At the Bridge ‘office’ (which stretches from Seattle to Brooklyn), we’re currently reading Jim Collin’s book Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0. We’re reading the book together because it helps us learn insights into working together and running the best company we can. On page 275, Mr. Collins shares an anecdote about a group of workers at an airplane manufacturing facility during World War II. The workers found inspiration from meeting the crew that flew the planes they built. Meeting them showed the workers that others were relying on them. After reading this, it made me think that we are like those airplane workers: we are helping build ‘planes’ so that the store owners can go to ‘war' online. I imagine the store owners would love to meet you and share how much they rely on you.
We have almost 1,000 stores that use Bridge Store and rely on you. Of these 1,000 retailers, many stores use it daily. At any hour, there are hundreds of store owners looking at what you made for them, calling you for coaching, and looking at information you entered (data imports, etc.). What does this mean? It means that what you do matters to me, our team, and these 1,000 users. If we are not around, that affects hundreds of stores owners and tens of thousands of customers. One indicator of how much stores and their customers rely on us is the thousands of positive reviews we’ve received. We’ve helped The Ivy House, a retailer in Texas, collect more than 1,600 reviews. Hundreds of the reviews give our software 5 stars and praise how easy it is to use. The customers are saying to Bridge: we depended on you and you came through for us! ;)
We also depend on each other here at Bridge. We summarize our work each week and share it with each other in the ‘Brick report.’ We call this the Brick report because the projects stack up and collectively make a great piece of software. We can think of the Brick report as how we are interconnected. Without the tech team beside me, I have nothing to rest my work on. And if I’m not around, coaches can’t rely on me, and so forth. We are interrelated and interdependent on each other to get work done. The Brick report shows your work and your place in strengthening the team. Then, on top of us lies our network of 1,000 store owners.
We named the company Bridge because we bridge manufacturers and retailers. Viewed another way, we are also a bridge between each other to get work done and accomplish our goals. When we miss one person, our team and the Bridge software are weakened. When all the members of the team are present, our team and the Bridge software are stronger.
I have to admit that I feel a bit stressed when I think of others depending on me. With that said, what would it feel like to not have this? I'd feel like I would not be missed and that I didn’t have a purpose. Having others rely on us gives us value and purpose. This is an important part of a meaningful life and a healthy mindset. While I want us all to be fabulously wealthy and not work, I fear that may simply bring about depression, at least for me. I’d rather be wanted than wanting of something to do.
You are wanted here. You are needed here. I, the team, and store owners need you, and we depend on you. You have done a great job of helping those around you feel supported. You come to work each day. You are happy and help our mission.
Thank you for strengthening the network last week and in the time to come.