Introducing…BETTER THAN THAT™

September 19, 2013 Leigh Ann Errico1 Comment

Twenty-five years ago Nike unveiled its still iconic slogan “Just Do It”. It’s a phrase that has – for decades – been embraced for inspiration by athletes, entrepreneurs struggling to get a business off the ground, cancer patients battling through chemo, and people trying to muster up the courage to ask the person of his/her dreams out on a date. It means stop procrastinating and start doing – no excuses. There were so many times when I heard that slogan in my head when I needed to find the true grit to push through something scary or painful, to make a major life change with no safety net. I trust most of you can relate…right?

Wear the Cape is excited to announce our tagline: Better Than That™.

From the skate park to the locker room, you’re “better than that” means do what’s right, not what’s easy. It says, “Rise above the level of negative influences.” And it’s a phrase that’s meant to inspire others to reach their greatest potential (Wear the Cape is harnessing it as a reminder to self, too – check out the bottom left hemline of our tees!).

Better Than That™ is about knowing what you’re worth. The phrase captures what Wear the Cape is all about to me– emboldening good character and kindness. Wear the Cape adopted Better Than That™ as a way to tell our loved ones that we believe in who they are and to tell the world, “I know my value, and I’m striving for my behavior to reflect that.”

I fell in love with this phrase when I thought about its broad reach and deep meaning. I was so in love with Better Than That™, I went out and found myself a lawyer to trademark the phrase for Wear the Cape. Trademarks – uggh….what an education that was! It was cool to work on the trademarking though, and I was amazed to hear my kids (who are still all under six years old) talking about our trademarking journey and which “marks” are and are not available. I guess we are never too old or too young to learn new things!

So, what did we do with our beloved trademark of Better Than That ™? As I mentioned above, our tees have BETTER THAN THAT™ printed upside-down along the bottom left hem. This unique placement is so the person wearing the shirt can read the phrase as a reminder to live up to his or her worth (i.e., you are better than being provoked by negative peer pressure, and even if/when you make mistakes, you’re better than your behavior…and your subsequent actions should show that).

Cyber bullying someone via social media? Come on, you’re BETTER THAN THAT.
Not doing your homework? You’re BETTER THAN THAT.
Excluding someone from a game at recess or at lunch? You’re BETTER THAN THAT.
Lying to your parents about your plans for the night? You’re BETTER THAN THAT.

One of my all-time favorite movies is Rocky Balboa. In one of the scenes, Rocky says to his son:

Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth…not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that!

Wear the Cape, be Better Than That ™.

The Cape Crusade

September 18, 2013September 18, 2013 Leigh Ann Errico1 Comment

I feel like…

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Yesterday, I shared Wear the Cape with you and your response was overwhelming in a really amazing way.

Here’s what some of you said:

“It’s all about the kindness. I’ve learned so much over the years & it’s all about the kindness.”
– Kate, Massachusetts

I worry about the world my children are growing up in. Here’s a cup of hope. – Tara, NJ

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?
– Sarah, Florida

I just ordered shirts for my kids and me. I think this is a great way to start conversations about doing the right thing and stopping bullies. I hope this woman’s cape takes her to the moon and back. What a cool mama.
– Michelle, South Carolina

This program is totally on target with today’s kids/society! What a clever, fun way to create a mind-shift to kindness & respect toward others, and the courage to be ‘better than that’. Love the concept; very powerful!!
– Phyllis, Texas

This as a reminder that “character” is of Value! Good Honest hardworking and KIND are just a few of the POSITIVE character attributes that really give worth !
– Sam, Nebraska

I loved hearing from you. Please keep the comments coming. The good, the bad, the kind and otherwise – I want to hear it all. I am so encouraged by your support and inspired by your words.

Thank you for supporting the Cape. Together, let’s make it a Crusade.

How the Cape took flight

September 17, 2013September 17, 2013 Leigh Ann Errico1 Comment

I have a rather obsessive personality. All my Christmas shopping is done and wrapped in July. I have insanely-detailed lists for everything from my family’s daily schedule (did we remember to clip the kids’ nails?) to house repairs. I’ve even planned my entire funeral which may sound crazy, but I simply don’t want my husband or my kids to shoulder that burden when the time comes.

When I believe in something, it…is…ON.

About a year ago, the story of a 68-year-old bus monitor named Karen Klein being harassed by middle school boys splashed across nearly every newspaper in the country. Kids not only bully kids; they’re now bullying adults? “The world is just mean,” I thought. “Something has to be done.”

So, in a hormone-induced frenzy from my fourth round of childbirth in six years, I dreamed of a kinder, better world for my kids. In my house, we now call ‘that world’: Wear the Cape.

Wear the Cape is the idea that we are all everyday heroes, or at least capable of being heroes by doing the right thing, the kind thing, the helping and inclusive thing. It is the hope that we can teach our children the power of kindness and good character, making our communities better places to live.

I liked the idea of using apparel and gear to spread the word and transform attitudes: celebrating diversity, looking out for the underdog, practicing kindness, and being grateful. So, I tapped a very talented friend to design a t-shirt and drawstring backpack. If you check out the ‘Wear It’ button on the right-side of the screen you can see the Cape T-shirt (the cape always has got your back!).

Stay with me, as I swear this is more than just a shameless plug for you to buy a t-shirt or spend money. Each product comes with a Hero Tag. Hero Tags create teachable opportunities for parents to discuss character building while sharing the coolness of kind. They present different scenarios that will likely be encountered by our country’s youth and challenge that they be thought through – What’s the right thing to do here? What choice would best exemplify Wearing the Cape?

And even more, these t-shirts are key to Wear the Cape’s big plans for giving back. I’m committing to donate 10 percent of net proceeds for the sale of apparel and gear and 100 percent of the donations to the kidkind foundation that I’ve set up, because I want to be sure to do some cool things to help people who are living the Cape values and help kids around the country gain confidence in being “good people”. I’m not sure exactly what that looks like yet, but I welcome ideas.

When my kids come home from school or a play date, or they’re just hanging around each other, I now say to them, did you Wear the Cape today? Meaning, were you nice, did you use manners or did you help someone else today? Let’s hope they don’t get sick of me asking … as I believe Wear the Cape is me channeling my inner OCD in the best way possible.

Thanks for reading … I hope you’ll join the WtC movement, give me your thoughts on where Foundation proceeds should go (looking for lots of creative ideas!) and come back for more musings.