Founder of The Life is Good Company Honor Those Who Inspire Others
More than 20 years ago, Bert and John Jacobs co-founded The Life is Good Company, a positive lifestyle brand dedicated to spreading the power of optimism and supporting kids in need. With $78 in their pockets, the brothers discovered the power of optimism and grew the company into a $100 million brand. Now Bet and John want to honor the people who inspire optimism in your life with an online campaign to support childcare professionals who help disadvantaged children.
John Jacobs discusses:
- The origins of their company and its ongoing role in supporting kids in need (From $78 and PBJ sandwiches to a $100 Million positive lifestyle brand company)
- The heroes who have inspired them by celebrating the good in life despite adversity
- Their recent book, Life is Good: The Book/How to Live with Purpose and Enjoy the Ride (stories of optimists who inspired Bert and John)
- How to honor your own “Heroes of Optimism” (For each post on http://content.lifeisgood.com/heroes-of-optimism/ honoring someone inspiring in your life, Life is Good will donate $1 to The Life is Good Kids Foundation. It partners with leading childcare organizations to positively impact the quality of care delivered to the most vulnerable children.)
About Bert Jacobs: Bert Jacobs is Co-founder and CEO (Chief Executive Optimist) of The Life is Good Company, which spreads the power of optimism through inspiring art, a passionate community, and groundbreaking nonprofit work. Bert and his brother John launched their business with $78 in their pockets, selling T-shirts in the streets of Boston. Today, Life is Good is a $100 million positive lifestyle brand sold by over 2,000 retailers across the US and Canada.
Bert worked as a ski instructor and pizza delivery guy in Vail, CO before teaming with his brother John to design and sell T-shirts in college dorms up and down the East Coast. After five years traveling in their van together, the brothers officially launched Life is Good.
Bert focuses his energy on guiding the Life is Good brand vision, and developing strategic partnerships and collaborations with organizations that extend the Life is Good brand to new product categories and customers. He enjoys live music, travel, and surfing. His shoes do not always match. To inspire others to choose optimism and grow the good in their lives, Bert and John wrote Life is Good: The Book/ How to Live with Purpose and Enjoy the Ride, published by National Geographic in September 2015.
Bert has been awarded honorary doctorates from several universities for entrepreneurship, business innovation and philanthropy. He and Life is Good have been featured on CNNMoney, CNBC’s Business Nation, ABC News’ Nightline, NBC’s The Today Show, and in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, and Men’s Health Magazine, among others.
About John Jacobs: John Jacobs is Co-founder and Chief Creative Optimist of The Life is Good Company, which spreads the power of optimism through inspiring art, a passionate community, and groundbreaking nonprofit work. John and his brother Bert launched their business with $78 in their pockets, selling T-shirts in the streets of Boston. Today, Life is Good is a $100 million positive lifestyle brand sold by over 2,000 retailers across the US and Canada.
John wrote and illustrated his first poorly spelled book at the age of five. He’s been writing and drawing ever since, graduating from the University of Massachusetts with dual degrees in English and Art. He began designing and selling T-shirts with his brother Bert during his senior year. After five years traveling in their van together, the brothers officially launched Life is Good.
When John is not creating inspiring content, he enjoys outdoor adventures with his family, awkward dancing and diving into the water to catch things.
John has been awarded honorary doctorates from several universities for entrepreneurship, business innovation and philanthropy. He and Life is Good have been featured on CNNMoney, CNBC’s Business Nation, ABC News’ Nightline, NBC’s The Today Show, and in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, and Men’s Health Magazine, among others.
Bert and John are the youngest of six siblings from Needham, MA. They credit their mother as the first powerful optimist in their lives, and the inspiration for Life is Good.
Interview time provided by The Life is Good Company
