Feel Good Story

One of my favorite programs on NPR is “How I Built This,” hosted by Guy Raz. Each week Guy interviews entrepreneurs and digs into their sources of inspiration, their trials and tribulations, their ups and downs, giving a unique behind the scenes look at what it takes to create a successful business from scratch.

Yesterday I listened to an interview with the guys who started the Life is Good line of products, beginning with t-shirts and expanding to other products over the past 25 years. This was Guy’s second interview with brothers Bert and John Jacobs, and it made me cry happy tears.

The focus of this particular interview was resilience. How had the brothers’ enterprise not only survived but thrived during trying times? After 9-11, their business surged. Similarly during the housing crisis in 2008 and now in the middle of a pandemic, business for Life is Good is, well, good.

The brothers ascribe their business success to what they call “rational optimism,” and to their team of artists and idea generators who have internalized the concept, and in doing so have passed it on to consumers.

Here’s the link to the broadcast: https://youtu.be/GfWMuv3jf1E I highly recommend it if you’re in need of a boost. I know it was exactly what I needed yesterday.

Oh, there’s a book, How I Built This, by Guy Raz. I just put it on my wishlist.

Peace, people.