"You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world.....but it requires people to make the dream a reality."

                                                                       -Walt Disney

In this increasingly digital world where we live more and more through our screens, it is important to take the time to look up and see the real world around you. To see that there are real people around you and that it is okay to put the device in your hand away for a while, look someone in the eye and, with your undivided attention, have a real conversation. To occasionally pick up the phone and call someone instead of sending a text and to realize that posting a Happy Birthday on their Facebook page is not the same thing as telling them in person.

We are fortunate to come to work every day to an awesome company with awesome people, and in this increasingly divided and difficult world that is a rare and beautiful thing. It is natural when the news is so awful and the stories are so hard to digest, to escape into another place, but resist that urge, look up and smile at the person next to you and I bet they will likely smile back..........

Remember that while we have an incredible product, YOU are the fuel in the tank that powers this machine. Every interaction with one of our guests is an opportunity to create a customer for life, so make the most of every one.

Baton Rouge, Minnesota, Dallas, Orlando, Paris, Turkey, Baghdad and most recently Nice, France. Unfortunately, all of these cities are now have connotations that eclipse their local attractions, famous cuisine or beautiful architecture. It's no secret that, thus far, the first half of 2016 has been profoundly painful and unrelentingly heartbreaking. 

Monitoring and scrolling through social media streams is an amazing job for a Millennial...most of the time. It's the times in the aftermath of a tragedy where it's impossible to immerse myself in the work day and blissfully avoid the news of rising death counts, stories of the survivors and images of grieving friends and family.

Twitter, Facebook and Instagram feeds are littered with beautiful remembrances of lives lost and gut-wrenching reminders of a very broken world. Even still, social media or not, the reminders are ever-present in the wake of a tragedy and it's easy to be consumed with an overwhelming feeling of both hopelessness and helplessness. 

It's impossible to understand why things happen the way that they do, but I've taken solace in remembering that "the shadows prove the sunshine". Tragic loss and social injustice brings people together like nothing else can. Find the shared humanity, seek the course for change, love harder and without circumstance. Don't dwell in the darkness, seek the light as often as possible.

Happy Friday everyone!

I am commandeering the loop today to say... Mid year reviews are wrapping up today!! At this point everyone has been given their review and signed new job expectations. I would like to personally thank all of you for your patience and flexibility over the last couple months as we have worked to define everyone's position and responsibilities. It has been a little hectic at times, but you all have been great throughout this process.

Other news:

Welcome aboard Taiwan! It is official, after the recent visit we are moving our manufacturing to Taiwan. Going forward, we will no longer be manufacturing the bulk of our belts in China or India. The factory in Taiwan will be doing the bulk of our manufacturing and packaging so with everything coming from the same place! That will help streamline our processes quite a bit and increase the overall quality.

Cycling a few Loop writers! Cassidy is keeping us on our toes and mixing up the weekly Loop writers. Be on the lookout, Cassidy will be reaching out to you today if she has an assignment for you. A few current writers who have been writing the longest will be swapped out. To you, we all give a hearty THANK YOU! for your consistent motivational posts on your designated day each week. It isn't an easy task and we're grateful for your commitment. To those who will continue writing: thank you, keep it up!! To those newcomers to The Loop writing team: WELCOME! we're excited to hear from you each week.

Thanks for another great week team. Have a good weekend!