Nothing could have prepared me for the moment I learned my husband had cancer. And nothing could have prepared me to discover what our coworkers really thought of us during that time. My husband, Taylor, and I have been fortunate to work for the same company: the first Build then Bless company, Lemonade Stand. We…
Category Archives: Stories
Seeing kindness lived out—not spoken about—made me want to give more freely, too, without needing a pat on the back. I’ve always believed kindness matters, but it wasn’t until I married my husband that I understood just how generous a person can be. My husband is the most generous person I know. He gives without…
I don’t think I would have come to this realization and acceptance without Build Then Bless, because making an effort to help people primed me to be receptive to moments like these. One summer morning, I was at a gas station when a man approached me. He was homeless, and he looked down at the…
To me, the most impactful moment of this story is not the 30 seconds it took to hand the man the most delicious mochi donuts ever—it was the last-minute opportunity to serve. Our friends were moving soon, so we planned one of our last dinners together. This was a chance to catch up, laugh too…
I joined Lemonade Stand three and a half years ago. At the time I interviewed, I had no idea what Build Then Bless was—the company mission statement and culture operating software that attracted most of our talent and retained them. Almost four years later and I can’t look back on my work experience without noticing…
Sometimes the most random turn of events can take us to just the right spot in just the right moment. I walked into my apartment at 9 pm on January 31st and suddenly remembered I had $50 of Build Then Bless money that wasn’t going to roll over into the next month, so I ran…
“I realized the power of being willing to listen. By opening up and sharing my own struggles, it created a safe space for her to open up about hers.” I’m currently nine months pregnant, and throughout the past couple of months, I’ve been surprised to have multiple family members confide in me about their struggles…
“I’m not even sure if we would recognize each other if we passed on the street—that’s how short the interaction was. But the experience took me out of my world and helped me connect with someone else.” Are you the “make a new best friend with the person next to you in the grocery store…
I’ve stayed at Lemonade Stand for almost three years, despite job offers from other companies. Just goes to show how a little care and attention goes a long way. About six months ago, my husband, Brad, was playing a pickup game of basketball when I got a call from him. “Aren’t you supposed to be…
Even though I’m usually more cautious (thanks to many hours of true crime podcasts), I had the overwhelming feeling that I needed to help. I opened the door. 93% of Lemonade Stand’s employees chose to work there because of their culture operating system, called Build Then Bless. I am in the 7%—the small group who…