Work is Good…Or Can Be
Recently, I watched and shared a video featuring Life is Good cofounder, Bert Jacobs. If you’re not familiar with the company, he and his brother created this impressive business based primarily on selling tee shirts with simple messages and artwork. From the very first moment I saw their tee shirts hanging in a sports store I was smitten. The message “Life is Good” felt like a welcome reminder and healthy balancing agent.
Their slogan got me thinking about the idea of not only “life” being good, but also of “work” being good.
These two guys had obviously found a way to create a revenue-generating enterprise based on passion, fun, heart and contribution. A company that seemed to be about work and not struggle. They were clear about what they wanted, aware of their abilities, open to receiving input and guidance from others and intent on enjoying the ride. In addition, they had a larger goal than personal gain alone—the company’s gain was to be shared and extended outward.
Now, there are business folks out there that may regard such thinking as Pollyanna or do-gooder.
Many of us have become so inured to the idea of personal gain being the prominent objective of work and business that the idea of a broader perspective can seem irrational or suspect. More likely, that’s more of a conditioned perspective than an examined consideration.
When you look closely and lay the two paradigms side by side, a legitimate argument is formed for the “Life is Good” guys. Their model unites and aligns energy for the good of the company and its numerous benefactors. The traditional model oftentimes has people pulling away from one another and towards themselves. That translates into energy that is un-harnessed, chaotic and in opposition. In essence, those people are likely working for another company altogether, one called Me and Mine, Inc.
Life is good. Work is good. If not now, it can be.
It’s all in what you see and make it. Life is Good decided to make their company and the way they do business good for all concerned. Rather than remaining in their van selling tee shirts, their philosophy magnified their business into a tee shirt empire. Now, some may call their philosophy Pollyanna, but not I. I would call it nothing short of head-based, heart-based genius.
Make work good.
Discover “5 Tips” to get good going.