingredients.  Add chocolate chips or make it healthier by adding hemp harts, chia seeds or flax seeds.

This picture was taken last year.  I will post some great pictures in my next post of some of the wonderful people at the Institute this year.