Evergreen Journal by Tugboat Institute

Evergreen Journal by Tugboat Institute These purpose-driven Evergreen leaders have avoided the growth-at-all-cost mentality and exit-orientation often imposed by venture capital and private equity.

Subscribe to Evergreen Journal Plus to receive weekly articles from Evergreen® leaders and gain access to a content platform that shares the best practices, wisdom, innovations, and inspiration from hundreds of Evergreen companies. THE EVERGREEN PATH

Evergreen Entrepreneurs are purpose-driven leaders with the grit and resourcefulness to build and scale private, profitable, enduring, and market-le

ading businesses that make a dent in the universe. They measure success by how well they deliver on their mission and they embody the 7Ps: Purpose, Perseverance, People First, Profit,
Private, Paced Growth, & Pragmatic Innovation. We created The Tugboat Group to serve Evergreen Entrepreneurs. Our goal is to be an unrivaled resource for Evergreen Entrepreneurs by helping them build strong and trusted bonds among peers, providing meaningful access to expert advisors, and sharing enduring Evergreen company building knowledge.

As we recognize Juneteenth, it's worth reflecting on the stories, sacrifices, and values that are passed from one genera...
06/19/2026

As we recognize Juneteenth, it's worth reflecting on the stories, sacrifices, and values that are passed from one generation to the next.

In this Tugboat Institute® talk, Everett Harper — co-founder and former CEO of Truss — draws on his own family's origin story to explore something every founder and generational leader carries: the story of how it all began.

How do values actually survive across generations? Everett's answer might surprise you.

Watch and consider what story your company is carrying forward—and who you're passing it to.

🎬 https://www.tugboatinstitute.com/history-of-juneteenth/

Subscribers to EJ+ receive content like this every week, featuring insights and wisdom from Evergreen® leaders building enduring, people-first companies. Subscribe today at https://lnkd.in/gNrZwzTs

Can a small company compete with global giants in the display technology industry?At Mimo, the answer is yes. In this EJ...
06/11/2026

Can a small company compete with global giants in the display technology industry?

At Mimo, the answer is yes.

In this EJ+ article, CEO David Anderson shares how Mimo has stayed ahead by embracing their role as a niche player—leveraging focus, long-term thinking, and close customer relationships to innovate in ways larger competitors often can't.

👉 https://www.tugboatinstitute.com/small-screens-big-solutions/

This is just one example of the thoughtful insights and real-world lessons you'll find throughout EJ+. Subscribe to explore hundreds of articles and videos from Evergreen® leaders focused on building companies that last.

A four-day workweek can sound like a simple trade: less time, less output. But what if the equation isn’t that simple?In...
05/26/2026

A four-day workweek can sound like a simple trade: less time, less output. But what if the equation isn’t that simple?

In this article, Ben MacAskill of Awesome shares what happened after a 15-month experiment moving to a 32-hour workweek, and why the company decided to make it permanent.

The most interesting takeaway isn’t just about fewer hours. It’s about what teams discovered when they were forced to rethink productivity, eliminate what wasn’t creating value, and focus on what mattered most.

Read this story and explore hundreds of practical insights from People First leaders at Evergreen companies in EJ+.
👉https://www.tugboatinstitute.com/our-four-day-workweek-experiment/

Many of us grew up with Highlights for Children sitting on the kitchen table, quietly shaping how we learned to think, i...
05/12/2026

Many of us grew up with Highlights for Children sitting on the kitchen table, quietly shaping how we learned to think, imagine, and see the world.

What’s perhaps less known is the remarkable story behind the company — and how it has remained purpose-driven across generations.

In this Tugboat Institute® talk, Kent Johnson shares how Highlights for Children has expanded beyond its beloved children’s magazine into a diversified global organization while staying anchored to its deeper Purpose: helping children become their best selves.

If you’d like to watch Kent’s inspiring story, subscribe to Evergreen Journal Plus (EJ+) and gain access to this conversation along with hundreds of other talks and articles sharing real examples of how Evergreen® leaders build businesses that last for generations.

👉https://www.tugboatinstitute.com/purpose-at-highlights/

You know the little red wagon.But the story behind Radio Flyer is what sets it apart.Named Tugboat Institute's 2025 Ever...
05/05/2026

You know the little red wagon.

But the story behind Radio Flyer is what sets it apart.

Named Tugboat Institute's 2025 Evergreen Company of the Year®, this exemplary company demonstrates what it takes to build for the long term.

Hear from Chief Wagon Officer and 3rd generation leader Robert Pasin about the choices that made it possible: https://www.tugboatinstitute.com/profit-and-people/

At KLN Family Brands, CEO and third-generation leader Charlie Nelson didn’t just read Matthew Kelly's The Dream Manager,...
04/28/2026

At KLN Family Brands, CEO and third-generation leader Charlie Nelson didn’t just read Matthew Kelly's The Dream Manager, he was moved enough to put its premise into practice.

What followed is a thoughtful, intentional investment in and beyond their employees’ work lives, one that’s strengthening retention and well-being in a very real way.

This is what People First looks like in practice.

Subscribe to Evergreen Journal Plus to read the full story and more like it.

https://www.tugboatinstitute.com/the-dream-manager/

Jim Gilmore is the co-founder of Strategic Horizons LLP and the co-author of The Experience Economy and Look: A Toolkit ...
04/24/2026

Jim Gilmore is the co-founder of Strategic Horizons LLP and the co-author of The Experience Economy and Look: A Toolkit for Making Better Decisions. As a pioneer in the study of consumer experiences and observational methods, Jim has spent decades helping organizations see the world, and their opportunities, more clearly.

In this Tugboat Institute talk, Jim challenges the modern habit of screen-induced tunnel vision, arguing that true innovation begins with active, intentional observation of our immediate surroundings. He introduces his "Six Looking Glasses" framework—metaphorical tools ranging from binoculars to blindfolds—designed to help leaders sharpen their looking skills and overcome confirmation bias. He demonstrates how spotting a simple detail in the everyday environment can lead to transformative breakthroughs.

Subscribe to Evergreen Journal Plus to access this talk and many others from Evergreen thought leaders—offering practical insights to sharpen your thinking and support long-term, purpose-driven success.

Watch now: https://www.tugboatinstitute.com/innovation-begins-with-observation/

Growth is necessary for survival.It’s also dangerous when it becomes the only measure of success.In this article, Chris ...
04/16/2026

Growth is necessary for survival.
It’s also dangerous when it becomes the only measure of success.

In this article, Chris Weekley of David Weekley Homes shares how they’ve approached this tension—not by asking whether to grow, but how.

From reframing their company’s primary goal around families served rather than revenue, to aligning their team around a shared journey, it offers a practical look at what Evergreen growth can look like inside a scaling organization.

At its core, the piece invites a more fundamental question:
What form of growth makes our purpose more real to the people who carry it forward?

The full article is available in Evergreen Journal Plus (EJ+)—subscribe to read this and other stories from Evergreen leaders.
👉 https://www.tugboatinstitute.com/growth-metrics-and-leadership/

In seasonal industries, the cycle is accepted: hire when demand rises, lay off when it falls.But what if that isn’t the ...
04/07/2026

In seasonal industries, the cycle is accepted: hire when demand rises, lay off when it falls.

But what if that isn’t the only way?

For nearly four decades, Ryan Lawn & Tree has taken a different path—keeping their team employed year-round and using slower seasons to invest in development and long-term strength.

An approach that simply feels right—and helps build a team that lasts.

Read the full article—and explore more insights from leaders building People First companies—by subscribing to EJ+.

👉 https://www.tugboatinstitute.com/honoring-the-dignity/

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