diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 338cc22..5f355f8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -350,6 +350,22 @@ as `gs` for the extended `git status`, and `ga` for the `git add` function.
 If you already have an alias like `alias gco="git checkout"`, you can now type
 `gco 1` to checkout the first file in the output of SCM Breeze's `git status`.
 
+## Custom emojis for username and "staff" group
+
+The `ll` command adds numbered shortcuts to files, but another fun feature is replacing your
+username and the "staff" group with custom emojis:
+
+![Custom user and staff emojis](/docs/images/custom_user_and_staff_symbols.jpg)
+
+Set your own emojis by running:
+
+```bash
+echo 🍀 > ~/.user_sym
+echo 🖥 > ~/.staff_sym
+```
+
+I also like using `~/.user_sym` [in my Bash prompt](https://github.com/ndbroadbent/dotfiles/blob/master/bashrc/prompt.sh#L71).
+
 
 ## Notes about Tab Completion for Aliases
 
diff --git a/docs/images/custom_user_and_staff_symbols.jpg b/docs/images/custom_user_and_staff_symbols.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b65e055
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/images/custom_user_and_staff_symbols.jpg differ
diff --git a/lib/git/shell_shortcuts.sh b/lib/git/shell_shortcuts.sh
index 4c427d8..9b5423e 100644
--- a/lib/git/shell_shortcuts.sh
+++ b/lib/git/shell_shortcuts.sh
@@ -142,7 +142,18 @@ if [ "$shell_ls_aliases_enabled" = "true" ] && which ruby > /dev/null 2>&1; then
                  puts o.lines.map{|l|l.sub(re){|m|\"%s%-#{u}s %-#{g}s%#{s}s \"%[\$1,*\$3.split]}}"
       }
 
-      ll_output=$(echo "$ll_output" | \sed -$SED_REGEX_ARG "s/ $USER/ $(/bin/cat $HOME/.user_sym)/g" | rejustify_ls_columns)
+      if [ -f "$HOME/.user_sym" ]; then
+        local USER_SYM=$(/bin/cat $HOME/.user_sym)
+        if [ -f "$HOME/.staff_sym" ]; then
+          local STAFF_SYM=$(/bin/cat $HOME/.staff_sym)
+          ll_output=$(echo "$ll_output" | \
+            \sed -$SED_REGEX_ARG "s/ $USER  staff/ $USER_SYM  $STAFF_SYM /g")
+        fi
+        ll_output=$(echo "$ll_output" | \
+          \sed -$SED_REGEX_ARG "s/ $USER/ $USER_SYM /g")
+      fi
+
+      ll_output=$(echo "$ll_output" | rejustify_ls_columns)
     fi
 
     if [ "$(echo "$ll_output" | wc -l)" -gt "50" ]; then