Why the Janitor Belongs in the Boardroom

The brilliance of my Trash Can Lasagna didn’t come from the “star” ingredients. It came from the overlooked ones—like that spoonful of leftover mac ’n cheese or the micro-kale waiting quietly in the fridge.
 
And that’s when the metaphor hit with full force:
Your janitor, receptionist, security guard, maintenance tech—these are your overlooked ingredients.
They see everything.
They hear everything.
They know what executives only guess at or hire Wall Street analysts to tell them.
An analyst can chart trends.
But your front-line people?
They can chart truth.
 
They know if employees feel supported.
They know if customers feel valued.
They know what the lunchroom conversations sound like.
They know where friction lives before it becomes fire.
 
Leadership lesson #2:
Bring your overlooked people to the strategy table. Their insights are your competitive advantage.

Listen Deeply,
Sam The Lasagna Lady®​