As always, when I'm looking for Loop inspiration, my reserve of saved Seth Godin blog posts usually do the trick. In a recent post, he talks about the importance of price when it comes to commodities - we always consider price when we're buying something, but we'll never purchase something solely because of what it costs.

That means that there are two options. You can either go with Option A, where you flatly set the price for the given commodity, and that's the end of it. You're selling X item for Y price and that's it. As Seth says, "you're a commodity provider by choice, which is fine as long as you're okay with competing in a race to the bottom."

On the other hand, Option B is the tedious, difficult and occasionally risky work of earning your praise, attention and reputation by becoming more invested through storytelling. With Option B, you're moving out of the simple "commodity" space by bridging the gap between product and connection. In doing so, the product and brand earns its own space, which is defined by meaning, possibility and attachment. 

As a company, we've done this really well - much better than the brands with tacky infomercials or impersonal advertising or terrible customer service. It's why so many people are self-proclaimed lifelong SlideBelts wearers. And the best part is, those people who feel a personal connection to our brand become the best advocates we could ever ask for.

We price our products higher than most ratchet belt brands because of our patented ratchet design and our superior materials, but also because we know we have a story to tell and a unique connection to bridge with our consumers. We don't want to compete with the $20 ratchet brands of the world, because we are creating our own brand in our own space on our own level. Which means those other brands in a race for the bottom have no choice but to get on our level. *Mic Drop*

Happy Friday Crusader!

It has been a very busy week for everyone. Your sincere efforts and hard work are highly appreciated not overlooked. You should be proud of yourselves. To be a successful business, we need to connect, collaborate and delegate. Our team does just that. The strength of SlideBelts is the TEAM of people who make it happen. Keep up the good work! There is still much work ahead of us. I am very confident that we will take on the challenge and get'er done. Below are some of my favorite quotes on teamwork. Do you have a favorite quote about teamwork? Share with me and I will pass along a Kudos card.

Update on SlideBelts Movember team. The Mo Bros raised a total of $480. SlideBelts matched that amount making the total donation to the Movember Foundation $960. Thank you to everyone who participated. 

Before the backcountry comes the road; the more than likely long, grueling drive that takes you to your destination. What excites me the most about the open road is what it offers: possibilities. We plan, we map, we make decisions for this part we normally don't look forward to, but, when the rubber hits the road everything changes. At least it does for me. Maybe it's the vastness of looking at a map or the calling of a cleverly named roadside diner but there is always something that pulls me away from my ridged plans.

Many see this as a negative, a distraction from a goal. But my fondest memories have been simple distractions that have perked my attention. So, as you roll through your busy day today, look around, smell the roses, and embrace the distractions around you! Then get back on the road and suddenly the hard parts of your road will be much easier to drive through.

An unnamed lake of the 396... on of my favorite memories on the road!