3 Quarantine Survival Tools

Now more than ever, it’s important to take time to re-evaluate. The way we creators, and all other workers earn a living has been flipped upside down like never before. While this is incredibly overwhelming and scary, it’s also an opportunity to notice our blind spots. One of the biggest lessons from this whole fiasco is the importance of having multiple skillsets. The ability to pivot in times of crisis and find new ways to support yourself or modify your current way of doing business is crucial.  Our motto is “Bomb your Boundaries.” That means exploding through any and all obstacles to make your creative vision a reality. Normally these boundaries are self imposed. Boundaries of self doubt, anxiety, traumatic childhoods, or online “haters,” but now it’s different. We’re up against a global boundary of real fear and a real health crisis. We can use this temporary limit to learn an incredible amount about ourselves if we choose to. We can use this time to reflect and really understand what our core strengths are and in turn modify those strengths to fit the current state of this “new normal.” We can bomb the boundaries of our own complacency and realize we are capable of learning what we don’t know, of leading better than we have before, of creating more authentically than we have been. We can take this time of uncertainty and turn it into empowerment.  Here’s some resources that are helping me do that very thing. I hope they help you too.  1) SKILLSHARE- Go to Skillshare.com and sign up for their free two month trial. You’ll have access to hundreds of courses ranging from Facebook ad mastery to product photography led by some of the world’s best. You can even sign up as an instructor if you’re skilled in any of the areas offered and have an opportunity to earn some extra income. 2) “It Takes What It Takes” by Trevor Moawad- This is a powerful book I’m reading right now on the topic of “neutral” thinking. Not thinking too positive or too negative, but rather taking an honest and neutral approach to challenges. The timing of this book could not be more perfect. Trevor is one of the top instructors on mental toughness for the NFL and other professional sports organizations. His approach to handling each moment as if it has a history of its own is very calming in these uncertain times. Listen to it on audible or purchase the hardcopy from wherever you buy books. 3) 20 Pushups and 20 Sit Ups every hour- For the hours of 9-5 that you would normally be at work, keep your body moving by doing these simple exercises. It’s just enough to reset your mindset and keep you focused on positivity by giving you a short break throughout the day. Thank you so much to each and everyone of you for your support. Whether you have purchased something from us or simply stopped by our tent at an event, we appreciate and love you. Stay strong and let’s get through this together!!

5 Elements of Community(and how you can build one of your own)

I’ll be honest, I didn’t grow up in a tightly knit environment. I was raised by a single mom and I’m an only child. On top of that, there was no father figure around when I was growing up, and I always longed for strong leadership. Someone to push me, guide me, believe in me and have the patience to teach me how to work through problems and navigate society. While this leadership never showed up for me personally within the home I grew up in, I did find it through music. Particularly the punk rock music community.

I was introduced to the music at a young age, probably around 11 years old and I’ve never looked back. It was there for me in a time when I felt lost, confused, disempowered and desperately in need of an outlet for aggression and a sense of belonging. I resonated with the values of the scene, of being there for your friends, of being open minded to other’s differences and not falling for a dogmatic narrative of how life should be lived based on archaic values that still to this day don’t match the current state of our society. Above all, I felt validated in my worth. I looked around and saw others at punk shows that came from similar backgrounds, that had the same upbringing, and also shared the same frustrations as I did in relation to what it means to “fit in.”

That last part is what I want to touch on today. The concept of “fitting in.” At the core of any friend group, family or large scale community is a theme of belonging, or fitting in. The sense of pride and safety that fitting in gives someone is invaluable. Without it, it’s inevitable that self destruction will occur. I mean there’s a reason isolation is a form of torture right? Of course. Yet, even within a family or lifestyle scene there can be multiple micro-communities or alliances formed. They might form around a new band, a new restaurant or a new clothing brand. These new communities may share the same values of the larger scene they are a part of – punk rock music, craft breweries, plant based restaurants etc. – but specialize in catering to a specific smaller audience and may seek to serve a smaller mission within the overall group. 6-1-VIBE is an example of this locally in Nashville. There are many clothing brands that have unique Nashville, or Nashville related designs, but very few have the sense of economic and creative preservation that 6-1-VIBE champions.

Learning the essential elements of building a community is vital to growing a brand, a business or even creating a better structure within your family. I hope these ideas spark something creative in you and help you grow closer to the end goal of your mission. So here it is: the 5 elements of community.

1. COMMON MISSION– At the core of any mission is a strong sense of identity. In his book, “This is Marketing” author Seth Godin says that at the core of good marketing lies a strong sense of understanding the formula: “people like us, do things like this.” Meaning, as humans, we seek to act in a way that resonates with our personal identity we’ve adopted for ourselves. The more closely identified we are to a certain group, the more we look for ways to act in accordance with what people like us in that group do. People who care about the environment find ways to reduce waste and consume responsibly, because people who are environmentally conscious do things like that. People who care about their city find ways to protect historic monuments and support local business, because that’s what people who care about local community do. So, if you’re finding a way to grow a community around your cause, find that common mission that fits within a narrative of “people like us, do things like this.” It’s powerful when you dive into it.
2. RESEARCH THE PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT– Let’s say you are wanting to start a non-profit for youth education, you would start by seeking to understand what the current state of education is in your city or your current school. What programs need funding? How will funding those programs help the community and the students? What’s standing in the way of your perfect vision of what the education system could be? This line of questioning also applies to building a stronger sense of community within your own family. What are the biggest issues in your household? Is it money? How can everyone come together to help solve the problem with their unique talents? Wouldn’t this create a sense of ownership for everyone involved? Isn’t that a better alternative than the hierarchical structure of most American families where all solutions rely on the mother or father? What if just paying attention and seeing your kids for who they really are and working with that information was all you needed to feel more connected?
3. CREATE THE FLAG– My favorite part. Every great community needs a symbol to rally around. Something that communicates clearly what that group stands for. Similar to a logo, but not confined to a business or product. The Masonic square and compass is a symbol of fraternity and brotherhood for the Freemasons, the image of Martin Luther King at the Washington D.C. mall is a symbol of revolutionary thought and change. A flag is a symbol that unites a common core of people under a shared belief system, but it doesn’t have to be a piece of cloth on a pole. A picture, a logo, a design, any of these can be a type of flag for the community you are trying to build. This is an important part because this symbol, whatever form it may hold, takes a broad concept and distills it down into something shareable. When something can be owned and shared, it becomes a part of the people that display it proudly. Once the pride of ownership takes a hold, the momentum of the community is set in place.
4. SUPPORT– This is never about you. How are you helping others reach their end goals? How do you show up to be a voice a positivity and support for those you care about? How do you show up when something goes wrong? Are you really sharing valuable knowledge with your members that, if followed, will lead to a better version of them? Support is a lot more than financial relief or a single shout out on social media. True support is continuing to show up in a way that creates exponential benefits for everyone involved in your community. Something with an end benefit that shows up weekly or even daily in the form of bringing new customers to a business, or spending real time listening to your friends or kids’ needs and desires and then FOLLOWING THROUGH by doing something meaningful for them over and over again. That is the process of building trust and true support that will create a sense of safety and positive obligation to return the favor amongst others in the community.
5. EXCLUSIVITY– This may be a bit controversial, but most strong communities aren’t for everyone. I don’t think this is bad thing. Humans are beautiful, three dimensional, complex beings that are not easily boxed into one category. So to find a group, tribe, community, or whatever you’d like to call it, that cares about what you care about is a sacred thing, and something that should be heavily protected. It should mean something to be a member of your community, brand, family or friend group, and it should mean something because there’s a high code of standards one must meet to stay in the group. Don’t let the little things slide, don’t let outside organizations corrupt what you’ve built, and don’t allow the ethos of what you’ve built fall by the wayside just because it may be the easy way out.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article. As always, we seek to be a valuable member of our creative tribe here locally and nationally. Bombers and Sleeves is a lifestyle and we are here to let you know we support you in your mission to bomb your boundaries and make your vision of your ideal life come to fruition. If you’re local to Nashville, please support our 6-1-VIBE line as we continue the fight to preserve our beautiful city by giving back to local business and outreach programs fighting against overdevelopment of our beloved neighborhoods. Visit http://www.bombersandsleeves.com to check out all we have to offer!

Protect our vibe and fight for what’s real.

6-1-VIBE is a socially conscious apparel collection by clothing and lifestyle brand, Bombers and Sleeves (www.bombersandsleeves.com). The mission behind this particular collection is to help support creative and economic integrity in the city of Nashville, TN.

If you’ve lived in Nashville for at least the past five years, you’ve likely noticed some major changes. The once partially overlooked city known for it’s cowboy hats and boots suddenly got a boost of cosmopolitan street cred with the launch of “Nashville,” the hit TV show starring Hayden Panettiere and Connie Britton. Almost immediately after the release of season 1, the mass influx of new visitors starting making trips to the newly perceived city of dreams to catch a glimpse of the iconic Nashville establishments featured on the fictional show.

This, in many ways, was the proverbial “beginning of the end” in terms of Nashville flying under the radar as one of the best kept secrets as a safe harbor for creative artists. Perhaps its biggest advantage being low cost of living and reasonable access to some of the top players in creative industries thanks to the city’s communal values and placing an emphasis on “the art of the hang”. It wasn’t uncommon to see “A” level musicians and industry executives hanging out at local bars making networking a dream.

Ironically, just as the TV show followed the journey of one superstar hopeful as she navigated her way to the top of country music charts, Nashville was finding itself in a state of instant fame in real time – however unwanted that new fame may have been. What started out as an entertaining display of tourists providing a short term economic boost, turned into an overwhelming amount of those tourists not wanting to leave. In fact, they started buying real estate all over the city at an alarming rate, setting off a housing boom that would not be reversed spiking rent rates and creating ever increasing traffic jams, both of which never used to be an issue. Now those once easy opportunities for afternoon “hangs” disappeared in the face of mind numbing traffic starting as early as 3pm.

So long affordable housing. You were sacrificed in the name of gentrification and tall and skinny’s. But wait, you mean the city everyone moved to after developing an emotional attachment to a fictional music artist is now slowly suffocating the lifeline for the real creative artists that reside in Nashville? As Metallica would say, sad but true.

Let’s remember that a city is only as cool and edgy as it is rare and unique. That means you can’t shut down music venues or dive bars that have served as creative incubators for some of the world’s best musicians. It also means you cant shut down locally owned, iconic restaurants only to be replaced by the next hot chicken fad. And it sure as shit doesn’t mean you can just blindly slap on a “NASH” hat and think you inherit the right to mold our city into a sub-par version of wherever you moved here from.

Now, I am not anti-establishment or against economic progress in any way. There are just as many great things that come along with it as there are bad. However, when it’s starting to feel like Nashville’s overly conservative parents came to visit it at college and tore down it’s proverbial Hank Williams, Jimi Hendrix and Willie Nelson posters in place of Kenny G and Jazzercise memorabilia, it starts to be a bit concerning. Boxing out the individuals that create and provide one of the largest attractions of our city ultimately ruins the investment return many of the new Nashville crowd hope for. It has the potential to be a lose-lose scenario. Only, if the developers lose, they’re on to the next place. If artists lose, it’s not so easy.

So what’s the solution? Honestly, I don’t know. There’s a lot of power and money behind the new development of our city, and it’s likely they’ll win. One by one, every neighborhood music venue, record store, local restaurant and affordable bar will be wiped out and replaced by apartment buildings or corporate backed coffee houses trying to mimic an artsy feel. I laugh when I imagine places like that developing employee handbooks on how to look authentically tortured and how to curate the proper “starving artist flare.” Let’s not allow that nightmare.

Here’s what I do know, the more we can raise our voice as a community and actually do something to help ourselves out, the better will all be (including tall and skinny house developers). The vision for 6-1-VIBE is simple: HELP support creative and economic integrity in the city of Nashville. Not solve, not prevent, just help. Here’s what I imagine that help looking like: preserve the last remaining Nashville staples like Exit/in and Grimey’s (to name a few), build more awareness around local businesses and support local live music, partner with an organization committed to affordable housing for artists and other creative citizens, showcase the fact that Nashville is not Nashville if it loses the artists that help create it, and ultimately turn 6-1-VIBE into a non-profit organization that has scholarship and endorsement opportunity’s for artists in our area that need support, and develop some type of outreach center that provides a place for creating and networking.

If this sounds like something you’d like to support, please email us at bombersandsleeves@gmail.com or if you know of anyone that would like to help make this vision come to life, please send them our way too. Otherwise, please check out our 6-1-VIBE collection at http://www.bombersandsleeves.com and help spread the word. The more successful that collection is, the closer we get to building this end vision. Let’s protect our vibe and fight for what’s real!