GarthBox

I’m an expert in beer knowledge; a Certified Cicerone®.

Yet when I was asked how many varieties of hops there are, my guess was still short of the reality.

It’s a familiar mistake.

We assume our exposure is representative. That what we’ve seen, tasted, or experienced must be close to the full picture.

But it rarely is.

Recognizing that is the beginning of empathy. Of understanding that our lens isn’t the only lens. And opening up to that is a step toward deeper connection—with others, and with the world around us, not just with hops.

Stay Positive & There’s Probably More Than You Think

Why not both?

What does it look like to be better than your competitor?

What does it look like to be a better ally to your competitor?

The greatest brand leaders weave the two.

Stay Positive & Join Them To Beat Them

Perks are everywhere. Free lunches. Branded hoodies. A $500 gift card toward a new cordless vacuum. The kind of incentives that scream “Look how much we value you!”—but whisper very little about what your company values.

There’s a smarter, more resonant approach. One that aligns incentives with mission, industry, and the daily pulse of your work. Let’s call it centered incentives—and they’re not only more meaningful, they’re often more memorable, too.

Here’s the thing: A vacuum doesn’t inspire someone who just helped a concert venue go from spreadsheet chaos to seamless scheduling.

But a front-row ticket to that same venue? That sparks pride, belonging, and real-world perspective.

Discounts are transactional. Experiences are transformational. And yet so many companies fall back on the easiest perk to cut a check for.

With a little creativity, centered incentives don’t have to cost more—they just have to mean more.

Think:

• A brewery software team taking a curated brewery tour to taste beers made using their system.
• A sustainability platform giving team members passes to an eco-conference they helped sponsor.
• A team building risk management tools for stadiums invited to walk the control room before a major game.

These aren’t just perks. They’re touchpoints. Culture-building moments. Mini internships in the customer’s world.

Ask yourself:

• Does this perk reflect our industry?
• Will it help our team connect with our customers/clients/guests?
• Will it create a story they’ll tell next time they’re stuck on a tough project?

If the answer is yes, you’re not just rewarding your team. You’re weaving them deeper into your brand.

Stay Positive & Let’s Level Up To Centered Incentives

Everyone is in the business of ideas—no progress is made without an idea.

Everyone is in the business of relationships–connecting and supporting.

Everyone is in the business of solving problems—even if those problems haven’t been named yet.

Everyone is in the business of trust—earning it, keeping it, rebuilding it when it’s lost.

Everyone is in the business of communication—spoken, unspoken, written, visual.

Everyone is in the business of adaptation—because what worked yesterday might not tomorrow.

Everyone is in the business of time—how you use it, respect it, and give it to others.

Everyone is in the business of attention—capturing it, holding it, not wasting it.

Everyone is in the business of service—whether you’re serving a customer, a team, a mission, or a vision.

Everyone is in the business of reputation—because people talk, and they remember.

Everyone is in the business of emotion—because no decision is purely logical.

Everyone is in the business of value—not just creating it, but proving it.

Everyone is in the business of change management—because staying still is falling behind.

And if you think you’re not…You’re probably in the business of becoming irrelevant.

Stay Positive & Not So Different Afterall

More often than not, the attempt to get out in front of it is more impactful than actually succeeding.

A couple of volunteers had jumped from behind their tables when the line of people was building up too much. They grabbed their checklists and got in front of the crowd in order to spread folks out and move the line faster. It kind of worked. But what it really did was send a signal that these people care enough to get out in front of it. That emotional signal was enough to dampen the frustrations that were building with the line.

That’s about how it goes with most things. Taking the time (but more so the initiative) to get out in front of it has a positive ripple effect.

Stay Positive & What Can You Get In Front Of Today

More often than not, we’re keeping tally of the wrong things.

How many times we could label ourselves as open-minded is an interesting tally to keep today.

The number of words we listen to versus the number we speak is an interesting tally, too.

The cool part about keeping tally? Most of the time we don’t actually need to; we know what the end score card will look like.

Which is scary, of course, because then that means we need to do something about it.

Stay Positive & Best To Consider The Tallies At The Start Of The Day Rather Than The End Of It

You’re only as strong as the weakest person on your team.

The experience people have with your brand is upheld by the person you pay the least.

Your five-star dining experience can be shattered by a bathroom that hasn’t been cleaned—because the person responsible is often thought of last.

Your cutting-edge software solution still falls flat when a prospect waits three days for a reply from the overwhelmed support rep—who also happens to be the most junior person in the org.

It’s easy to champion innovation, excellence, and customer obsession.

It’s harder—but far more impactful—to champion everyone responsible for making those ideals real, especially the ones who rarely get thanked, spotlighted, or invited to strategy meetings.

Stay Positive & Focus On The Least