In 2018. I led a rebrand for one of the fastest-growing companies in B2B tech. Here’s how we did it.
In work and in life, I believe in intentional, purposeful progress. It’s why I take my new year’s resolutions seriously, and strive to surround myself with people that are kinder, and smarter and more successful than me - however success might be defined. It’s why Simon Sinek is one of my celebrity crushes, and why I strive to manage my energy, not my time.
When I left my job several weeks ago, I took the opportunity to step back and reflect, and think purposefully about my next career move. It is a luxury not many can afford at this stage in a career, and I’m really grateful.
I started building a website with the intention of creating a centralized portfolio of work (and learning a few skills in the process), and it provided the perfect mechanism to organize my thoughts, reflect on my career, understand what gives me energy, and think about what I want next. This website is the first iteration of a project I’m not sure I’ll ever consider perfect, but I’m excited to share my MVP -- so to speak.
In wire framing this site and talking to a lot of people over the past few weeks, I gained a lot of perspective and clarity, and I’d like to also take the opportunity to offer a manifesto of sorts in tandem with this launch. I recognize that this is self-indulgent and entirely too long, but this is my blog, so I figure I can make my own rules.
This year, I'm focusing on two core values in everything I do, and I think they're relevant for the insurance industry as well: empathy and authenticity. I believe they must exist together: Empathy without authenticity is superficial and off-putting. Authenticity without empathy is abrasive.
Startups are no longer the little brothers of big corporations. They’re not only competing, but in some cases, they’re winning the battle for market share. Many are following the lean startup model, which incorporates a “work smarter, not harder” mentality to eliminate bureaucratic headaches and constantly improve. These four strategies can help agencies stay lean and keep improving:
