Evergreen Journal by Tugboat Institute

07/14/2026

How does a travel company thrive for 139 years in one of the world's most disrupted industries?

In this EJ+ article, CEO Troy H. shares how Brownell has navigated wars, economic downturns, technological change, and global pandemics while remaining true to the values that have defined the company since its beginning.

Read the article to discover the leadership decisions that helped Brownell turn disruption into lasting competitive advantage.

🔗 tugboatinstitute.com/holding-fast-to-what-endures/

This is just one example of the insights and wisdom you'll find throughout Evergreen Journal+. Subscribe to explore hundreds of articles and videos from Evergreen® leaders building companies designed to last.

06/30/2026

What happens when more than 200 Evergreen® leaders building companies to last for generations gather in one place?

They're surrounded by people asking a different set of questions.

How do you strengthen culture as your company grows? How do you steward a business rather than optimize it for an exit? How do you remain Purpose-driven and People First while navigating uncertainty?

That shared foundation makes for honest conversations, practical wisdom, and insights that challenge leaders to think more deeply.

Read Dave Whorton's reflections from last week's annual Tugboat Institute® Summit 2026 and discover why this community continues to inspire leaders building companies that last. 👉 https://www.tugboatinstitute.com/a-message-in-a-bottle/

The impactful talks from this event will be published over the coming year exclusively in EJ+, along with access to live conversations with some of the speakers and access to 500+ pieces of Evergreen content.

If this resonates, now is a great time to subscribe.

Subscribe Now: https://lnkd.in/gNrZwzTs

At Tugboat Institute Summit 2026, Evergreen leaders gathered. The experience began with a message in the bottle, setting the tone.

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

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.

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/