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One of my favorite things to do every now and then is to go back and read the feedback and answers that I received when I asked the question: “What does Snoloha mean to you?”

Those answers, in addition to all the great photos that you send in, are an extremely important component to the continued growth of the Snoloha brand. It adds a degree of inspiration that I cannot find on my own. I can preach all day long about what Snoloha means to me and what my vision is for the brand and how I live the lifestyle and on and on and on…but when I see and hear how YOU connect with it and live it, it keeps me motivated even more so than I already am.

For those of you who have not yet sent in your answer (to the question that is bothering me so)…fell free to do so, there might just be something in it for you.

So…what does Snoloha mean to you? Here’s the contact link.

It’s hard to pick a favorite…but one that sticks out and hits the Snoloha concept right on the head went like this:

“Snoloha: It’s a state of mind. It’s knowing that when life gets hectic you can relax with a cocktail on the beach or the ski slope. It’s knowing that we work all week for the weekend. It’s working your tail off so you can get away from it all. It doesn’t matter if that’s on the beaches of St. Thomas, the slopes of Whistler, or the above ground pool in your neighbor’s backyard.”

This past month has been pretty crazy…not only has there been lots happening in the world of Snoloha, but the addition of a baby to our household has really made things a bit more interesting (in a good way).

And since I cannot for the life of me come up with a blog post today, I’m taking the easy route out…posting some Jimmy Buffett lyrics.

I guess this would be a good time to link to the Snoloha Baby onsies…tell ya what, buy a onsie and get FREE shipping. Easy at that! Actually, you have to use the code “snobaby” as the Discount Code during checkout…but it’s still pretty easy.

“Delaney Talks to Statues”
I’ve changed “Delaney” to “Savannah”…this is one of her favorites that she like me to sing to her (awwww…isn’t that special).

“Savannah talks to statues
As she dances ’round the pool
She chases cats through roman ruins
And stomps on big toadstools
She speaks a language all her own
That I cannot discover
But she knows I love her so
When I tuck her ‘neath the covers

Father, daughter
Down by the water
Shells sink, dreams float
Life’s good on our boat

Savannah draws me pictures
She finger paints the sand
We chase the dogs and hop like frogs
Then I do my bad handstand
She’s growing up too fast for me
And asking lots of questions
Some I know the answers to
And some I’m looking for suggestions

Father, daughter
Born by the water
Surf’s up, sun’s down
Life in a beach town”

Again…use “snobaby” and receive FREE shipping when you buy a Snoloha Baby Onsie.

Of the many things I’ve learned since launching Snoloha, one thing has become very apparent…and that is the sense of escapism that people feel when they think about what Snoloha means to them.

As I’ve talked about before, this escapism brand that I’ve created and work tirelessly at growing, is also the cause of quite a bit of stress at which point a bit of Snoloha escapism is needed…a very interesting and ironic dynamic that I continue to juggle.

This morning while watching a little Today Show I realized (again) why we all need a little escapism now and then. These were the leading stories in the first 15 minutes; a mom in jail convicted of killing her daughter, an actor caught on tape making threats to his girlfriend, a little boy missing for 7 weeks and his step mom is suspected to have a hand in it (plus she may have even contracted someone to kill the little boy’s dad), a struggling economy, a fire in California, more blasts killing people in the Middle East…BUT, the oil leak has stopped (for now).

What a bummer of a way to start a day. I’m re-thinking my Today Show ritual….sorry Matt, Al and Meredeth, I love you guys but the content is just getting to be a bit too depressing of a way to try and enjoy a cup of coffee and look forward to what the lies ahead for the day.

Escapism. We all need it. I think it’s healthy, and as the self proclaimed purvey and explorer of the Snoloha lifestyle, I hereby prescribe it to anyone who feels they need it. Of course, purchasing Snoloha gear is also part of the prescription and recommended therapy (remember, at the end of the day, this is still a retail business and not a self-help website). So g’head…start your therapy today, fill your escapism prescription…shipping is free when you hit $50 or more, and it’s always a low $5.00 flat rate on everything else.

Seattle Dave’s “Feel Good Friday” is a regular column featured on The Waterland Blog. I wanted to share his recent post (he sent me an advanced copy, which made me feel pretty important). The column tends to talk about the simple things in life that really matter and Dave does an excellent job with putting his musings in words for all to read, and it becomes obvious why he has such a strong connection and belief in the Snoloha brand and what it stands for.

Here’s the link to the full column.

“This is my favorite smell. It is the smell of my life. It is the smell of my youth and my life today. It reminds me of standing in line for the Scrambler at the Waterland Festival as a kid. It reminds me of early morning and late evening water-ski trips in high school to the sand pits hoping for some flat water. It reminds me of fishing and crabbing and sitting in guest moorage drinking beer in the sun. It reminds me of dog walks and family walks and squiding off the pier. It reminds me crisp autumn mornings mowing Beach Park and warm summer afternoons looking for spider crabs and perch along the pilings when they both excited me more than they do now.”

Here’s Seattle Dave sporting his Snoloha Fleece and SnoFlake Palm Tree hat.

Am I?

Am I just another A-Hole growing a “lifestyle brand”? Seriously. I saw a new business the other day that is selling a stick. The kind of stick that falls off a tree. But it’s not just a stick, it’s the lifestyle around the stick they are selling.

Okay. I made the stick business up. But I have noticed that just about every new business launched these days seems to have this idea that they are going to market the product around a lifestyle and connect with like-minded individuals through social networking. Original. Not really.

It really got me to thinking about Snoloha. I actually started questioning if I’m just another wannabe lifestyle entrepreneur trying to build the next Life is Good (the second coolest brand your money can buy). I let it get to me, big time. I really took a hard look at my brand and my business. I took a hard look at my vision and where I see this brand going.

The answer, after stressing a considerable amount, to the question “am I just another a-hole trying to grow a lifestyle brand?“…(all jokes aside, I know who you are!) is NO.

I’ve been working on this concept and brand since 2003 when the idea first came to me. The first version of Snoloha.com was launched late 2006 and we debuted at retail in early 2007. Mistakes…I’ve made a few, and there are going to be plenty more. Stress…you betcha. Worry…uh-huh. Fun…absolutely. Fulfilling…without a doubt. Regrets…nope. This isn’t a half-assed attempt to be the next Life is Good. This is a full fledged, totally committed to the ups and downs and the bumps and bruises of small business life, drive to be the first Snoloha…and not the next Life is Good.

Speaking of mistakes (and I’ve made more than a few)…the inventory on the website right now is still awful. I’ve got a bunch of blanks ready to be printed but they are in line behind all the summer retailer orders that need to be delivered first. So there IS new inventory coming! There are also a few items that probably were not the best idea to add to the collection that I NEED to get rid of and will be marking down to an attractive “must buy” price.

Lastly, since I’m on a roll here, there’s still the part of me that wants to incorporate giving back as part of the business model. The easy thing to do and the most common, of course, is to say with every purchase you make a certain percentage or dollar amount goes to a certain cause. But, as always with me, I don’t much care for easy and common. After a very long talk with a close friend / advisor about his topic, there are some initial thoughts and ideas in place. It’s going to take some work, but I think it will be fun, interactive and will make an impact…stay tuned.

If you’ve read this far…you deserve something. How about a couple free Snoloha Koozies or a new H2O Bottle (neither of these items are on the site yet) with your next purchase? All you have to do is shoot me a note and write Koozie or H20 Bottle in the subject line. I’ll match it up with the name on your order. Easy as that.

The list of musicians that need to wear Snoloha gear continues to grow. The most obvious, of course, is Mr. Jimmy Buffett (I think an entire “Snoloha” song for him to write and record is due). In addition to Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Jack Johnson, The Boat Drunks and Donovan Frankenreiter (there are others), it’s time to add the Zac Brown Band to the list (they’ve already shared the stage with Buffett, who happened to be wearing a Life is Good shirt during the performance!).

How do we make this happen? I sent a package to Buffett a while back…doubt he ever actually received it (someone in Key West got a nice Snoloha outfit).

“And its funny how it’s the little things in life that mean the most
Not where you live, what you drive or the price tag on your clothes
There’s no dollar sign on a piece of mind; this I’ve come to know
So if you agree have a drink with me
Raise your glasses for a toast”

A little insight and a personal look into how my brain ends up working on Snoloha (scary that my brain works, I know)…

Let me start by going on the record that I do not like running, I’m not a good runner and I can’t run very long distances. But I do it. Apparently exercise is good for you.

What I do like about running is just popping in the ear buds and letting the iTunes library play away, the renewed sense of focus it gives me, the stress-relief and a higher energy level. So yea, I guess it is good for you.

Running on a Saturday morning I found myself lost in a mix of Green Day, The Beastie Boys and 311…and I was enjoying it. Then I had one of those ‘moments’ that I tend to have now and then. I was heading along the bay, not paying much attention to anything around me, when the playlist went from a classic Green Day song “Basket Case” to the classic Buffett song that everybody knows “Margaritaville.”

The strumming of that acoustic guitar nearly stopped me in my tracks. I now found myself in a casual walk staring out at the water and suddenly feeling and paying attention to everything around me…the empty beach, the boats in the marina being prepped for the season, those annoying sea gulls and a goose that I thought was going to charge me (yes, it’s a scenic running route). It was truly a moment of enjoyment. No stress. No worries. Escapism through music.

Music is a powerful thing. It is a mood changer. I listened to Margaritaville wondering what was on deck. At this point I really had no interest in more adrenaline charged music while running, I was in the mood to continue the casual walk along the bay…and to my satisfaction Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” followed by Kenny Chesney’s “Nowhere to Go, Nowhere to Be” allowed me to enjoy the moment and meander up the road to mi casa with a sense of happiness and calm.

Of course my little ‘moment’ didn’t stop there. No, it ended in a Snoloha design concept which we are now working on…”Living Life Acoustically.” Yep, I’m excited about this one.

Boats waiting for the Marina to open for the season…

Friend me, follow me, fan me, text me, watch this, did you see that?, share this, post that, iPhone, Crackberry, YouTube, iPad, Big Brother is watching, there’s and APP for that, why did Facebook change it’s layout, again?, WTF is Farmville? Mafia huh? LOL, OMG, yada yada yada, blah blah blah.

How about “disconnect?”

I’m curious as to how (or if) a person can truly shut it all off and genuinely enjoy the moment anymore?! Can it happen? How about a good ole’ fashion picture that is worth a thousand words rather than all the other noise that is pulling at all of us?

I enjoy reading Leo Babauta’s blog “Zen Habits“. It helps me slow down and deal with the stresses of small business life and actually enjoy the lifestyle Snoloha represents (the ongoing juggling act of running a lifestyle business).

His recent post “The Lost Art of Solitude” is a great read with this over-connected world we live in.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand the importance of social media, mobile devices and the internet. I need to use all three to grow Snoloha and I’m sure I’ll enjoy it more on a personal level when our new baby girl arrives this summer and I can share her growth with my family and friends that live hours away and out of state.

I get it. I do.

But I think it’s extremely important to turn it all off every now and then. Yes, I use this blog, this website and the Facebook page to promote Snoloha and the spirit of escapism. And yes, I use it to connect with customers and to hear about your Snoloha moments and what it means to you…so I’m asking you to also participate in this juggling act of our over-connected world while carrying a vacation mentality through it. It’s a tricky juggling act, but I think it’s worth learning.

Rick Alden is the brains behind the brand SkullCandy and he guides his company with the belief that “no good idea is created from behind a desk.”

I like that.

Get out from behind the desk. Turn it all off for a bit. Enjoy it. Soak it up. Then…share it! See…THAT is the juggling act I’m talking about.

Today is opening day for the Detroit Tigers. I’m shutting everything down later this afternoon and using this as my reason for an escape today.

What’s your reason? Find it. It feels good and becomes an instant rationalization to turn it all off for a bit.

Have you heard of Life is good? If not, you should check ‘em out. It’s an amazing brand with a great story.

It’s also a brand that is constantly trying to be duplicated, emulated, copied and ripped off. It is now a very BIG company with ginormous distribution and market share. They are successful. People want to be like them. So they try and replicate it with lazy attempts of blatant “Life is good” style designs, slogans and sayings.

This drives me crazy. They have been building this brand for more than 15 years. It did not happen over night. But for some reason, people think they can piggy back off their success and become the “next Life is good.”

The thing is, there is no such thing as the “next Life is good.” Just as there is no such thing as the “next Michael Jordan” (they’ve been trying to label players with that for years…remember Harold Miner, aka “baby Jordan”?).

Life is good tapped into something powerful. Life is good is a genuine brand with a genuine story….which is what it’s imitators lack. You want a successful brand…be genuine.

But people don’t seem to want to take the longer, harder route of creating their own legacy or successful brand. I’m not a very patient person, just ask my wife. I can’t stand the wait in a restaurant, lines at the store, big crowds or the 2 minutes it takes to reheat left-overs in the microwave. This probably explains why I love escaping on a sailboat, a ski hill, the beach or the woods…peaceful and therapeutic.

However, I have learned that in order to grow Snoloha into the global brand that I have envisioned…it is going to take patience. Snoloha is still a very, very small brand. It’s not even a speck on the global brand map. Snoloha will be 3 years old in February. It’s still a toddler with a lot to learn and a long way from being fully mature.

I have to step back and remind myself of this every now and then. I have several brands that I watch very closely and would love one day for Snoloha to be in the same echelon as them. And every so often (okay, quite often) I find myself frustrated that I’m not there yet… so when I see yet another Life is good wannabe, it’s always a good reminder that this doesn’t happen overnight and I’m not trying to copy another’s success, instead working to create my own.

One of the lures of being your own boss is the freedom that comes along with it. One of the challenges that comes along with that freedom is focus. I have to believe that most entrepreneurs have a To-Do list a mile long. And in order to accomplish any of the items on that list…you need focus. Throw on top of that running a lifestyle business like Snoloha, along with the temptations (and expectations) of actually living the lifestyle, and there is a constant struggle between freedom and focus.

Accountability is another lure of being your own boss…meaning you don’t have to report to a manager or a department. However, as I’ve learned, there still needs to be some sense of accountability in order to dwindle down that always growing To Do list.

I’ve been toying with a few different ways to be held a little more accountable for my goals of growing this brand, including forming a Snoloha Board (which sounds way to corporate, but we’ll see what happens with that). But I had an “ah-ha” moment recently about this…The Barefoot & Exposed Blog. I’ve always felt that when I type something in this blog, then I must follow through. So for 2010, I’m gonna try and use it to hold myself accountable…and at the same time really keep everyone in the loop with what’s happening behind the scenes. How will this work? I’m not exactly sure yet, but probably consistent updates of some sort. If you want to participate, feel free to contact me via email, Facebook or Twitter.

Oh boy…did I just open a can of worms, or what?!