NEWS & NUGGETS: A DASH OF INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

📘 New Hire Playbook: We teased it last week, and over 10 people have already raised their hands for early access to our New Hire Playbook. Want in? Just reply PLAYBOOK and we’ll send it straight to your inbox.

🔍 Reddit Rises: Reddit just claimed the top spot as the most-cited domain in AI-generated answers. As LLMs keep training on user-generated content, it’s a reminder that authentic voices (even anonymous ones) are shaping search results. Read more here.

🇪🇨 Global Team Love: For those who don’t know, a big part of our team is based in Ecuador, and they just celebrated Guayaquil’s Independence Day! Show them some love this week with a quick shoutout or 🎉 emoji in their DMs.

BEHIND THE SCENES

🚨 New Website Alert

We just launched the first phase of our new website, and like anything worth building, it's a work in progress.

Our goal? To bring clarity to the chaos of the swag industry.

Every time we talk to a new company or respond to an RFP, we’re reminded how little education exists in this space. It’s the Wild West of bulk orders, hidden fees, outdated tech, and vendors that all sound the same.

So we’re doing something about it.

This site is just the beginning of a bigger initiative to pull back the curtain and share everything we’ve learned. From how swag really works behind the scenes to how to actually measure ROI from employee gifting, we want to help teams make smarter, more informed decisions.

👉 Check it out here and shoot us your feedback, we’d love to hear what you think.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

🎥 Ross's Video of the Week

This week’s pick is a must-listen episode where My First Million hosts Sam Parr and Shaan Puri sit down with Tim Ferriss.

One of the most powerful insights from this episode was the idea that play is not just for kids. Tim and the guys talk about how intentionally carving out time for fun isn’t a distraction from growth; it’s a psychological release valve. Whether it’s surfing, sketching, or something silly, having unstructured time to explore is often where your most creative breakthroughs happen. Consider it recovery for your brain.

Tim Ferriss is the gateway drug for a lot of us on our personal growth journeys. If you aren’t familiar with him, I recommend starting with his book “Tools of Titans”. I love how you can flip it open to any page and get hit with a mindset shift in 90 seconds or less.

👉 Listen Now

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

 🤝 Meet Civility Partners

Civility Partners is on a mission to end workplace bullying, incivility, and dysfunction…and replace it with respect, inclusion, and accountability. Founded by workplace culture expert Catherine Mattice, Civility Partners works with organizations around the globe to create sustainable culture change through training, coaching, and strategic consulting.

Whether it's addressing toxic behavior, improving employee engagement, or embedding DEI values into the DNA of a company, their work goes far beyond surface-level solutions. They don’t just talk about culture, they transform it.

📣 Our Collaboration

Civility Partners partnered with Brand Sauce to bring their values to life through branded merchandise that aligns with their message of positivity and professional growth. From virtual conference swag to client thank-you gifts, we’ve helped create thoughtful branded items that spark connection and amplify their mission.

Branded items aren't just “things” for Civility Partners, they’re extensions of their message. Each item is a small but powerful reminder that culture is everyone’s responsibility.

When your mission is about building emotionally intelligent workplaces, every detail matters. Through our custom store and flexible on-demand fulfillment, Civility Partners can:

• Send branded items to clients and workshop participants globally

• Surprise & delight team members and speakers

• Strengthen brand visibility in values-aligned ways

Together, we’re proving that swag can do more than just look good…it can reinforce culture, deepen relationships, and spread messages that matter.

🤝 Partner With Civility Partners

Want to get involved with Catherine and her team? Shoot me a note at [email protected].

WEEKLY GIVEAWAY

🚨 Giveaway Alert: Sky’s the Limit

This week’s giveaway is the Soarington Drone by HPG: a lightweight, foldable flyer with a built-in camera, live video feed, and “smart photo” tech that snaps a photo when you throw up a peace sign. No joke.

Whether you’re capturing rooftop vibes, backyard BBQs, or your coworker’s terrible parking job, this drone’s got you covered. With up to 20 minutes of flight time and real-time video streaming through the app, it’s the perfect mix of fun and futuristic.

👉 Reply to this email saying “Let’s Fly” and you’ll be entered into our giveaway. The winners will be announced in next week’s newsletter.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Around the Water Cooler With Ross AKA The P.O.D. Guy

If you’ve been reading this newsletter for a while, you know I write a lot about family. But beyond just family, there’s a deeper thread that runs through everything I try to do: creating memories. The older I get, the more I hear the same advice from the people I respect most, “Make the memories now, while you can.” Not just for yourself, but for your kids, your friends, your loved ones. Because at the end of the day, that’s what lasts. That’s what we hold onto.

This week, I took Bo and Max on our annual summer trip to Minnesota, a tradition that’s become a pillar in our lives. I’ll share more about the whole trip in the next newsletter, but there was one moment so powerful, so full of joy and connection, that I want to give it the space it deserves.

My cousin, and one of my closest friends, Blake Baratz, is a sports agent. But he’s not just any agent. Blake is someone who took a childhood dream, did the impossible, and built a company around integrity, hustle, and heart. His agency, Institute For Athletes, represents some incredible talent, and he’s spent the last two decades building deep relationships in the NFL, especially with the Minnesota Vikings.

While we were in town, Blake invited us to the Vikings’ training camp as guests of his client, Blake Cashman. It wasn’t just any visit. We had passes reserved for the players' families. We entered through a private gate, watched practice from a shaded tent, and when it ended, something magical happened.

They opened the field to family and friends. Bo, eyes wide, ran onto the turf with a football in hand and hope in his heart. Over the next hour, he collected ten autographs from Vikings players, threw passes on the very field they practice on, and smiled bigger than I’ve seen in a long time.

Then came the moment that froze time for both of us. Justin Jefferson, one of the most electrifying wide receivers in the league, walked over. He signed Bo’s ball and jersey, and treated him with such warmth and kindness that it felt like more than just a celebrity moment. It felt human. Personal. It felt like the kind of memory Bo will carry with him for the rest of his life.

On the way home, Bo couldn’t stop smiling. He clutched the football and jersey as if they were a treasure. And honestly? They are.

Thank you, JJ, for showing up with heart. Thank you to the Vikings for opening the door. And thank you, cousin Blake, for giving Bo a moment he’ll tell his kids about someday.

These are the memories that make life feel full. And this was one we’ll never forget.

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