More than business and beer.

Zumiez invites company founders to come to Colorado for their annual “100k” event, which honors the top employees from their stores across America. TWLOHA shirts are sold in Zumiez stores and i was thrilled to get the invite as the event has a ton of history and attending would mean the chance to thank the Zumiez folks for their support and also to be in the room with some of the most influential people in the industry i grew up with (surf and skate).

But the last few weeks have been hard and as the date got closer, i was dreading it. i just wanted to stay home and lay in bed and not talk to anyone. i am a person who struggles with depression and some things have happened recently and it’s made for a tough few weeks.

One of the things the Zumiez 100k event is known for is amazing athletes. The best of the best in skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing make their way to Colorado each January to attend. So i asked my friend C.J. Hobgood if he might want to come along to represent TWLOHA. C.J. is one of my best friends and he also happens to be one of the best surfers in the world. More than anything, if i’m honest, it meant that i wouldn’t have to go alone. i invited my sister Emily as well, for the same reason. We flew to Denver two days ago and made our way to Keystone.

Midway through the event last night, all of the founders in attendance were invited to the stage to say a few words. i was in the mix with the guys who started DC Shoes and Vans and Element and a bunch of other great brands. i was standing next to Shepard Fairey from Obey. (The Obama “Hope” poster, Shepard came up with that). i felt like a kid on the first day of school, knowing hardly anyone and not wanting to screw up and hoping people would like me.

The speeches mostly fell into two categories. 

1: “Thanks so much for selling our stuff.”

2. “How the F*** are you guys? Anyone excited to party?!!!” (These generate lots of cheering)

Standing on that stage, it was a special moment for me. i worked in a surf shop in high school and then i worked for Quiksilver and Hurley after that. My Hurley job was a dream come true after growing up in love with the surf industry. But i walked away from it as TWLOHA began to take off, because TWLOHA felt too special to walk away from.

So it was quite a surprise, a little more than four years later, to find myself on stage with the captains of my favorite industry. And suddenly, it hit me: i have something to say. i shouldn’t be nervous. i shouldn’t be initimidated. i have something to say and i believe it with everything in me. That’s what TWLOHA exists for. To talk about the things that need to be talked about. To use words to communicate to people that they matter, that they are not alone, that their life is worth fighting for, that hope is real. We believe that words are powerful. The hearts that beat inside us, they ask for more than business and beer.

The microphone came to me and i did my best to speak to deeper things, to how and why TWLOHA exists, what we want people to know and what the support of the folks in the room allows us to do. i closed with thanking them in advance for a day they’re making possible, a day coming soon when we’ll be able to say we’ve given one million dollars to treatment and recovery.

Backstage, i ran into folks i used to work with at Quiksilver and Hurley. Some of them knew about TWLOHA and some of them didn’t. It was great to see old friends and it was significant to reflect on my story, on all the years before TWLOHA, all the days that lead to now.

But the highlights rarely happen backstage. It’s the folks who fill the room that make the night. And my night was made after the event, as more than 1500 Zumiez employees gathered for the after party, this night to celebrate their hard work. It was a sea of people but one by one, the sea surprised me. People stopped me with the kindest words…

“Thank you for doing what you do.”

“When people come in our stores, i love telling them about TWLOHA.”

“Your organization saved my sister’s life.”

i was blown away. i used to think of Zumiez as a chain of stores that sold our shirts. After last night, i know that it’s the people that make the place. A store is walls and racks and clothes. It’s the people that make it something special. And last night, i was completely shocked by how much these folks care, by what our message means to them, by what it adds to their day – the chance to sell something that connects with their story or the story of someone they love.

Forgive me for rambling. i want to do a better job this year of bringing you guys along for the ride. i feel like i did that early on and then i got away from it… So this was my trip to Colorado. i didn’t want to come and now i’m glad that i came. For too long now, i’ve been freaked out about everything missing, about the people not in the room. Last night reminded me to focus on the people who are. It is a privilege to do a job that i believe in, to be part of a story that is so much bigger than me. Thank you to the kind folks from all across America who reminded me last night. Thanks for your kindness and your caring and your support. Thanks for using your voices. And thanks for reminding me of my own.

We’re all in this together.

Peace to you tonight.
jamie