The Right Connection Can Change Everything

Running your own projects is tough.

You’re figuring things out as you go, second-guessing decisions, and doing the work even when no one’s watching.

That’s why I’m always inspired by people building something from the ground up. Watching others test ideas, stay consistent, and make progress—bit by bit—reminds me it’s possible.

It’s not about overnight wins. It’s about showing up, learning fast, and staying consistent.

So I want to start spotlighting others in some stories.

🌟Founder Spotlight

When Noah Rosen was in culinary school, he kept running into the same headache every young chef knows too well—cheap knives that chip, dull, and feel like they’re working against you.

Then came a random afternoon in 2017 at the International Home & Housewares Show in Chicago.

Between the flashy booths, he noticed a quiet table with handmade knives from Carole Zheng and her family’s forge in China.

They were sharp, balanced, and built for serious kitchen work.

That stop changed everything. Noah partnered with the Zheng family and launched Forge To Table right out of his dorm room. The first product was an 8-inch Gyuto made from VG10 Japanese steel with a rosewood handle—crafted for daily use, not for sitting in a display case.

Professors, classmates, and eventually working chefs started spreading the word because the knives simply performed.

This is why I think trade shows are interesting. They’re a great spot for networking and making contacts—you never know who you might bump into that can change the trajectory of your work.

For Noah, one conversation turned into a cult-favorite brand and, by 2025, a spot on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in Food & Drink. Pretty cool.

You can read the full version of the story here…

🧰 Tool of the Week

Noah’s story always comes back to the strength of connections. That first lucky meeting at a trade show changed everything for his knife company. It proved that the right conversation, at the right time, can alter the whole trajectory.

WhatsApp makes that lesson practical.

It’s the app that turned into a global standard for communication—simple, fast, and secure.

From day one in 2009, its promise has been stability. And that’s exactly what matters most when your business depends on staying connected.

For us, it’s even closer to home: this is our team’s main communication tool.

Here’s why it’s worth leaning on—especially when consistency in communication is the difference between momentum and missteps:

• Always On
  Text, voice, or video—it all works smoothly across mobile and desktop. No outages, no scrambling for backups.

• Groups That Work
  Team chats, project threads, broadcast channels—it keeps everyone aligned without clogging inboxes.

• Secure By Design
  Every message and call is locked with end-to-end encryption. Confidential stays confidential.

• Multi-Device Support
  Run the same account on up to four devices at once. Perfect when you’re juggling laptop, phone, and tablet.

• Global by Default
  Cross borders without extra costs. A team member in another country is just as close as one down the street.

The lesson is simple: when your communication is stable, your foundation is stable.

WhatsApp might be the quiet tool that keeps everything else moving—strong enough to carry the weight of your business conversations.

Strong networks don’t happen by accident—they’re built on clear, steady communication.

Keep investing in the tools and habits that strengthen those ties, because the right connection can change everything.

See you next week!