Why Building a Business Should Feel Like Heading Outside to Play

Growing up in the '50s, '60s, and '70s, my morning goal was simple: wake up and get outside as fast as possible. If you hung around the house, you were immediately put to work. Outside was where the freedom, the excitement, and the real adventures were happening.

When I founded CS Group, I carried that exact mindset with me. I wanted to build a business that captured that same feeling—a company where waking up every single day felt like heading out to play. Decades later, it still feels that way.

Navigating the Playground of Entrepreneurship

Building a business in the beverage industry isn't always smooth sailing. Just like playing outside as a kid, entrepreneurship comes with its fair share of unpredictable moments:

The Setbacks: Some days, you get beat up by the bully down the block. A project gets delayed, a pitch falls through, or market pressures create an uphill battle.

The Wins: Other days feel like finding a $20 bill on the sidewalk and sprinting straight to the corner drugstore for a bag full of candy. A custom formulation hits the mark, a massive sample batch turns around in record time, or a new partnership takes off.

The ups and downs are simply part of the game. The key is leaning into the ride, learning from the challenges, and constantly adapting.

Building Something Extraordinary

What started as a drive to turn work into a passion has evolved into an incredible company. Today, CS Group isn't just a custom beverage solution partner, it’s a home for an amazing team of innovators, creators, and operators who show up every day ready to bring new ideas to life.

When you love the process, the ups and downs become fuel for growth. And when you build a company culture centered around that energy, there's no limit to what you can create.