Month: November 2014

An Inside Look: What’s In A Team?

What does it mean to be part of a team?

It is a responsibility. It is a commitment, an obligation, and a duty. But it is also an honor and a joy. Working well with others as a team member is a uniquely important skill that presents many a challenge but, if done well, is one of life’s most rewarding tasks. Here at Raw Label, the value of teamwork is constantly proven.

Let’s take a look.

A new team must learn to work together to accomplish tasks and to overcome obstacles. In our first two weeks as team members, we had ample practice in these matters! As luck would have it, we began our journey with Raw Label just as flu season hit – and hit it did! Within two weeks, nearly the entire team became ill.

What did this mean? Well, we just had to buckle down, communicate extensively, and learn to trust and help each other.
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Photo by: picjumbo

 

One particular challenge our team faces lies in our schedules. Each team member has a slightly different schedule, meaning that we do not often see each other aside from our bi-weekly meetings. How do we communicate, you may ask? We rely heavily on technology and accountability. Does this make things more challenging? Absolutely. But does it make these same things impossible? Absolutely not. In fact, we rather enjoy the challenge. Tackling obstacles head on, especially as a member of a team, is another one of those particularly fulfilling tasks we encounter in life.

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Photo by: picjumbo

 

So, what can you gain from reading our story? We hope that you are encouraged to go out and chase what you believe in. We believe in Raw Label and although we may face challenges, these same challenges are exactly what make our work so rewarding.

Do you have negative experiences working with a team? Give it another shot. Keep searching, because when you find something you are passionate about, and people you enjoy working with, the challenges become exciting. What once seemed daunting becomes plausible. Challenge yourself, and challenge others. Within this camaraderie and teamwork, you may just find you can accomplish more than you ever thought possible. And that is exactly what you will find is possible when a team comes together.

To Speak the Truth

By: Casey Malone

Photo by: Instant Vintage

Photo by: Instant Vintage

What did you talk about today?

Think about it. My guess is the norm—yesterday’s mishap, today’s stress and tomorrow’s uncertainty. If you think even harder, I bet you’ve had these conversations, or ones like it, before. And that’s fine. We need to talk about that stuff. It’s healthy! But it rarely gets us to think beyond ourselves and those we’re talking to. It places us within a bubble, afraid to branch out. Our issues matter, but there are bigger ones to discuss.

We’ve deemed them “the untouchables”—the subjects no one really wants to bring up. Issues like politics, race, class, our general existence, are deep. They bring about some pretty heated opinions. But, daunting as they are, they’re important. They drive the world and fuel ongoing concerns.

In August, the shooting of a young black man, Michael Brown, sparked protests and unrest in the town of Ferguson, Missouri. Since then the news media has been abuzz, discussing the ever-present racism in America. Summer also brought the ALS Ice Bucket challenge, a campaign to raise money and awareness for Lou Gehrig’s Disease by asking nominees to dump buckets of ice water on their heads. But this in turn raised concerns about water waste.

These issues matter, and they should to everyone. And that’s just two of millions. But did you talk about them? Conversations like race and water waste remain in the news.

But how about in you?

Photo by: fMoya

By: fMoya

It’s time to start talking.

Here at Raw Label Wear we strive to bring attention to relevant topics. We present the facts, you bring the conversation. It’s wear with meaning, a springboard to share your thoughts and opinions about how the world works. We encourage you to be open. Don’t shy away from what you, or society, deem too sensitive. We want to hear what you have to say and we think others should too. We know it’s comfortable to stick to the norm, but comfort rarely brings change.

Let’s be brave. Change the topic. Make it “touchy;” be raw, and get people talking. Discussions fuel ideas, and ideas present outlets for progressive change.

So, start talking. Let’s see where it can take us.