One word we have been throwing around a lot lately is survival. Let’s take a step back and really think about what this word means. What is the root of its meaning? To live. To overcome. To endure.

To survive is a primal instinct. For as long as our species has been considered “modern”, we have had our shamans, medicine men, doctors, priests to aid in survival. And they have been revered because survival is important. To live. To overcome. To endure.

And so, as with everything, we had to make a TV show about it. Survivor. Where contestants have to be willing to try new things and work together to accomplish tasks.

I am excited to announce that we will be holding our very own SlideBelts Survivor Challenge! Psych. We will be holding a company outing - Painting with Rita on Tuesday, Aug. 23rd from 1-4pm! Everyone will get to paint pretty pictures, learn a new skill (maybe), push creative boundaries, and soak in the wondrousness that is spending time with one another. I hope you’re excited to live, to overcome, to endure, and to thrive.

This may or may not really be the first challenge of SlideBelts Survivor. And the winner may or may not receive a lovely necklace prize!

If anyone is unable to attend, please let me (Emmeline) know.

“Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”

"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary."

Both of these quotes are from Vince Lombardi, I couldn't pick just one. He is a huge icon in the football world, and me being a Packer fan makes it all the more special. Vince coached the Green Bay Packers and led them to 5 NFL Championships, including Super Bowls I and II.

Only two years after that, he was diagnosed with colon cancer and died ten weeks later at the age of 57. He was such a beloved icon, that thousands of people attended two separate funerals. Lombardi was then inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as well as honored by the NFL by having his name adorn the trophy awarded to the Super Bowl champion each year (the Lombardi trophy).

He possessed the key to teamwork and success, just like we do here at SlideBelts. Shortly before applying here, I visited the website and read all about the company to see what it was like. I left my previous jobs because they did not take care of the people and that is what matters. I saw the importance SlideBelts put on teamwork and that's what it takes to succeed - individuals committing to a group effort to make things happen! Keep up the good work!

Trevor N.

"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door."

                                      -Milton Berle

Last week we attended the Outdoor Retailer Show and while I was amazed at all of the products that were there to view, I was equally amazed at how many seemed to be reiterations of the same thing over and over again. Around every corner there seemed to be another SUP or kayak or hammock.

I love that although we have a phenomenal core product with our patented, high quality ratcheting belt, it wasn't enough for us. We built a new door and blew right through it by driving the concept into an area that nobody had even thought of yet with our Survival Belt. Having people constantly come into the booth, check out the belt and tell us it was the coolest thing they've seen so far was a source of great pride.

Hold on tight because unless I miss my guess, we're going to be building a lot of new doors in the future as we continue to innovate and grow - and we all get a front row seat to the show!