“Tell me something good that happened today.” ICMA’s Celebration of Service keynote speaker John Jacobs, co-founder and “chief creative optimist” of the Life is good!® Company, credits his mother with changing his outlook to one that sees that life is good. What you focus on will grow, explained Jacobs, so focus on the good. Jacobs talked about the history of the company. He and his brother wanted to combine art and business. When you try, he said, you either succeed or you learn. Both are good outcomes. He talked about the importance of listening to feedback as the company evolved. For Jacobs and his brother, the feedback made them smarter. They were selling tee-shirts without much success at a time when  media messages were negative. News stories were about violence and negativity.

The Jacobs brothers decided they wanted a different message, one that reflected their core values—simplicity, humor, and optimism. They developed tee-shirts with graphics representing that optimistic outlook. At one event, they displayed a number of different tee-shirts, and everyone gravitated to the one with a “Life is good” graphic. People wanted to celebrate the goodness.

Customers also helped identify core values, or “super powers,” as Jacobs and his brother called them. (“More fun to say than core values!”) “Gratitude” is one their favorite super powers. Rather than complaining that they “had to” work late, they were grateful that they “got to” work late. Rather than “having” to go to the grocery store, they “got” to go to the grocery store. Imagine “getting” to go to a staff meeting or “getting” to go to a town meeting. It changes the experience.

The company leaders wanted to determine how they could make life better for others. They raised money for kids at their first festival. Eventually they established a foundation to help kids overcome violence, poverty, and illness. They developed festivals for fundraising rather than using races or other competitive sports that not everyone can enjoy. Festivals are for everyone. Just show up! They have raised millions of dollars for the foundation.

The mission of Life is good!® is its positive purpose--to spread the power of optimism. Jacobs encouraged managers to identify the positive purpose in their jobs. If you understand the why, the work is easier; decisions are easier. Figure out how to make people involved. Citizens will gravitate toward the positive and focus on the good.

Together local government professionals and citizens can ensure that Life is good.

ICMA thanks Strategic Partner ICMA-RC for its sponsorship of the Celebration of Service.