Build then Bless®
Philosophy

Disrupt corporate philanthropy with us! If you're looking for better ways to serve your community and grow your business, we're sharing every strategy that's helped us get more sales, have happier employees, and impact lives beyond a vague corporate donation.

Abby Haralson
Abby Haralson |
young woman with long brown hair

Either Target Isn’t Charging Sales Tax or a Miracle Happened

“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…

Abby Haralson
Abby Haralson |
co-workers pose with donut boxes

How to Develop Leadership Skills in Employees

Ever heard the saying, “Leaders aren’t born, they’re made”? Well, it’s true. Even a natural leader needs a little polishing. If you’re a business owner or manager, odds are you’ve got an eye on the next generation of leaders within your company. But how do you take your team from good to great? How can…

Abby Haralson
Abby Haralson |
happy employee reading positive feedback

Not All Feedback Needs to Be “Negative” in Employee Reviews

Imagine this scenario: You’re gearing up for your quarterly employee reviews, and something feels off. You’ve noticed that your high-performers receive less in-depth feedback simply because there are no glaring issues to address. Sound familiar? Many of us subconsciously feel pressured to deliver “constructive criticism” instead of recognizing what’s working well. But here’s the truth—effective…

Abby Haralson
Abby Haralson |
happy work team poses for a photo

How Employee Development Improves Team Morale

While employee development is usually seen as a benefit only offered by the corporate big dogs, it’s become a strategic advantage for all companies. And it doesn’t take a corporate budget to access the benefits of helping your employees grow. In fact, investing in employee development can actually improve team morale and have a positive…

Abby Haralson
Abby Haralson |
lemonade stand employees eating cookies

15 Unique Employee Incentives to Boost Morale and Productivity

Building a thriving, engaged team is every manager and business owner’s dream. But how do you keep employees motivated without breaking the bank? The answer lies in creative and unique employee incentives that not only boost morale but also improve productivity. From monetary perks to personalized recognition, we’ve compiled 15 incentives for employees to help…

Abby Haralson
Abby Haralson |
happy employees raising drumsticks in the air

From Burnout to Buy-In: How to Recharge Employee Morale

65% of employees say they experienced burnout in 2023 and studies found that disengaged employees produced 28% less revenue. While it’s become a bit of a buzzword, burnout is a well-documented workplace phenomenon that affects productivity, employee satisfaction, and organizational success. Whether you’re a manager, an HR professional, or a team leader, understanding how to…

Abby Haralson
Abby Haralson |
remote female employee celebrates birthday with cake

How To Celebrate Employee Birthdays Remotely

There’s almost nothing I love more than celebrating the birthday of someone I love! My husband and I have celebrated five birthdays together and each year, I try to plan something more and more elaborate.  Multi-location scavenger hunts, a full day packed with all of his favorite things, a surprise party with friends he hasn’t…

Cara Nickels
Cara Nickels |
action plan text visible behind a torn office paper

5-Step Culture Improvement Action Plan

Have you ever had a job that just drained your soul? When you dread going to work every day in a negative environment, it’s hard to feel motivated to do your best. Whether it was your first food service job or a dead-end office role with an obnoxious coworker, many know the feeling. And as…

Abby Haralson
Abby Haralson |
five Carry On kids sit in a row with skateboards and helmets

Businesses Doing Good: Carry On Foundation

“We want to create a resilient youth; we just happen to use skateboarding.” Build Then Bless has two main goals: to improve the world one micro-interaction at a time, and to highlight businesses trying to do the same. It’d be tough to find another business in Utah who’s more dialed in on “micro-interactions” than Thread…

Annika Johnson
Annika Johnson |
two female employees talking with each other

How Can Leaders Develop Their Employees?

When I applied to be a content writer at Lemonade Stand, I had to look up what SEO meant. Seven months later, I’m still no expert, but I can talk you through the importance of keywords, links, and rankings, and I’m constantly thinking about how Google and different readers will react to my writing. I…