Outside the Cubicle: New SNEWS column to debut; should we profile you?

As much as we should and do love our jobs in the outdoor, fitness and sports industries, there is one simple truth – we do not live to work (or we shouldn’t). With that important fact in mind (we in fact work to live), SNEWS® is launching a new column to highlight the extraordinary, awe-inspiring or just plain wonderful things those in the industry do when outside of the work environment.

Our new column, Outside the Cubicle, is a result of feedback from our readers, the brainchild of one of our editors, and finally gives us a chance to write about all the “oh wow” things we hear people did, do or accomplished that have utterly nothing to do with work. It shifts the focus away from the sales floor or company offices to uncover how so many seemingly ordinary folks that make up our industry are living truly extraordinary lives.

For example, we have already heard about a store employee who volunteers at a soup kitchen every week — rain or shine, with no prodding from anyone. Or another store employee who serves as resident manager for an old farmhouse on 400 acres of land in the process of being designated as a wildlife preserve. Or one who lost 50 pounds and decided to put his money where his mouth is in terms of everyday physical activity. Or somebody who runs an after-school physical activity program – every day. Or how about another who’s a NATO officer’s spouse and was recently featured in a NATO newsletter about a kayaking trip she led.

Whether you are a retail sales staff member, a company executive, product designer, marketing consultant, customer service staff, buyer, manager, sales rep, PR support or anything else, you take part in a community that is active, community-spirited and adventurous. At SNEWS, one of our long-standing goals has been to build community through our stories and communication. We fully expect this regular column will help introduce our community to the lives and activities of those who might otherwise go unnoticed. The stories might inspire. They might prompt you to look at the person a little differently. Or they might just make you wonder how the heck they managed to find the time.

While our first few columns are already being queued up, we are also seeking to hear from anyone in our community: Should we profile you or something you have done? Do you think your boss does amazing things in the community? Do you know a colleague who deserves to be featured? We want to know!

Your stories are important since they give life, meaning and humanity to everything we do each day.

Email us at OutsidetheCubicle@snewsnet.com or call 530-268-8295.

–SNEWS® Editors