THE LOOP
Cassidy

Reputation

Reputations are important, both personally and professionally. First impressions are crucial, the promises you make matter and the expectations people have of you are important. For as true as that is individually, it's equally as true for a brand or business.
We know that it's crucial for our product to be fantastic, because that is the basis of what we do. But reputation goes far beyond the products we sell because reputation is often built and spread by the good word of the customers we serve.
Our reputation lies in the customer service calls and the no-hassle exchanges, in paying our bills on time and avoiding gimmicky marketing, in our honest, straight-forward approach with new job candidates and the relationships we have with our partners and manufacturers abroad. For those reasons, the customer who gets a belt that slips is much more likely to give us a second (or third) chance because of the reputation we've built outside of our products. 
Seth Godin gives 3 important reminders for reputation:
  1. Your reputation has as much impact on your life as what you actually do.
  2. Early assumptions about you are sticky and are difficult to change.
  3. The single best way to maintain your reputation is to do things you're proud of. Gaming goes only so far.

  

The best thing about reputation is that since ours is already great, all we have to do is keep doing what's gotten us to this point: be who we are, which is knowledgeable and kind, authentic and helpful.

 

"Be your reputation, early and often, and you're more likely to have a reputation you're glad to own."

 

Cassidy

Newton's 3rd Law

Isaac Newton's 3rd Law of Motion says that for every action there's an equal and opposite reaction. With this principle in mind, the only good thing about fear and hatred and exclusion is the equal (and oftentimes, greater) reaction of love and hope and inclusion. For every bit of negativity, fear mongering and hate of "the other", there is always a louder outpouring of love and acceptance and optimism...the saving grace that is the equal and opposite reaction.

 

If you're unfamiliar with StoryPeople, you're definitely missing out. Brian Andreas is an author and illustrator who creates fun, abstract, whimsical drawings that he pairs with thoughtful sentiments. I subscribe to his newsletter and I get one of these joyful messages in my inbox every morning. Two in particular are striking a chord with me today as I write this, and I wanted to pass it along in case it might resonate with you, too.

 

Trevor

The Common Denominator

"Focus on the similarities rather than the differences." - many people probably

Happy hump day, everyone! So today I would like us to focus on the things that make us not so different. I think it's pajama day for a reason. We need to put on our PJs, sit back, and enjoy some sugary food just like we did on Saturday mornings while watching cartoons.

 

Yes, we all know that Election Day was yesterday and things are going to change for this country. But let's not focus on who we each wanted to vote for or didn't want to vote for. Now is the time to stick together and keep on the path of determination and execution. We each bring something unique to the table, to help us all as a team. Sure, some of us may have wanted different outcomes from one another in the election, but we all have one common goal to help this company grow and stay awesome. Let's focus on the positives and keep taking care of business!