Backcountry’s Post

Last year, after visiting my team in Argentina for our Christmas party, Devin and I headed to Patagonia for the weekend to hike Fitz Roy (it's the mountain range in the Patagonia logo). Right before we left for Patagonia, I lightly tweaked my ankle in Buenos Aires. The injury was not too severe. I didn't think anything of it. Before doing our big, 16 mile hike. Our guide recommended we do a smaller "test hike." Little did we know, that test hike was a 12 mile route! By the end of the "test hike", my ankle was destroyed. That meant, I had to do the real hike, the 16 mile hike, with a truly injured ankle. It took us 14 hours to complete and I walked with a heavy limp the entire time. Devin was an absolute rockstar and supported over half my body weight for at least 10 of those 16 miles. It was painful. It was grueling. But it was also a once in a lifetime experience and I would not change it for the world. That being said... I would do things a bit differently. If you're planning on climbing mountains🏔 - figurative or literal 👉 Verify your route before beginning your journey. Don't just trust those who have done it before you. Make sure that is the right path for YOU. 👉 Don't burn yourself out in the preparation phase. 👉 Make sure the people around you can support you when you need it. #motivation #entrepreneur #journey

Think about it: — Are you buying a jacket, or the warmth and comfort it brings as you trek through the snow? — Are you buying an ice chest, or the memories of camping adventures with friends that come with it? — Are you buying shoes, or the journey and excitement of where those shoes will take you?   At the end of the day, your customers aren’t just buying products—they’re buying the experience and emotions behind them. They’re investing in the outcome.   To resonate with your audience, position your product or service to sell that experience. Connect with your customers on an emotional level through your brand story and the unique personality you bring. That’s how lasting brands are built.   Sell the experience, not just the product. 💡       #lexington #lexingtoncompany #lexingtonma #lexingtonmarket #lexingtonmassachusetts #lexingtonmass #newengland #newenglander #lexingtonliving #lexingtonlivingmagazine #massachusetts #bostonmassachusetts #massachusettssmallbusiness

The origins of what us now understood as GorpCore can be traced back to the Italian football terraces of the early eighties and the subsequent adoption of a more utilitarian look in the UK. Technical/practical garments have always held a particular fascination for designers and fashionistas alike …most modern fashion clothing come to that has its origin to some degree in the military/workwear aesthetic dating back centuries. The 80s however produced a more focused street wear based aesthetic which in the UK was most associated with the likes of Berghaus and Sprayway …following on as it from the previous decades interest in technical sportswear. The present preoccupation with the outdoor aesthetic, be it the pared back utilitarianism of Arcteryx or TNF (not to mention a clutch of wonderful Japanese labels) or the hipster chic of heritage based brands such as Patagonia and Fjallraven, has blurred the lines between function and fashion/lifestyle to an unprecedented degree and to the huge benefit of both categories which are now seen as pretty much interchangeable. As to where it’s heading…well the outdoor DNA is so firmly embedded in lifestyle fashion that there is no other game in town …streetwear presents a different challenge of course. Having had a foot in all of the aforementioned camps at retail over many years I and many others are indebted to the GorpCore phenomenon in a big way…

Patagonia 30-Day Escape 12 of 15 Takeaways 12. EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED And the unexpected can be so good. I went to Patagonia to see Torres Del Paine. That's the highlight. That's why many of us make the journey. The morning of the hike, I woke at 6am to start earlier than all the hikers coming on buses at 8am. It worked. I hiked 12 miles round trip, with mile 5-7 being straight up and then back down through a boulder landslide. Then around the turn and here's the most majestic moving experience in my life. I expected it. I had seen the photos. But reality, in person, was so much better. There was no way to "expect" to be moved that much. In the long run, because of compounding, we often blow away our own expectations for ourselves. We can be and often become, so much more. ✅ Be open to blowing away your own expectations for yourself. ✅ Look for and celebrate unexpected positive surprises. ✅ Know that unexpected doesn't mean negative. How do you approach the unexpected? #management #entrepreneurship #inspiration

Patagonia 30-Day Escape 10 of 15 Takeaways 10. PERSPECTIVE IS KEY Perito Moreno, is one of the most famous glaciers in the world. From a distance, it looks peaceful. While it looks stable, it is moving fast. It advances at 2 meters per day! And those "small" surface cracks are massive deep crevasses where you can fall to your death. In business, question your assumptions, and change your perspective. ✅ Salary seems stable until mass large company layoffs. ✅ Taking equity seems risky until the company is bought out and your future includes years of freedom to do what you want. ✅ When looking at both risk and reward, be sure to change your perspective, zoom in, zoom out, multiple times before making a final judgment. How do you change your perspective? #management #entrepreneurship #inspiration

Patagonia 30-Day Escape 12 of 15 Takeaways 12. EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED And the unexpected can be so good. I went to Patagonia to see Torres Del Paine. That's the highlight. That's why many of us make the journey. The morning of the hike, I woke at 6am to start earlier than all the hikers coming on buses at 8am. It worked. I hiked 12 miles round trip, with mile 5-7 being straight up and then back down through a boulder landslide. Then around the turn and here's the most majestic moving experience in my life. I expected it. I had seen the photos. But reality, in person, was so much better. There was no way to "expect" to be moved that much. In the long run, because of compounding, we often blow away our own expectations for ourselves. We can be and often become, so much more. ✅ Be open to blowing away your own expectations for yourself. ✅ Look for and celebrate unexpected positive surprises. ✅ Know that unexpected doesn't mean negative. How do you approach the unexpected? #management #entrepreneurship #inspiration

Happy Thursday! This month's Employee Spotlight is showcasing the one-and-only Alex Jump! 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘾𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩? A little over 2 years. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙟𝙤𝙗? Being honest with customers and helping them find the best solution for their business. 𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙙 𝙤𝙛? Achieving ClearConnect's President's Club twice! 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙗𝙗𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠? Working on the house, off-roading, camping, and hiking. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪? Early in my sales career I was responsible for over $1 million in sales of Cutco knives.

Patagonia 30-Day Escape: 2 of 15 Takeaways 2. POWER OF NATURE (for business and life) I mentioned in yesterday's post that Patagonia moved two CEOs to merge their companies. Being in Patagonia moved me. I thought about my purpose: ✅ Helping people move from salary to equity (FREEDOM) ✅ Being the all-important BELIEF CAPITAL for those in transition ✅ Showing how to build wealth by combining your career and investing strategies (instead of keeping them separate) The sheer awesome beauty of nature (combined with no cell service or internet) forced me to refocus on what matters in my work and life. How has nature moved you? #enterpreneurship #motivation #wealth

This weekend, while I was camping, it struck me how similar it is to navigating the competitive world of CPG. Just like preparing for a camping trip, successful brand growth requires strategic planning and an in-depth understanding of the landscape. Adaptability is key, whether adjusting to sudden weather changes in the wild or shifting market trends. Building a campfire is much like igniting consumer interest: it starts with the right spark and sustained effort to turn a small flame into a roaring fire. Just as we leave no trace in nature, in CPG, we strive for sustainable practices that respect our environment and resources. So, whether you're pitching a tent or pitching a product, the core skills overlap more than you'd think. And if you're curious about products that embody this spirit of adventure and excellence, follow HeyBode products! #Sales #CPG #BrandGrowth #Sustainability #HeyBode

If you're planning a trip to Lake Tahoe, bookmark my latest article for 7x7 about things to do in Tahoe in winter. https://lnkd.in/g99X-Z-F #tahoe #laketahoe #winteractivities