October 27th, 2006 at 6:57 am
Life is Good, that is the name of my favorite clothing wear. I like it not just for the infectious smile of Jake (their mascot) but for the way the company started, what they give back to the community and how those three words serve as a reminder of how lucky we are compared to the millions of underprivileged/ famined people out there in the world.
If I look at my life, I am lucky… yes, I have my ups and downs but when I really look at it, it is nothing compared to those out there that don’t have food to eat, don’t have a home, have incurable diseases/ sicknesses and more.
The Life is Good company story is that of a classic rags to riches one …
In 1989, Bert and John Jacobs designed their first tee shirt and for the next 5 years, would hawk tee shirts (rather unsuccessfully) in the streets of Boston and the East Coast, selling door-to-door in college dormitories. They lived on peanut butter and jelly, slept in their van, and showered when they could. By the Fall of 1994, heading home from a long, less-than-fruitful road trip, Bert and John were desperately searching for answers to keep the dream alive. Little did they know, the only answer they needed was back in Boston, hanging up on their apartment wall. Jake’s contagious grin, simple as it was, seemed to express everything the Jacobs brothers believed in. One fateful September day, they printed up 48 Jake shirts for a local street fair in Cambridge, Massachusetts and by noontime, all 48 of those tees were gone. A star was born and they never looked back. Jake and his simple message of optimism was embraced like nothing the brothers had ever seen.
I think we can all learn from Bert and John Jacobs. The lessons learnt is that perseverance can achieve great things and one must never stop believing in their dreams. Dreams are meant to be realized and you just have to work hard to reach it. Bert and John never once stop believing that life was good no matter how unsuccessful they were.
The motto Life is Good are three simple yet strong words, it has the power to keep you going, the power to brighten your life — it is a source of inspiration and motivation. So the next time you are sad and if you think everything is crashing down on you rapidly, just remember the Bert and John Jacobs story. Remember that no matter how things are, you have to think positively and say to yourself… “Life is Good“. It certainly will be sooner or later.
Here are some letters over the years of how the The Life is Good motto and their products touched people’s lives …
Dear John and Bert,
My name is Beth and I am writing you from Ohio. I have a 12 year old daughter Meghan who has been a fan of your merchandise for several years. She got her first “Life is good” ball cap when we were on vacation near Sanibel Island FL. Meghan is quite a tomboy/outdoors lover and it became common to see her with her “Life is good” ball cap on literally during all of her waking hours in the summer months. She has a lot of ball caps but that one has always been her favorite. Little did we know at the time what a role this would play in her life.
This past August, our Meghan was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – a rare form of cancer. This was discovered during a routine physical and we were all shocked because Meghan had no outward symptoms. She had actually just helped her team to win the softball league championship game in our town just 2 weeks prior to this discovery. Needless to say this was devastating news for all of us but because of the early detection, the doctors said that Meghan had a great chance to make a full recovery. Meghan has spent the last several months going through a grueling regiment of chemotherapy. She has felt quite ill at times and has lost all of her hair. Her favorite “Life is good” hat sure came in handy – not only because she has been wearing it to cover her sweet little head but that phrase has come to mean so so so much to Meghan, to her family and our whole community through this trying time.
People took notice of Meghan’s favorite saying and not only did it inspire so many but she has received so many “life is good” hats as gifts – we must have them all! Of course her old worn one is still the one she wears most often. Her classmates would write those words on cards and posters that they sent home to her. Meghan says it best in this quote from a speech that she wrote and recently read at school to thank all of her friends and faculty for their support during this time. “One of my favorite logos has been ‘Life is good.’ After I found out that I had cancer, that saying reminded me that even though I felt sick a lot, I should still look on the bright side because things could always be worse… I would soon be better… and life would be good again.” We just received word that Meghan’s last scans were clear and that she is officially in remission. She just completed her last chemo treatment yesterday and, after a bit of recovery time, life in fact will be good again for all of us.
We have not taken many pictures during Meghan’s illness and now that we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, we took Meghan to her favorite outdoor spot the other day where a photographer friend of ours took some wonderful pictures of her. She of course insisted that she wear her hat in most of them. When we get the pictures next week I will send you one. Anyway – I know I am rambling but as we all take the time to celebrate Thanksgiving please know that your company not only makes folks feel good but it truly helped on young lady get through the toughest time of her life.
God Bless you,
Beth
Hi! My name is Lisa. On July 14th of this year (my birthday) Holly, (my best friends little sister) passed away. She, and her entire family and friends, lived by your motto…Life is Good. They all bought thousands of $’s worth of your products to show it. You see, Holly was diagnosed with cancer at a very young age (25). She battled it for 5 years, and it finally took over and she went to rest.
I just feel the need to tell you this, because it means so much to all of us to be able to hang on to her, through your products. The first year you had your Holiday/Monday Raffle, she won. She was SO excited! What did she do? Bought for other people, because that was how she was. She was definitely the most kind-hearted person you’d meet. After she passed away, there was even an article written in the newspaper about her, because she was such an amazing person…an amazing teacher to 5th graders. She touched many peoples lives in her short time on earth. After she passed away, her best friend even named her baby after her…Holly Jean. She lived in Maine, we all live in Wisconsin, so after her funeral, her family had a memorial picnic at her parents house. I just want you to know that approximately 75% of the people there had on your Life is Good t-shirts. If you didn’t already have one, you went and bought one.
I am attaching some pictures of my friends driveway. I went to your website and printed some of your logo’s. My husband and I went to pick up my girlfriend and her husband at the airport after Holly’s funeral. While we were gone, I had my kids and another one of my best friends, and her son, go to their house and draw with colored sidewalk chalk. Please look at the attached pictures to see what a wonderful job they did….and know in your hearts how much “Life Is Good” means to all of us!
Sincerely,
Lisa
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
(Links, information and letters courtesy of The Life is Good company)
8 Responses to “The power of three words”
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Angela said: @ 1:22 pm
October 27th, 2006
Powerful stuff, Foo. Thank you for sharing this today. It really helps to put things in perspective. Several years ago, I went to Mexico with my church to “build stuff” (not really a better word for it) and was absolutely amazed by the smiles, generosity and happy spirit of the people who really had nothing more than a cardboard box to live in. Happiness (and the good life) have nothing to do with our material things, and every chance we have to hug someone we love is a blessing. The “good life” is what we make it, yes?
kristarella said: @ 10:15 pm
October 27th, 2006
:D I’m not the happiest of people sometimes, I think it’s part of my nature. All the same, I could do well to remember sometimes that life is good.
BTW what happened to the links to the next and previous posts? I loved them.
Bean said: @ 12:19 am
October 28th, 2006
I’m sure you know why I love this post Foo :) Very inspiring stuff.
matt said: @ 1:56 am
October 28th, 2006
i like your ad on blogsoldiers
attracted me to your blog
http://ffnstuff.blogspot.com/
ren.kath said: @ 6:37 am
October 28th, 2006
Well, now that they’ve passed 80 million in profits are they going to spread more than good will? I love this American Dream Come True- but when I reseached now to find out if I ordered this years’ Christmas presents from them a part of the profit would go to a charity, I couldn’t find it. Am I wrong?
Am I silly for thinking that using cancer victims in their promotion would imply that they are giving to a charity? I think I’ll go surf more about them. . . I must have overlooked it? (please let me know if you know where I should look- it’s nearly November!) - thanks!
Che - Cardiff said: @ 6:40 pm
October 28th, 2006
Firstly, nice updated new BlOG design and I love the colours too! Very chirppy cheerful and inviting.
I absolutely agree with you that ‘Life is good’. We have our good health and reasonable happiness. Usually the things we tend to moan about are trivial in the big scheme of things. Maybe what we need to do is step back and look at the bigger picture. That picture is filled with images of poverty, sickness, war, famine, polictical unstabilty and AIDS. Then we look back at our lives and realise that the only things we were complaining about was that the Sunday morning’s paper delivery was late or that the kids had trodden on the beige carpet with muddy shoes!
so let’s put some things into perspective and then your ‘life will be good’.
The Foo said: @ 6:43 pm
October 28th, 2006
Angela: \”The good life is what we make it\” - i agree 100%
Kris: i am not the happiest at all times too but when i start complaining about unimportant stuff, i just have to stop back and think about all the other REALLY unfortunate people out there in the world.
Bean: Thanks Bean. Yes, I know you relate to this a lot :-)
Matt: thanks for visiting
Ren.kath: Sorry if I misled you… the letters weren\’t meant as a promotion of cancer victims per say, I just put up 2 of the most touching letters that were shown on their site. There were other ones to do with how a lady found strength after being robbed and the one about the boy finding it tough in school. Honestly, I don\’t believe that they put it up as promotion and to get more sales. Promotion is to me a very commercial word. I believe they put those letters up there to show how other people embrace those 3 words and give them strength. About them giving some of their profits to charity or cancer foundations, I am not sure - so I can\’t comment but I do know they hold many festivals and community events every year to benefit kids and adults alike where 100% of the proceeds go toward Camp Sunshine, a retreat for children and their families with life threatening illnesses.
Che: Thanks for the comment big sis! Glad you like the new look!
ren.kath said: @ 6:50 pm
October 28th, 2006
Thanks Foo- didn’t mean that question as a criticism at all, it’s just confusing. That they aren’t giving proceeds to charity doesn’t take away from the idea of what they are doing. I’m sure you’re right about the reasons for them using the letters- it would be weird for them NOT to post them. The Camp Sunshine thing sounds cool and also above the call of duty. This post and my reaction and assumptions have made me think quite a bit. Still thinking. . . Thanks- and thanks for letting me know you posted a response!