This is the first year since our kids had a “Spring Break” that we haven’t headed south for two weeks to the Florida Keys. This year, our business was too…well, busy. So, we decided to stay home and play Atlanta tourist with the grandparents (and work in between the attractions).

We’ve been to a sheepherding trial (so little Remi could check out her extended family), Stone Mountain, the jumpy place, Six Flags, local playgrounds, All Fired Up (to paint our own pottery and do a little glasswork), and Medieval Times. And late tomorrow we’re headed out to Lazy D Farms in Ball Ground to step back in time and just enjoy “life on the farm”. <And in the midst of that, we’ve wrapped a van, a Transit, and a utility truck, finalized our designs for next week, printed this weekend’s box truck, color proofed three jobs, and sent out some fleet decals. You can have a LOT of fun owning your own business, but you have to be willing to put in the work to make it happen.>

Something exciting is happening tomorrow (Saturday, 4/9) in downtown Atlanta that we’re really looking forward to…something that might not have made it to your radar screen yet. If you have kiddos in your house, you’ll want to hear about this, and maybe adjust your plans accordingly!

Part of owning a “cool” business like ours is that we occasionally are involved in awesome events or activities, just by virtue of wrapping a vehicle. And today we get to share with you, so you can finish your Spring Break with something you just CAN’T see everyday…

It’s opening weekend for the Braves and they’re going to have some special guests helping them kick the season off. Tomorrow, April 9, the 2011 Webkinz Road Trip (follow them on Twitter!) starts…right here in Atlanta with the Braves! If you want to be among the first to see the tour hit the road, head out to Turner Field tomorrow from 10-1. They’ll be set up at the brick pavers in front of the stadium. You do not have to have a game ticket to participate, but I’m guessing you will have to pay for parking.

The Webkinz interactive experience will feature lots of favorites from last year like Wheel of WOW, Zum Toss, and the Jellybean Challenge…and some new activities too like a dance contest, hula-hoop contest, and trivia challenge…and don’t forget, lots of cool Webkinz prizes <and a really fantastic Webkinz van that some really awesome folks wrapped>!

And in case you want to head out to the ball game, it starts at 1:10, Braves vs. Phillies (and it’s Ultimate Kids Day with tons of activities like running the bases, free games in Scouts Alley and more!).

What are you doing to finish up your Spring Break?

In an unassuming part of town, in what seems from the outside an unassuming building, there is a team of individuals quite literally changing the world. You would probably drive right by the LIVESTRONG building if you weren’t looking for it. And that’s probably what makes it so appealing. But once you enter, there is an energy that can’t be denied. Though I’m sure there are mundane tasks being handled in some corner of the place, it seems as though everyone there has a finger on the pulse of cancer survivors … and is actually making a difference in that very moment.

It was a strange set of circumstances that brought us to LIVESTRONG‘s doorstep on Tuesday morning…interestingly, during the same week as World Cancer Day, LIVESTRONG‘s first “State of the Foundation” address and on the same day as Lance Armstrong Foundation CEO Doug Ulman’s 10 year anniversary. A FIJI fraternity brother serving in Iraq, Dave Larsen, met Lance and Doug on their USO tour in December. Still don’t really understand the course of events, but somehow Dave told the team about John, our story, and Stick It 2 Cancer. A few weeks later, we received an envelope. Inside was a picture of Dave and Lance, and Doug’s business card.

Hmmm, what to do with this? John decided to send an email on New Year’s. Surprisingly, Doug responded the same day. Thus began an electronic conversation that eventually led to Doug suggesting that we meet with Heidi Adams, Senior Director of Engagement and Grassroots Involvement for LIVESTRONG.

Why did we go?

If you haven’t yet, read John’s email on New Year’s. You’ll learn the personal inspiration Lance was for John…not just in fighting cancer, but in fighting for the cure. In sharing our upcoming trip with a few folks last week, you guys wanted to know what we expected from our meeting. The truth is, we didn’t have any expectations. We just knew that a once in a lifetime opportunity to sit down with people who are real live heroes had presented itself and we weren’t going to turn it down.

What did we learn?

First off, LIVESTRONG is about partnerships <OK, we knew that>. In fact, they are the lifeblood of the organization. And I don’t mean in a “you’re our partner because you gave money” sort of way <though those kinds of partners aren’t bad either>…true partners…in every facet of what they do. From empowering volunteers to create their own LIVESTRONG events, to working alongside groups that some might see as competing organizations (just this week at the LIVESTRONG Assembly, Doug said “We don’t approach this as a competitive game. The thing we’re fighting against is CANCER.”), to mobilizing entire governments, LIVESTRONG creates meaningful, strategic partnerships. Even with its magnanimous reach, LIVESTRONG realizes that they cannot do it all. And real change comes from engaging people…to PARTNER in support of the mission. That resonates with us in a big way.

If you’re reading this, my guess is you probably know about Stick It 2 Cancer. The awareness and solidarity created…as well as the $35,000 for cancer research raised in last year’s campaign is owed completely to our partners…from businesses who took a personal interest in the cause to Facebook fans to walk team members.

Outside of our involvement with LLS’s Light the Night event to find the cure for cancer, we have a few big ideas for cancer survivors (that’s a whole other blog post …or 10). These ideas (or just one of them!) may take years…even decades…to come into existence, or maybe they’ll remain pipe dreams. Only time will tell. But we wanted to talk to someone, someone who had seen ideas come and go for this population, someone who had created something meaningful, someone like Planet Cancer and LIVESTRONG‘s Heidi Adams.

Our conversation with Heidi ran the gamut from our idea to help kids who beat cancer to discussing our own kids dealing with John’s cancer to how to balance life, work, and giving. Heidi is an amazing person and what she has created for young adult cancer patients in planetcancer.com is invaluable <we went there for information and encouragement when John was in treatment>. And, of course, in the spirit of partnerships, LIVESTRONG saw the amazing work she was doing and wanted to get onboard.

We met Doug ..he delayed an interview to talk to us…just to chat. Incredibly down-to-earth and easy to talk to, Doug is definitely one of our real life heroes. Like Heidi, Doug wanted to DO SOMETHING and started his own nonprofit, started it way before his involvement with the yellow-banded crew, the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. We are still humbled by the fact that he reached out to us, regardless of the fact that our efforts last year had nothing to do with LIVESTRONG‘s bottom line.

And that’s typical of the personality of LIVESTRONG. It’s about people, not press (of course, doing the right things naturally leads to press). It’s about the shared mission, not the organization whose banner you’re flying. It’s about results, of course, but also the process of getting those results…and making sure the people driving those results are happy and enjoying their own journey.

We also had the pleasure of meeting Brooke…she’s the voice of @LIVESTRONG and the LIVESTRONG facebook page and usually writes the LIVESTRONG blog. What a strong, dynamic woman who juggles so many balls at once. Brooke came to find us because our friend Tom Martin saw John’s post about the World Cancer Day Quiz, took it, then tweeted LIVESTRONG to find out how he could help. He happened to mention that his friends were in the building…the power of social media…from more than 800 miles away.

Robert gave us the tour of headquarters <the passion he has for the cause is evident in the way he speaks of each memento on the tour>. The art there is amazing…and I probably only captured 50% of it. But even more impressive is the engineering of the building to be energy smart and eco-friendly. I can see how it would be very easy to love working there…and of course, that’s the point.

LIVESTRONG in person is even more genuine than the LIVESTRONG you see online and on television. Serving 12 million cancer survivors who fought and won…and the 1.4 million who will begin the fight this year, and encouraging the use of intelligent resources to research wisely and collaborate effectively to find a cure and reduce the $228 billion that cancer cost our country annually, LIVESTRONG links arms with PARTNERS to honor the fight…and change the world.

After our visit, we are inspired, impressed…and validated. Real people…just like you …and us…are changing the world.

And as we celebrate World Cancer Day 2011 today, our vision for our family, In-Depth Wraps, and Stick It 2 Cancer … remains one of partnership. Together, we can change the world. How are you partnering to change the world?

In my last blog, we began talking about what creates loyalty…what makes you return to businesses again and again?

In examining other companies I feel strong loyalty towards, one that immediately jumps out is my printer. Way back in 1999, before we even opened In-Depth, I met Derek Brooks of Brandywine Printing. Derek and his father opened Brandywine in Alpharetta and the company I worked for at the time was close by. Brandywine printed our cards and stationery, and helped out many of our clients. I lost touch with Derek when I left the company and we opened In-Depth in Woodstock.

Fast forward several years. We relocated our family and business closer to Cumming and by chance, I ran into Derek at an after hours Chamber event. Without missing a beat, we started talking like old times and I came away from the event with a renewed friendship. Derek is one of those people in life that I just truly enjoy being around.

Through Torri’s involvement in the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce and their SCORE group, she has been able to spend a good bit of time with Derek and immediately developed the same type of respect for Derek that I have. But Derek’s dynamic personality, family values and big heart are not the only reasons I use him for our printing.

If you ever have the pleasure of hearing Derek’s “elevator speech,” it is memorable. He always says the same thing – “I put ink on paper”. Simple, concise and to the point. And he means it.

Derek doesn’t try to be all things to all people. He knows where Brandywine’s strengths lie and he focuses on them. He will do whatever it takes to make you happy, will find you all kinds of resources to help with your project, but he won’t try and be something he isn’t. In the end he is a printer … and he puts ink on paper. Brandywine focuses on what they do best.

We wrap cars. Sure, there is more to it than that. We start by asking questions about why folks want to wrap a car; we develop a unique look that effectively achieves marketing goals; but in the end… we wrap cars. We are capable of making signs, banners, and setting up any kind of graphics project from cards to web sites; but we don’t do that.

We understand that in order to be the best at one thing, you can’t consume your time being mediocre at everything. It’s important to put all of your focus into doing what you do best.

This is something that Derek and Brandywine practice … and it shows in every printed piece that goes out the door. It’s why we’re loyal to Brandywine Printing. What makes you loyal?

Loyalty. Even at 7 months, our border collier is hugely loyal.

Our family has certain companies that we are extremely loyal to, for one reason or another. It could be that their product is simply the best; but in most cases it is something else entirely that keeps us coming back. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself: why am I loyal? What brings me back here? Perhaps it is the marketing nature of our business, but I ask myself that question all the time and I find myself with a few answers I’d like to share.

A couple of years ago, I had the great fortune of meeting the owner of Lenny’s Sub Shop in Cumming and Alpharetta, Bruce Longmore. Bruce is a former corporate man who decided to take his talents and put them to good use in the franchise world.

The first thing that jumped out at me and drew me to Lenny’s is the amount of time and resources Bruce gives to the community. Whether to the local high school, his employees, local charities or just a networking event, Bruce is always offering his time and talents <and sandwiches!>. We have clients who look at these opportunities as lost revenue, but Bruce looks at as doing the right thing. What is fantastic about this is that the marketing he receives and the loyalty he builds from each positive action grows his company more than any advertisement ever could.

The second thing that made me a fan for life is the way Bruce treats his employees. He truly empowers them to make his company great! In fact, one of his employees, Kris, was recognized as the employee of the year nationwide after being nominated by Bruce. The next time we stopped by for a sub, the first thing Bruce did was point to the plaque Kris received, hung prominently on the wall. Kris is the employee everyone dreams of. He knows each customer, greets them all with a smile, puts the company first in all he does and I expect to see him when I walk through the door. Bruce has truly empowered Kris to be the face of Lenny’s and his business has benefited on all levels from it.

Incidentally, Bruce was also recognized as the Lenny’s Franchisee of the Year, which is no small thing considering there are over 150 Lenny’s franchises in the country…but that day in the store, he celebrated Kris’s award first (definitely more loyalty points with me!).

So, what sets Lenny’s apart from the competition for me is the way I feel about the brand. This isn’t because of Bruce’s over-the-top marketing efforts, but because of the human element behind the company. Bruce has created true loyalty…simply by doing the right thing. Don’t get me wrong, the subs are so good I’d go there anyway, but my loyalty is inspired by the details…and the service …not just customer service, but community service.

It’s funny, as I checked to be sure I had the name of Lenny’s award correct, I came across a blog Bruce wrote <that I just now read>…talking about the importance of, you guessed it, giving back to your community.

I’m going to be writing about more great companies like Lenny’s. I want to dive in and figure out what it is that makes me loyal to some brands so that maybe I can identify some things I can improve on in my own business.

What makes you loyal?