‘LIFE IS GOOD: THE BOOK’ How the Jacobs Brothers Used the Power of Optimism to Build Their $100 Million Business
These days, it’s difficult to walk down a busy street without seeing a stranger wearing a Life Is Good® T-shirt. While Jake, the optimistic star cartoon with the tiny glasses and huge grin featured on their merchandise, is easily recognizable now, that wasn’t always the case. In 1989, Bert and John Jacobs designed their first T-shirt. They hopped in their van and peddled their design through the streets of Boston and up and down the east coast for five years, but they couldn’t seem to find many buyers. Desperately hoping to find a way to make their dream a reality, the brothers had returned to their apartment in Boston when inspiration hit them. They realized that their drawing of a happy cartoon (who would soon become Jake) hanging on their wall symbolized all the optimism they wanted to express in their brand. As the saying goes, the rest is history. From selling T-shirts out of their van to heading a successful $100 million business, Bert and John were forced to learn a lot about the industry through trial and error. With demand skyrocketing, the brothers had to legitimize their company by hiring employees just to keep up.
Then, to keep the business growing, they had to find a way to keep their employees content and motivated. In 2015, they released “Life Is Good: The Book; How to Live with Purpose and Enjoy the Ride,” an inspiring treatise filled with the wisdom and lessons they’ve learned on their journey to success. Throughout the book, the brothers illuminate ten key “superpowers” which serve as their company’s core values. They also explain how they managed to stay true to their original mission and focus on the importance of optimism, all while overcoming obstacles and taking advantage of opportunities. These are the same challenges facing EMS leaders today. The Jacobs brothers’ ability to maintain their original vision while growing their business to offer more than 900 different items across 14 categories in 4,500 retail stores in the US and in 30 countries worldwide is what keeps their employees engaged and makes their company an enduring inspiration. You can get your own copy of Bert and John’s book through Amazon or by going to their website: LifeIsGood.com.
A Health and Wellness Program Tailored to You HEALTHYRESPONDERS.COM: COMING JULY 2019!
I have a serious question for all emergency responders. With the hectic hours your jobs demand of you, do you feel like you are able to make your health a primary concern? My guess is that, for most people, the answer is “not as much as I need to.” It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? Being an emergency responder means that you’re constantly focused on the health and welfare of others, but schedules associated with the job often mean that you’re awake when everyone else is asleep. Any time you can set aside to account for your own exercise and diet regimen is awkward, and consulting experts (nutritionists, exercise therapists, personal trainers, etc.) is often tricky with your odd work hours. For more than 30 years, The Holdsworth Group has been helping leaders build healthy organizations. Now, because we also believe that being healthy on the job is the best way to have a long and healthy career, I’m excited
to announce our partnership with Virtual Health Partners and our new program coming
partnership with Virtual Health Partners, you can get real live feedback 24/7. This program will give you the ability to consult with nutritionists, learn from exercise class leaders, and you’ll have nutritional guides, exercise plans, recipes, and your own personal tracker all in one convenient location: your pocket. Taking your own health into consideration while on shift can be extremely difficult. But it doesn’t have to be anymore. In emergency services we often have hours of boredom followed by having to spring into immediate action. These adrenaline rushes are hard on the body, so you need to make your own health a priority in order to stay on top of your game. Keep an eye out for more information about HealthyResponders.com, but if you have any questions in the meantime, don’t hesitate to give me a call!
July 2019: HealthResponders.com! HealthyResponders.com is tailored
specifically to the first responder community and offers all responders access to information that can help them lead longer, healthier lives. The most important aspect of this program is the associated phone app, which allows each individual responder to connect with a nutritionist who can help them build delicious recipes and find sustainable snacks they can take with them on the job. It also offers each user access to ample exercise programs depending on their personal goals. You can even sign up to take exercise classes with a fitness instructor live, or you can participate in the classes at your own pace. There are three different types of programs you can choose from, but the best part of all three is that since the app is based on a
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