Work-Life Balance: Pursuing Passionate Work

Instead of trying cases, Lawyers Alice Crowe and her twin sister Alicia are holding court in farmer’s markets across the northeast. Just over a year ago they chose to follow their passion- bottling their grandmother’s hot sauce.

As intellectual-property lawyers, their career lead them into the lives of thousands of people who wanted to realize their entrepreneurial dreams. Now these twins are taking the risk and building a business around a family hot sauce recipe that’s been in the family for three generations.

They began selling Emmaline’s Hot Sauce just over a year ago and have already more than quadrupled the cases they sell. In fact, they just struck a deal with Whole Foods.

Seen here with their mom, Gwendolyn, the 41-year old twins have taken up a passionate venture that with a little determination has already been successful. Alice also says being her own boss allows her to spend more time with her two children, a better journey toward work-life balance than sitting in court all day.

I caught up with the Crowe sisters briefly while walking the tony streets of Nyack, New York. They had a secret to share which concerns distribution. For several months, Emmaline’s Hot Sauce was just selling just a few cases at a time. At a friend’s suggestion, they realized that the farmer’s market was an inexpensive way to get visibility and sell their product. It became one of their favorite workplaces; and more of a family affair.

When they put a face to their product, told their story, and shared their passion with consumers, the business really took off. It didn’t happen at a large gourmet shop, or at a store in a food chain, it happened at the farmer’s market. The place where the simplicity of human interaction, really paid off.