This one’s a little different. Normally, I drop some perspective, a lesson, something to chew on. Today, I’m just going to say it straight.
At Hook & Barrel, we don’t hide from our values. Period. Neither should you.
This is a privately held company. No investors. No board. No committee. Just Natalie and me. And that means we bow to no one and don’t tiptoe around. It’s a powerful position to be in.
With that said, we respect that people come from different backgrounds, different beliefs, and different faiths. That’s part of what makes this country what it is. We genuinely respect it.
But respect isn’t one-way. If others expect their values to be acknowledged, then ours deserve the same. So when Easter came around, and our team asked if we should say “He is Risen,” on social media, my answer was simple:
Absolutely.
Now, I will be clear, I am not a virtue-signaler nor am I a holy roller. But I am a man of conviction, and I lead our company as such.
Too many people and too many brands today are afraid to stand for anything. They soften it. They blur it. They hide behind neutrality so they don’t risk being “on the wrong side” of something.
But here’s the truth, and it’s an oldy, but goody… If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.
Now, that doesn’t mean being reckless. It doesn’t mean being disrespectful. It doesn’t mean ignoring others. What it means is being grounded. Being clear. Being unapologetic in a way that still respects the people around you.
We will always say Happy Easter. We will always say Merry Christmas. Not to exclude anyone else. But because that’s who we are.
A kind note from a reader I received recently.
And if you can get comfortable with who you are and stand in that without hesitation, you stop living in fear of how it might be received. That’s where confidence comes from. Where freedom comes from. That’s where clarity comes from. That’s where real leadership comes from.
We saw a lot of brands stay quiet this past weekend. We didn’t. And that matters. Because standing for your values isn’t a liability. It’s an asset.
So when it comes to your foxhole, surround yourself with people of conviction and those who have the balls to stand with you. Because those are the ones who are the true ride-or-dies. Choose wisely.
Have a blessed week!
John J. Radzwilla, CEO, Hook & Barrel Magazine
If this Foxhole Friday hit home, don’t just agree with it, back it.
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Our next issue, the Dude Perfect cover and State of the Modern Outdoorsman feature, are built on the same truth: this lifestyle is evolving, and the next generation is shaping it without asking permission. Faith, family, fun, and the outdoors all colliding in a way that actually reflects how people live today.
Take it to the blind, the boat, or the back porch.
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