The Contented Cow Blog

Building Workplaces That Work

About a year and a half ago, we are all sitting around at my father’s 80th birthday party. My younger brother Mike, and his wife, Julie, told us that earlier that day, Julie had gone to an open casting event for a reality show on NBC called The Biggest Loser. She really wanted to do something to shed the extra pounds she had gained after the birth of their son, and this seemed to her a reasonable way to do it.

From 150,000 applicants for the show’s 4th season, Julie was selected to be among the 18 contestants vying for the grand prize of $250,000, and the title of The Biggest Loser.

Being away from home, filming a TV show for more than 4 months, working out 4 - 6 hours a day, living in a dorm situation with 17 strangers, competing both physically and strategically, learning a whole new lifestyle - this was a sacrifice of epic proportion for Julie, her husband, and their 6-year-old.

At Tuesday night’s live finale, my brother, nephew, mother, and members of Julie’s family and her closest friends sat in the studio audience and watched as a formerly frustrated and overweight loved one became the First Runner-Up for the title. Having officially lost 97 pounds, or about 45% of her starting body weight, Julie has made us all more proud than we can express.

Thursday night she appeared, with her fellow finalists, on Larry King Live. And next month, Julie Hadden, a stay-at-home mom who, in April of 2007, weighed 218 pounds and ate a lot of fast food, will address the United States Congress on the issues of nutrition, fitness, and childhood obesity.

Bravo Zulu, Julie. You’re our Biggest Winner, and have earned a spot among the ranks of Extra Milers in our book.

Richard Hadden is a leadership speaker, author, and consultant who helps organizations improve their business results by creating a great place to work. He and his co-author and business partner Bill Catlette, are the authors of the new book Contented Cows MOOve Faster, as well as the acclaimed business classic Contented Cows Give Better Milk. Learn more about them and their work at ContentedCows.com.

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