Spaces on the Wall

Why We Killed Our Company Blog

Companies jump on the blog band wagon for a variety of reasons. The ones I hear most often have to do with developing content in hopes of prospects (and search engines) thinking that your stuff is relevant. While I commend those that try to attempt such a daring feat, let me remind everyone that hope springs eternal.

The fact of the matter is that blogs are ridiculously easy to setup, but much harder to maintain. I knew that going in, but I (conveniently) ignored the truth.

What I learned from this exercise in futility was that blogs should come from the heart - not from a content schedule. And that posts should come from passionate and knowledgeable people inside the organization - not from interns or employees learning as they go. As you'd expect, we didn't see any direct (or indirect) results from having a company blog, so the decision was made a few months ago to completely scrap it.

I'm sure there were plenty of things we could have done to make it one of those half-way decent blogs chock full of web design tutorials and freebies, but then we'd be following another set of played-out formulas just like every other fucking web design shop out there. We drew a line in the sand and decided that we're about building great websites, not teaching others how to do it.

Then there's the issue of transparency. The entire UG team already engages with social media - but more on a personal level. So we plan to promote more of our personal properties since that comes very naturally. I'm sure this direction will open up a whole new can of worms. However, by doing it this way, you'll see first hand how our people really define our culture and produce some pretty awesome solutions. In my mind, this supersedes the need for even having a company blog in the first place.

So if you're gonna have a company blog, then the one thing I would challenge you with is to post something with teeth. If its about a product, then tell me why I should pay for it. If its about a process, then show me how you do it better than anyone else. Don't copy and paste a bunch of bullshit I can find on Google and expect me to agree with it. If you can't do that, then there isn't any need (or value) in having a company blog.

Word.

A Year Full of Changes

Last year, I blogged a lot about business concepts. What comes next are my tales of applying those concepts into real business situations. I'll be brutally honest. I've been thoroughly tested this year (more than I'd care to admit). Our business model flipped from 80% marketing to 80% design in less than 8 months. Let me be clear, what we do on a daily basis is what changed. How we do it remains intact.

In 2009, business was easy. We were flush with capital, producing amazing results and had even hired two new full-time resources to help us build the company. We had absolutely nothing holding me back - so I thought. I mean here we were, winning at every turn, making money hand over fist, meanwhile many businesses around us were struggling to make a profit. I didn't quite understand it (nor did I care to question it either).

And so the pendulum swings.

2010 was a totally different story. I think what made 2010 so difficult was that we ignored market conditions. We relied too heavily on our past successes and not enough on building us up for future ones. We were statisfied with our growth and the output we were generating, so we became complacent. The fact that we lost a huge client over it served as a big wake up call to make some sweeping changes.

Losing a big account changed a lot about us internally. Sure, we lost a lot of capital, but we gained a tremendous amount of insight. It forced us as a company to re-think what we've been doing, and face-up to what we should be doing (a statement much easier said than done).

So we made some significant adjustments with our team. We know where we're headed and have the right people on the bus. The posts that are to follow will go more into what we're doing (and not doing) to make our company the best web design firm in Chicago to work with.

Print Isn't Dead

This morning I made an off-the-cuff remark that struck a nerve for some (unintentionally, of course). I wanted to clarify what I meant by it.

Print has its place in this world - it's just not the primary way things get communicated anymore. Print is still important and those who make a living with print are finding that it's getting tougher and tougher to do it. It comes down to speed, cost and access.

The web helps us solve those problems effectively. We gain access to information instantly and communicate our messages directly - without having to spend a lot of money doing it. The web is great for handling, filtering, sending and shaping data - but not everything boils down to data. 

To think that the web will solve all of our communication problems is shortsighted - because not all of our problems are so transactional. The nostalgia in a photo album or immense pride in a business card are real feelings we experience as a direct result of really good print designers. There's just something about holding something that makes it so valuable. Maybe it's because there's a finality to something that's been printed - which is a beautiful thing. With the web, pieces can always be added, replaced or improved upon so things will never be fully "complete". 

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that the "electronic" channel allow us to do things cheaper, and faster - but not necessarily  better. Communication is happening in bits, and that's just fine for some - but as long as we live in this physical world, there's always going to be a need for print and really good print designers.

Those Who Know Don't Say, Those Who Say Don't Know

When you've become the expert at something - it can be tough to put aside what you know. That's when the curse of knowledge kicks in.

But I'm no fool. I won't pretend for an instant that my way is the only right way. It's just one way which I've come to know that works for me (and the people I help). The problem is that when we become "experts" or "masters", we become stuck in our process. We've come to expect the punchline, or worse analyze it to death. It then become a rigid way to saying, doing and seeing things - not as they are, but as you think they should be. That's a big stain. Big time. It's like the saying goes, "If all you've got is a hammer, then suddenly every problem is a nail".

Having a beginners mind opens the world up to new things. With this viewpoint, everything is possible and anyway is the right way. Totally open, blue sky thinking.

But then again, what do I know? I've said too much anyways.

Don't Carry Too Much

This applies to all kinds of things. But mainly what I'm focusing on are work tasks. I can't do everything all the time - even though I'd like to. Entrepreneur's have to know when to start delegating, and trust their team members to carry out their vision. Its a lot easier when you share that vision clearly and repeatedly. Oh yeah, don't forget to pile on lots of positive encouragement to keep people just as excited as you are.

I'm often reminded by my team that "Rome wasn't built in a day". Yeah, I know that, and I'm not trying to build an empire (yet). I just want things to get executed properly and yesterday. Like most bosses, we hate wasting time or not making things happen. The opportunity costs are too great with every day lost ya know.

I understand quality ideas and execution take time. So I aim not to carry too much - meaning carry my team. They have to be self sufficient and operate apart from my input. I trust them and they trust me.

Don't Forget To Breathe

Things can come flying at you pretty fast. Good stuff, bad stuff, it's all the same. When I'm running at 100 mph, I can't stop. Nor do i want to. The momentum is too great to break. And then, when I start to go into overdrive (which is quite often) - forget about it.

As you can probably tell by now, I'm really intense with my work. That's because I'm so passionate about the work we do. We produce quality stuff and provide the BEST for our clients. But with the constant go-go-go attitude, once could easily burn out. Not me baby. That's because my team and I won't forget to take some well deserved breathers. Creative folks like us need these timeouts to continue producing fresh ideas each and every day. Beside, no freshness = no money.

So I relish those moments when things slow down and we can take things at a slower pace. As rare as they are, you can bet I'm basking in the ambiance whenever possible.

Water Does Not Come Down As One Stream

When I heard this for the first time, it made my mind click again. Shunryu Suzuki spoke about this in detail - but here's my take.

We suffer because we see things as separate from ourselves. You probably think you were born, you live and then you die. Ha!

Imagine if you will a waterfall. Before the waterfall, water particles merge together to become one steady stream. During the waterfall, water particles break into individual drops. After the waterfall, water particles re-unite to become one steady stream.

We are the water and we take on different forms. For the short amount of time when we become water droplets, we suffer because we are separate from one another. We see ourselves as separate so we struggle with it. But the natural order of things brings us together, and everything becomes one again and again.

How Many Masters Have I Left?

I'm not talking about quantity or servitude. I'm talking about the the ones that have guided me through my many lives, and pondering how many more encounters await me in this existence. Pretty heavy heavy shit huh?

I suppose we all like to remember those teacher(s) that were instrumental in the development of what we call ourselves. To me, everyone is a potential master that has something of value to teach me. That's because these "masters" help to shape who we are and what we can become.

What's most important to remember is that all masters are just pointers. Where they point is for you to decide.

Say No And Set Boundaries

It's ok to say no. Go ahead and do it right now. Why not block the whole week and say no to every request that comes your way, just so you get used to the idea (and feeling) of actually doing it. We say yes to be nice. But that "yes" comes with a price, and usually, it's not in your benefit to do so.

So, whenever something does not align with my company or personal goals - I say no way jose. Trust me, you won't hurt anyone's feelings either. You'll be doing yourself a huge favor by saving that precious time to do what you want, and not what someone else wants.

Plus, when you start saying "no", you start to set boundaries. That's huge. Now you begin to take control of your life and shape the contents of your day. Depending on how many factors you control in your life, this could be that lynch pin that makes all the difference for happiness.

You might say, but I can't say no just like that right? Sure you can. You can even sugar coat it to your superiors, so they won't mistake your righteous personal decision for indignant rebellion. Again, if the request does not align with your goals - just say no.

Don't Start Something You Can't Finish

This has become a big one for me. I usually practice this idea to some degree when I'm out at a restaurant or bar - I know what my eyes can't eat.

But, being a serial entrepreneur, you have to really pick your battles for attention. An even deadlier mix is being surrounded by "creative" people and outlets all day long. So for me, everything becomes new and fresh and really shiny.

It's taken me awhile to first recognize the shiny happy feeling, consider the implications for taking on a new idea, opportunity, project, etc. and then move forward or not. To an entrepreneur, EVERYTHING is worth doing, but really it isn't. That's why I won't start something that I can't see coming to an end. I think a lot of people never consider the end point (which actually signifies some form of success).

Everything must come to an end at some time. The million dollar question is how will it end? On your terms or theirs? Will it end because you planned for it, or because it was a totally bad idea, and you should have thought it through more before taking it on in the first place? It's ok to admit you were wrong and it's ok to quit!

So, every idea I pitch, or is pitched to me goes through this sort of filter to ensure if this is something worth doing or not.