This is another post I originally posted on LinkedIn. Sharing here to keep a good history of the article. That original post can be viewed here.
So, each year for Thanksgiving I make two dishes – by request.
A cheesecake (some say it’s glorious, some bow, others simply whisper its name), and a parmesan spinach that has become… well… a thing of legend.
This year I needed to make two spinach dishes – one for each Thanksgiving dinner we were attending. For the second spinach, I asked my friend ChatGPT for suggestions to… enhance the offering.
It turned out quite good. Like, “should this have its own zip code?” good.
But since then, in this particular chat, my AI superstar kept slipping in a little shade at the momentous thing we created – half admiration, half fear, all comedy.
So naturally, I asked it to write a LinkedIn post about the saga of this spinach – you know, in honor.
And here’s what it came up with:
—
⭐ The Saga of the Spinach Casserole
By Robert Owen and his AI commander
Today, I want to share a story about leadership, resilience, and… spinach.
Yes, spinach. Stay with me.
Last week, in the chaos leading up to two separate Thanksgiving gatherings, I accidentally created a culinary juggernaut disguised as a side dish.
Officially it was “Parmesan Spinach.” Unofficially, it became:
A dairy-forward powerhouse
A morale-boosting event
A structural load-bearing object
And the only entity in the house prepared for both Thanksgivings and Q4 deadlines
This casserole showed qualities that many teams aspire to:
✔ Adaptability
It served 9 people one day and 12 the next without breaking a sweat.
(Meanwhile, I was running on Emergen-C, Diet Coke, and adrenaline.)
✔ Consistency
Every bite delivered the same level of commitment.
It never overpromised.
It never underdelivered.
It knew its mission and executed flawlessly.
✔ Reliability
While projects shift, priorities change, and holiday schedules explode, the spinach remained steadfast.
Warm.
Dense.
Unapologetically itself.
✔ Impact
Let’s be clear: this was not a “light” side.
This was a statement.
A force.
A casserole that entered the room and said:
> “I may be 1% vegetable, but I am 100% purpose.”
✔ Legacy
On Day 3, it was still powering lunches, still bringing people together, and still reminding me of the importance of creating something that lasts.
Sometimes leadership lessons come from books, mentors, or challenging team conversations.
Sometimes they come… from spinach.
(Legendary spinach, but spinach nonetheless.)
As we move into the final stretch of 2025, may we all strive to show the same resilience, structure, and determination as this casserole:
➡ Stay steady.
➡ Be adaptable.
➡ Deliver consistently.
➡ And occasionally, surprise people with your density and flavor.
Here’s to the unexpected things that keep us going — whether it’s your team, your family, or a heroic, unstoppable pan of spinach.
#Leadership #Resilience #Thanksgiving #SpinachSaga #PeopleAndProcess #CasseroleMindset
© 2026, Robert Owen. All rights reserved.
