WASHINGTON (Aug. 7, 2015)-For over two decades, the much-loved Life is Good brand has brought smiles, hope and help to millions. Over the course of their business career, founders and brothers Bert and John Jacobs have learned that optimism isn't a marketing tactic - it's the force that drove them to overcome tremendous obstacles and build a $100 million clothing company with just $78 and a used minivan. LIFE IS GOOD: The Book: How to Live with Purpose and Enjoy the Ride (National Geographic Books; ISBN 978-1-4262-1563-6; Sept. 1, 2015; $25 hardcover) is the story of the Jacobs brothers' journey and the secrets to their success.
Beginning with their tough upbringing in working-class Boston, LIFE IS GOOD: The Book charts the trajectory of their lives and the company they built. A key influence was their mother, Joan, who could always be counted on to put a humorous and positive spin on everything. I like running out of money, she would say. Then I don't have to worry about what I need to buy. This undaunted optimism became the driving force of the Life is Good brand.
As they note in their introduction to the book, studies have demonstrated a strong link between optimism and increased mental and physical health, greater resilience in the face of stress and adversity, and a higher overall quality of life. Optimism is a powerful and pragmatic strategy for accomplishing goals and living a fulfilling life. By acknowledging obstacles and opportunities - but focusing on the opportunities - optimism enables us to explore the world with open arms and an eye toward solutions, progress and growth. It also makes life a hell of a lot more fun, they write.
LIFE IS GOOD: The Book offers lighthearted, practical self-help that will inspire and empower readers to embrace life with delight and daring. Bert and John use their experiences to illuminate the 10 Life is Good superpowers that drive optimism:
Openness is transformative, allowing us to discover new ways of being and acting by withholding judgments and preconceptions.
Courage is our inner resolve to try new things.
Simplicity sheds unnecessary complications and distractions.
Humor is a universal connector.
Gratitude is the practice of taking stock of the many things that are good, right and working in our lives.
Compassion is an act of connecting and sharing in the hard stuff, helping ease the pain, heal the hurt and right the wrongs.
Fun is the irresistible spark that connects and inspires us to feel truly united and alive.
Creativity enables us to reach beyond conventional thinking to make things better.
Authenticity is knowing who you are and acting like it.
Love is the most powerful force in the world.
About Bert and John Jacobs
In 1989, brothers Bert and John Jacobs designed their first T-shirts. They began selling their designs in the streets of Boston and out of an old van at colleges and street fairs. Today, Life is Good is a $100 million positive lifestyle brand focused on spreading the power of optimism. Ten percent of Life is Good's annual net profits go to helping kids overcome poverty, violence and illness. The Life is Good Kids Foundation partners with leading childcare organizations to positively impact the quality of care delivered to the most vulnerable children. Bert and John both reside in Boston. For more information, visit www.LifeisGood.com.
About National Geographic Books
National Geographic Books & Home Entertainment creates and distributes books, videos and other print and digital media that inform, engage and entertain diverse audiences about our world. Annually, the group publishes more than 125 new books for adults, families and kids and releases 250+ new DVDs and digital downloads of the Society's films and TV shows, and these National Geographic titles are available in more than 35 local-language editions. While special photographic and film collections, travel books, nature shows, birding guides and atlases are a core focus of the Society's products, books and videos dealing with subjects as diverse as animals, the human mind, history, world cultures and the cosmos are also produced. For more information, visit facebook.com/NatGeoBooks and nationalgeographic.com/books.
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WASHINGTON (Aug. 7, 2015)-For over two decades, the much-loved Life is Good brand has brought smiles, hope and help to millions. Over the course of their business career, founders and brothers Bert and John Jacobs have learned that optimism isn't a marketing tactic - it's the force that drove them to overcome tremendous obstacles and build a $100 million clothing company with just $78 and a used minivan. LIFE IS GOOD: The Book: How to Live with Purpose and Enjoy the Ride (National Geographic Books; ISBN 978-1-4262-1563-6; Sept. 1, 2015; $25 hardcover) is the story of the Jacobs brothers' journey and the secrets to their success.
