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20 FEDA News & Views W ith Pharrell's mega hit "Happy" blaring in the back- ground, FEDA President Brad Wasserstrom made his way to the podium to deliver final remarks before handing the reigns over to incoming president Brad Pierce. It was a fitting end for this year's meeting in Indian Wells, con- sidering it started with a talk on the serious business of happi- ness and rolled along with an infectious positive vibe. There was even a huge article on how to live a happy life in the Wall Street Journal the morning of Wasserstrom's address. Clearly, Convention Chair Jack Lewis and Assistant Chair Paul Parr deserve props for that. The chair and assistant chair did a great job weaving together a program rivaling the success of the 2013 meeting in San Antonio. No, there was no bull this year, but content-rich speak- ers made up for the theatrics. Popular FEDA speaker Al Bates focused on margins, assuring distributors that tripling profits was tough, but doable, if they could corral payroll expenses and strategically raise prices. Sales pro Joe Ellers challenged managers to move their sales force beyond relying on replenishment sales to grow the business. Then, best-selling author Chef Jeff Henderson tied a bow on it all with an inspiring close on the power of potential, something he knows a lifetime about having served more than 10 years in prison before hitting the reset button. "At the end of the day, it's about the gift—in your indus- try, in any industry," said Henderson. "Passion is secondary. I tell my kids all the time, 'I want to know what your gift is.' The difference between a gift and passion is a gift is something that you do at a very high level with the least amount of effort. Passion comes from the heart; it's something you love to do. So you play to your strength. You follow your gift, and if you follow your gift—the one, two or three things that define who you are—then success is almost guaranteed." Great food, gorgeous scenery and an opportunity to con- nect with the best and brightest—it's been working for FEDA for years. Enjoy the following recap of the 2014 meeting, along with a special article on how to motivate your team from keynote speaker Shawn Achor, best-selling author of The Happiness Advantage. The Business At Hand In the midst of margin challenges and fierce competition, a talk on the science of happiness might seem like an odd offer- ing, but according to keynote speaker Shawn Achor, there's a strong correlation between a positive mindset and top per- formers. And contrary to popular belief, the chicken and the egg scenario doesn't apply, insists the former Harvard teach- ing fellow. Instead, he says, the formula only works in one direction—meaning happiness must precede success. "Most people believe if they work harder, they will be more Strategies to Boost Your Bottom Line A Recap of the FEDA Annual Convention in Indian Wells Capitalizing on the optimism throughout the industry, the 2014 meeting drew a turnout of nearly 400.