One of the information sources I use to manage this franchise business is Bicycling Magazine. I know that sounds odd, but some of the most helpful lessons I have learned came from applying something I am passionate about (cycling) to my day job. Sometimes the best information comes from just living your life and being open to learning new things everyday.
In our business, nutrition, green issues and sustainable farming practices are a big deal. The last Bicycling I read had an article on nutrition claims on food labels -- what to believe and what is junk. It was absolutely the best piece I have read on the topic and it came in a life style magazine that is not a food expert authority. It put the whole issue in terms anyone could understand. I had been struggling with a related issue for the business and this article gave me an answer. It confirmed some other answers -- "organic" means different things to different people but it is a regulated term so you can trust it, whereas words like "natural," "green," "healthy," "local" and "sustainable" are unregulated and open to interpretation -- but it pointed me in the best direction I have yet found for addressing the challenge of communicating commitment to being local, supporting sustainable food sources and being open in those efforts to be real about what we can and can't do. A bike magazine did that. For a food business veteran.
A couple of years ago, the editor of Bicycling wrote a piece for their January issue that had his list of New Year's resolutions. First one was to hold your next meeting on a bike. No advance 
notice. Walk into the room. Tell everyone to get up, go get on the bikes, take off and have the meeting on two wheels. See what you can accomplish. I have never tried that, but ever since, I have walked into every meeting and spent the first bit reading body language to see if we should "get on the bike." Many times we should and I don't. Sometimes I rearrange the room to get better dynamics. Sometimes I make us go outside. Sometimes, I leave things alone. I almost always make a conscious decision of "should we be on the bike." Meetings are better on the bike if that is where you should be.
I have access to some pretty talented food minds. Where do I get most of the recipes that my family enjoys most? Bicycling and Inside Triathlon. If I am hosting a party and want something new, I have a couple of "go to" friends, cook books and web sites that I use. But, for Wednesday night when I am whipped, need to cook for my family, and am out of ideas? I go pull out my stash of Bicycling and Inside Triathlon. Seriously. They are great sources for food and nutrition ideas.
What lessons have you applied to your business, career or life that came from your hobbies and other interests?
