BrightHelm’s Mascots
For centuries, sailors have tattooed a rooster on one foot and a pig on the other. Not because these animals are particularly nautical—in fact, quite the opposite. Neither roosters nor pigs can swim.
…But that’s exactly the point.
The Tradition Behind the Pig & the Rooster
Long before GPS and weather satellites, sailing was one of the most dangerous professions in the world. Sailors faced storms, shipwrecks, disease, and the very real possibility of never making it home. In response, they developed a rich culture of superstitions and symbols designed to protect them from the perils of the sea. Among the most powerful of these symbols were tattoos.
Sailor Jerry and American Traditional Tattoos
Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins (1911-1973) is the legendary father of American traditional tattooing. Based in Honolulu, Hawaii, he transformed nautical tattoo imagery from simple maritime symbols into an iconic art form characterized by bold lines, vibrant colors, and symbolic meaning. Sailor Jerry's designs weren't just decorative—they were a visual language that sailors used to tell their life stories, mark their accomplishments, and invoke protection from the sea's dangers.
Common Nautical Tattoo Symbols
Traditional sailor tattoos weren't chosen randomly. Each symbol carried specific meaning:
Swallow - Represented 5,000 nautical miles traveled. Swallows also return home after long journeys, so they symbolized a sailor's hope to return safely.
Anchor - Symbolized stability and a sailor's hope to "stay grounded" despite the chaos of the sea. Also marked crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
Ship - A fully-rigged ship meant the sailor had rounded Cape Horn, one of the most treacherous maritime passages in the world.
Nautical Star - Helped sailors find their way home by the North Star. Represented guidance and safe navigation.
Shellback Turtle - Marked crossing the equator, a significant nautical milestone.
Dragon - Indicated service in China or crossing the International Date Line.
Rope/Knots - Showed the sailor was a deckhand or worked with rigging.
Hula Girl - Commemorated time spent in Hawaii (Sailor Jerry's home port).
Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins
The Rooster and Pig: Symbols of Survival
The Legend
The rooster and pig tattoo tradition dates back centuries, rooted in both superstition and practical observation. Here's the story sailors told:
When a ship went down, livestock aboard were often kept in wooden crates and cages. As the vessel sank, these crates would break free and float to the surface. Since roosters and pigs can't swim, they would cling to the floating debris—and remarkably often, they'd make it to shore alive.
Sailors witnessed this phenomenon repeatedly: after shipwrecks, roosters and pigs would be found alive on beaches, having survived against all odds by floating on wreckage. Meanwhile, sailors who could swim often drowned from exhaustion, cold, or being pulled under by currents.
So the belief emerged: if you tattooed a rooster on one foot and a pig on the other, you'd have the same protection those animals did. No matter how rough the seas or how catastrophic the wreck, you'd find a way to stay afloat and make it to shore.
You'd be unsinkable.
Why a Rooster AND a Pig?
The pairing was intentional. Alone, each animal had meaning:
Rooster - Vigilant, announces the dawn, never backs down from a fight. Symbolized alertness and courage.
Pig - Resourceful, adaptable, survivor. Symbolized good fortune and prosperity.
Together - They represented balanced protection: courage and fortune, vigilance and adaptability, determination and resourcefulness. Both animals that, despite having no business being in water, somehow always made it back to land.
The Placement: On the Feet
Why tattoo them on your feet specifically? Several reasons:
Literal proximity to water - Your feet are closest to the sea when aboard ship
First to float - If you go overboard, your feet rise as you start to float
Permanent reminder - Every morning when you put on your boots, you'd see them and remember: you're protected
Hidden when needed - In an era when tattoos could be stigmatized, foot tattoos were easily concealed
“A pig on the knee, safety as sea. A cock on the right, never lose a fight.”
Meet Plucky 🐔
Full Name: Plucky
Species: Rooster
Personality: Sassy, determined, direct
Motto: "No excuses, just results"
Theme Song: (If roosters had theme songs) “Unstoppable” by Sia
Plucky embodies the rooster's legendary courage and vigilance. She's the one who crows at dawn to wake everyone up and get to work. She doesn't back down from challenges, she won't let you settle for "good enough," and she's got the sass to tell you when your Salesforce data model is a mess.
But here's the thing about Plucky: her tough love comes from a place of believing in you. She pushes because she knows you're capable of more. She's determined because your mission deserves determination.
Plucky's Favorite Sayings:
"Rise and grind!"
"Chart the course, then navigate it"
"We didn't come this far to only come this far"
"No excuses, just results"
Meet Hammie 🐷
Full Name: Hammie
Species: Pig
Personality: Happy-go-lucky, optimistic, supportive
Motto: "Progress over perfection"
Theme Song: (If pigs had theme songs) "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles
Hammie represents the pig's resourcefulness and adaptability. He's the eternal optimist who reminds you that every journey starts with a single step, that progress matters more than perfection, and that small wins are still wins worth celebrating.
Hammie keeps spirits high when implementations get overwhelming. He's the voice reminding you how far you've already come when you're focused on how far you have to go. He makes complex concepts feel approachable and makes you believe that yes, you really can figure this out.
Hammie's Favorite Sayings:
"We've got this!"
"Progress over perfection"
"Every journey starts with a single step"
"Smooth sailing ahead!"
Why We Did All This
You might be wondering: what does a naval tattoo tradition have to do with Salesforce consulting? Why would a young company spend all this time, effort, and money doodling barnyard animals?
The Connection to Mission-Driven Work
Think about the nonprofit trying to track their impact despite limited resources. The university modernizing systems that haven't been updated in a decade. The faith community serving their congregation in an increasingly digital world. Public sector orgs doing more with less and less.
These organizations face rough seas too — Budget constraints that feel overwhelming, capacity challenges with small teams doing big work, stakeholder expectations pulling in different directions… the constant feeling that you might be in over your head.
Sound familiar? 🐷 🐔
Here's what we have learned after spending years implementing Salesforce for mission-driven organizations: the ones that thrive aren't the ones with perfect conditions. They're the ones who refuse to sink.
They're the ones who hold onto their mission like a piece of driftwood and keep floating, no matter what storms come their way.
Just like those roosters and pigs that somehow always made it to shore.
At BrightHelm, we wanted to find a way to honor that “never say die” spirit, so we looked into our own authentic backgrounds, and found Plucky & Hammie.
The Unsinkable Philosophy
"Unsinkable" isn't just a cute motto for our mascots. It's the foundation of how we approach Salesforce consulting.
How We Keep You Unsinkable
Waypoint Map Service - Our strategic roadmap service that charts your course for 1-3 years, so you're never sailing blind.
Implementation Expertise - Deep experience from navigating these waters hundreds of times, so we know where the rough patches are.
Ongoing Support - Retainer relationships that keep you afloat long after the initial implementation.
Training & Enablement - A focus on teaching your team to navigate so you're not dependent on us forever.
Community Connection - Connection with other mission-driven organizations who've weathered similar storms.