For many years, Cindy Zontek went through a cycle that's all too familiar: She'd starve off about 10 pounds then return to her unhealthy habits, putting the weight back on ... and then some.
The agony of those reversals went beyond vanity. As she settled into her 50s, she feared for her longevity.
Her dad endured a long, painful battle with heart disease before it took his life. That family history plus a diagnosis of high blood pressure raised her risk of heart disease. Her anxiety rose as she neared her dad's age when he suffered his first heart attack.
So Zontek wanted to try getting in shape again. Only this time, she wanted to do it in a way that would really last. As thoughts percolated over how to reboot her lifestyle, she began noticing things at work.
Like the walking path she drove by every morning -- it sure was busy. Whenever she took the stairs in her five-floor office building, others did, too. At lunch, the salad bar always had a long line. And she kept hearing about free counseling opportunities, such as a nutritionist.
Less than two years and 72 pounds later, Zontek is the person she long wanted to be. She's found a sustainable approach to healthy eating and a love of cycling. Since completing her first "century" -- a 100-mile ride -- in January, she's added a new activity: roller skating. She's hoping those wheels will help spin off another 25 pounds.
"I'm more physically fit than I've ever been," Zontek said. "I've changed my lifestyle and I know it will keep getting better and better."
As wonderful as Zontek's tale is, perhaps my favorite part is that she's just one of many success stories at her workplace, HSN, formerly known as the Home Shopping Network.
Mindy Grossman revitalized the company when she became its CEO a decade ago. Part of her transformation was investing in the health and wellness of her employees and their families. I'm proud to say that HSN has been recognized as a platinum-level Fit-Friendly Worksite by my organization, the American Heart Association.
Grossman and HSN also have been champions in the fight against heart disease and stroke through the Tampa Bay Heart Walk. Grossman chaired the event last year and turned it into the second-biggest in the country, behind only our flagship event in Dallas.
"I think Mindy has inspired us to all live a healthier life," Zontek said. "The fact she personally knows my story and encourages me every time I see her means a lot."
It is my pleasure to turn this spot over to Grossman to continue this important conversation.
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Before I took over HSN, I knew exactly how I wanted to run the company.
The foundation would be a strong culture. While you need a sound strategy, too, I learned over my years at Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Nike, that culture trumps all.
Our culture would revolve around innovation, inspiration and healthy living. Once it took root, I knew employees would believe in our values and our direction. This would generate a pride and commitment to our brand that would spread to our customers.
Then I set foot on HSN's headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida, and realized this might be tougher than I expected.
As the eighth CEO in 10 years, I inherited a workforce that was understandably skeptical about yet another new boss. The constant turnover at the top left the company's vision swirling. Even the offices were shabby.
Now, let me ask you, if the business model was flawed, workers were demoralized and the workplace was neglected, how much of a priority do you think was being placed on health and wellness?
My overhaul began with an overhaul of our main campus. We spruced up the place in a single weekend, giving buildings a good power washing and fresh paint, and replacing dilapidated furniture with quality gear, such as sleek Aeron chairs.
Keeping employees happy was one thing. Keeping them healthy was the next challenge, both from a business perspective and a human perspective. The solution was a holistic embrace of our ideals of innovation, inspiration and healthy living.
For instance:
- We phased out smoking. We banned it in our buildings, then got rid of outdoor smoking areas. Now you can't light up anywhere on our 70-acre campus, not even in your car. Having trouble quitting? We'll pay for a smoking-cessation program.
Many of these ideas come from an employee-led wellness advocacy committee. We're constantly looking for new wrinkles. One idea we're kicking around for 2017 is adding a vegetable garden.
Four years ago, another major layer in our health and wellness efforts was stepping up our relationship with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
We encourage our employees to be charitable with their time and money, and we help them do both through our support of the annual Heart Walk. Although the walk is one day in November, we spent 10 months gearing up for it.
There's a lot of fun in our fundraising, such as getting a chance to drop me into a dunk tank for a small donation during our field day. We're a competitive bunch, too. Individuals and teams see who can raise the most money and, as a company, we aim to be tops in the country. We were No. 3 last year, an impressive feat for a workforce of around 6,500.
For me, the fight against heart disease and stroke is personal.
My mother was 3 when her dad died of a heart attack. She was a teenager when her mom suffered a stroke. That stroke was so debilitating that my mom dropped out of high school to care for her. Then, when my mom was 50, she suffered a heart attack.
I was adopted, so I don't necessarily have that same genetic predisposition. But seeing the toll that cardiovascular diseases take certainly shaped me. So does the regret of knowing what a difference a healthier lifestyle would've made in the lives of the people I love.
Personally and professionally, I can't say enough about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. That's why the Heart Walk is so fantastic. You see companies and communities galvanized by a cause, with the message amplified by the size of the crowds.
To me, the core of that message is prevention. Keeping something from going wrong is much easier and better than fixing something once it's broken.
Best of all, a healthy lifestyle can be fun. Just ask Cindy Zontek.
