How old is OLD, man?

I thought I'd been doing this for a while, but boy was I wrong... ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­   Hey Marilyn - it's Uncle Tommy... Every so often I like to "zoom out" a bit and think about "the big picture" you know? As you can imagine, I have a really great team behind me keeping things at [GetChongCBD.com]( and [Cheechandchong.com]( on the rails. (Can you imagine if running these stores was 100% in the hands of this 85-year-old stoner, man? Things would burn down faster than one of those big blunts my pal Snoop likes to smoke) But even with a great team, I do take it real seriously that it's my face and name on the jars we sell. And it's really up to me to make sure we're always doing the best by our cousins that we possibly can. So, the other day I was sitting up on my roof deck thinking, and I had the thought... "what's the oldest business in the world that's still around today? What are they doing that let them stick around so long?" Well, just for kicks, I asked Shelby if she had any guesses first... Her answer? "Probably whatever company makes your socks, Tommy" (Always a comedian, that one...) But I really wanted to find out. And after a bit of digging, I have a special message just for all of my Japanese cousins: You all know how to run a long-lasting business, man! Apparently, the oldest continuously running business in the world is a construction company called Kongo Gumi. It was established in (wait for it)... 578 AD in Osaka, Japan. It's been a private, family-run company for around 1,400 years, specializing in building Buddhist temples and shrines. After Kongo Gumi, you have FOUR more Japanese businesses - three hotels, and one paper goods company. You actually have to get to number six on the list just to find your first non-Japanese business! If you're interested in reading for yourself, [here's an article](. Looking at that list, the big realization I had (beside that I should probably take a trip to Japan) is that some things just don't change, man. Most of the longest-running businesses on this list do one of three things: - Build things - Give people a place to stay - Make alcohol Honestly, it's a pretty good business lesson, man. If you want to be around for a while, why not focus on the things that don't change instead of chasing the latest fad like so many young folks do these days. Speaking of things that don't change... I'd also argue that people have always seemed to love getting high, man. That's not just me... it's actually backed up by science. In fact, archaeologists have found evidence that all the way back around 8,000 BC (AKA - somewhere around the year my kindergarten teacher was born), people were intentionally cultivating cannabis. Back then it was primarily hemp, so it was probably for fiber and paper and other things. But by around 500 BC, we've found burial tombs that have burned marijuana in them. They think that burning marijuana 2,500 years ago was probably a funeral rite in many places... Like, you'd get stoned to mourn (I have to say, I do see the logic there having been to my fair share of funerals...). And I'm not saying this is definitely the case, but many archeologists think we started civilization itself just to ferment wheat into alcohol. Side note, did you know that wheat can [spontaneously combust and catch fire]( I also learned THAT while I was going down this big rabbit hole). I don't know about you, but reading that, I'd much rather be a pot grower than a wheat grower. The only time my pot has caught fire, it was definitely intentional man. Anyway, no real point to this email other than to share some of my musings with you, man. Some things just don't change. It's kind of a nice thought to hold on to these days when everything in the world seems to be moving a whole lot faster and crazier. I'd love to hear what you think about all of this too - just reply back and let me know your thoughts or if you have any wisdom around building something that lasts. Til next time... Keep on keepin' on, Peace and love, [Tommy Signature] Tommy Chong     [Facebook]( [Instagram]( Don't Want These Emails? All Good Man! [Unsubscribe]( Send All Love Letters & Hate Mail Here: Tommy Chong's CBD 274 S 700 W Pleasant Grove, UT 84062