Mark and Ashley like tattoos.

Errrr…let me re-phrase, Mark and Ashley like OUR tattoos.

As soon as we found out that each of us had tattoos, an instant office bond developed. It didn’t matter that Ashley is nearly a generation older than Mark, or that we come from different cultural backgrounds—but after 10 minutes of comparing tattoos and tattoo stories, we had each other’s backs. We were no longer just co-workers, but rather friends with a common interest. (Plus, it didn’t hurt that we also both hate the Los Angeles Lakers, but that is a whole other blog…)

Tattoos allow a visible open-door for employees to interact and share their stories with one another. This creates team building and connections within the company. EMG is a place where we can truly express who we are. It doesn’t mean we can’t be professionals when it comes to pitches, client meetings and conferences. Of course we need to dress appropriately for these types of events, but during  the normal workweek, allowing employees to be themselves helps ease the pressure of meeting tight deadlines and stressful days.

With that said, some employers have policies that do not allow visible tattoos. Depending on the industry and type of job, we suppose this makes sense. But we’d like to submit contrary evidence that people with tattoos work in a variety of industries, holding positions that range from entry-level to top executives. The way we see it, body art is a display of self-expression: having tattoos has nothing to do with an employee’s ability to perform their job.

To further relate tattoos to our everyday grind, it’s interesting to consider what significance our tattoos hold for us as individuals, and in context of this blog, what they say about us as team members of an ever-flexible, evolving and often fast-paced Digital Marketing Agency.

You can find out a lot about a person’s experience, beliefs or simply their personalities through their tattoos. Some get tattoos to remember a loved one who has passed and others simply get inked to tell a story of their background and culture. For whatever reason, tattoos are a part of our lives, whether it’s religion or just to have fun. Either way, we are who we are because of the choices we’ve made.

A Softpedia article reporting on research done by the University of Arkansas on the significance of tattoos said:

A tattoo is a snapshot of a part or scene of the owner’s life, turned into a personal myth. “We continue to be struck by rapid and unpredictable change. Consumers adapt to these changes by varying their lifestyle. They downshift, upgrade, change their hair, body, clothes, car, house, career, geographic location and even family. The result is a loss of personal anchors needed for identity. We found that tattoos provide this anchor. Their popularity reflects a need for stability, predictability, permanence and identity,” said co-author Jeff Murray, marketing professor at Sam M. Walton College of Business.

There is something very true and relatable in that statement, because while we both work in a cutting-edge industry, we find comfort in being grounded and take solace in consistency. There is also a very real connection that we both have to where we came from and how we got here—a respect, of sorts, to our family legacies and our own personal history.

In an ever-changing day-to-day work environment, a strong foundation and something consistent to fall back on, or turn to, is critical. Our tattoos are daily reminders that not everything changes, despite what this industry might try to convince you.

Of course, this is all written in hindsight—we don’t think either of us could have seen some of the parallels in our careers to the tattoos we’ve selected for ourselves for more than a decade, when we actually chose the tattoos. But now, we feel like the parallels are easier to spot.

Who knew the tattoos we chose would end up holding new meaning for who we are, were and may evolve to in the future? Well…maybe now people will add an extra level of consideration to what their tattoos say about them.

By: Chrissy Winchak & Zac Keeler

It is said that music soothes the savage beast, but did you also know that music in the office cannot only increase productivity but also lead to greater creativity? There have been an abundant amount of studies on this topic with one of the first and most notable being conducted in 1993. In this study researchers at the University of California at Irvine (one of our clients found that college students who listened to Mozart’s Piano Sonata K. 448 for ten minutes prior to taking an IQ test scored eight points higher than those who did not. The concept is that listening to music might somehow enhance the brain’s ability to perform abstract operations immediately thereafter. This phenomenon is known as the Mozart effect.

This effect has not only been found to pertain to IQ tests but also contributes to and helps create a more positive atmosphere, increases focus, improves alertness, motivates people, decreases boredom and leads to increased productivity. At EMG a good number of employees have their own personal music devices in the workplace. There are also many employees who share their iTunes library. I know this was valuable for me when I first started at EMG because I got to see what types of music everyone listened to. I saw that a lot of people were into the same artists and genres as I was, so it was also a way to foster conversation and get to know people on a different level.

Some other benefits of music in the workplace are:

• Being able to focus on the task at hand without having to worry about ringing phones and background chatter.
• Wearing headphones could signal that you are on a tight deadline and want to zone everything out.
• Offering a great pick-me-up in the afternoon and be the catalyst that gets you through the rest of the day.

It has been estimated that we endure up to 60 interruptions a day, and take 10 minutes to get back to our original focus. If you add in all the interruptions throughout the day we suspect the interruption rate is higher than researched. Music is sometimes a means of escape and a way to get in the zone. Even while you are at work you can listen to your favorite band and feel like you are somewhere different if that is what is needed.

EMG understands as a company that sometimes a means of escape can lead to the greater good and that team members being able to have that choice is a valuable notion. This is the case across the board at EMG when it comes to our 9/80 work schedule, extended lunches for working out or free healthy snacks. It is great to be at a place where we all work hard and are creative as a team but we also get to be who we are.

As John Cusask’s character said in Say Anything when asked about what he wanted to do for a career, “A career? I’ve thought about this quite a bit sir and I would have to say considering what’s waiting out there for me, I don’t want to sell anything, buy anything or process anything as a career. I don’t want to sell anything bought or processed or buy anything sold or processed or repair anything sold, bought or processed as a career.” I think this quotes sums up perfectly why being able to do what you truly want to do is something people should strive for. Productivity and creativity are essential in any workplace and anything that may increase both of these is a win in our book.

Let’s Discuss
As we are getting more and more information from multiple resources how do we filter what gets our attention and focus on what matters the most.

EMG 30-Second Rundown
All of us are bombarded each day with so much information that you may begin to wonder how to get anything done that you really need to. With that said this is only going to get worse as time goes on. There will continually be new ways of getting information, communicating with your team or clients, social networking sites, etc. Each person has to take the time to figure out what works for them in terms of organization and being able to cancel unnecessary noise which comes in the Read the rest of this entry »

With all of the recent buzz surrounding Sarah Palin’s new book “Going Rogue” I thought I would post a little something about the importance of ALIGNMENT within an organization. This is NOT a post about my thoughts on the book…or my thoughts about Mrs. Palin (although I am sure I could post something VERY interesting)…it is really about the nature of preventing rogue behavior within an organization improve communication and overall results.

Recently I went kayaking in the Long Beach marina and while I was paddling around I admired the row-boats that passed me by with about a dozen or so “rowers” listening to the captain of their ship calling out when to row. It was clear with each stroke the team intently LISTENED and followed in synchronization with their row propelling their boat faster and faster. This is a clear example that alignment within an organization takes a leader, listeners, and a common goal. If you want to go faster everyone must all row in one direction toward a common purpose, listen to their leader, and look to the finish line with purpose!

Alignment is more than just rowing in the same direction. For example, I have personally experienced great things happening when emotion is paired with intellect. I like to call this alignment of the right brain and the left brain. When creativity and passion are aligned with business and strategy one can be unstoppable. Sometimes this type of alignment occurs within a group or even better within one person.

Alignment is critical to success and it is what I strive for each day within myself and with my teams and company!

Here is to alignment…and NOT going rogue.

If you live in Southern California, then you’ve probably heard about the Orange County Great Park which is being built on the former El Toro marine base in the Irvine/Lake Forest area. This park is going to be huge at about 2x the size of Central Park in New York.

The OC Great Park is going to be eco-friendly, which we love to hear at EMG. They will be recycling materials from the demolition of the old marine base to build new roads (concrete from runways), bridges (redwood from old hangers) and more. Other green initiatives include recycling water, renewable energy (solar power), habitat restoration and energy efficient transportation options throughout the park.

Phase One has just been announced and is going to be completed sometime in 2011 with many features available in 2010. The best part for us EMGers is that this phase is going to include part of the sports complex which includes soccer fields, as well as a bigger field for general use (football anyone?). Future phases will include tennis courts, baseball fields, skate park, and even a bowling green. This will be a great place to spend our lunches.

I even read an LA Times blog post that said that next year will be Wild River’s last season (for real this time) and that a new water park might open in the great park in 2011.

You can see a picture of the master plan here:
http://wiki.ocregister.com/@api/deki/files/70/=greatparkplanmap.gif

The preview park is currently open where you can take free rides in one of the world’s largest tethered helium balloons. It’s definitely worth a trip if you haven’t been yet.

One of my favorite social media “twitterati”, Amber Naslund (@ambercadabra), recently posted a blog titled “What would you not compromise on”. I think the answer to this question will provide a lot of insight into a person and the type of company they keep (or work for, in this case).

In an effort to keep your attention, I’ve decided to keep the list to 7. That may seem short, but the truth is the more I think about it, the more things come to mind tangentially. 7 has always been a good number for me and limiting myself to 7 will force me to really consider my own compromises. These are in no particular rank order.

1. Trust

   Without trust there is nothing. Not in business and certainly not in life. This was the easiest of the 7 to come up with.

   I trust those I work with to work to the best of their capabilities, tell the truth and I hope that they expect the same from me. I trust that a client has the resources and desire to conduct a project with my company, and they trust me to deliver our consultation based on their desires and budgets. My clients trust me to tell them what is and is not possible within their budget and timeline and if they sign with us they trust me to deliver. That is the only way our relationship work now and that is the only way I can see them working in the future.

   Violation of this trust means that we are done. It shows me that you do not respect me or our relationship enough to be honest about it and that will never fly.

2. Business Integrity

    

   If the company has done it before I will tell you. If I have done it before somewhere else, I will tell you. If this is a new avenue for me, I will tell you and explain why my past experiences will lead to our success. That’s what you can expect from me.

    

3. Family Time

   My son just turned 1 and learned how to climb up on the couch by himself, and how to slide off the couch (feet first please, safely) on his own. There is no equivalent work task, project or client win that will EVER equal watching him smile when he did that. Work is fun and important but I have to keep it in perspective of the things in my life that I love.

4. Loyalty

   Loyalty from me is built after the trust has been established. If I trust you to deliver quality work on a certain time frame and you come through for me, I promise you that will not be the last time we work together. Far too many people take delivery for granted. I am not among them. Work with me and help me to deliver a quality product and you have will help and a reference for life.

5. Flexibility

   I know how I work best, and it is not plowing through 8 hours and going home. I take breaks during the day to mull things over, collaborate and rearchitect. I respond to emails at night and create presentations early in the morning or late in the evening when the office is quiet. I appreciate the ability to take an afternoon off after we have been cranking on delivery or to take a mental health day as needed. These options and flexibility make me a better, more dedicated employee and allow me work under the most optimal conditions for me.

6. Belief in myself

   Our business is constantly in flux. We are in the arena where if you have done something once you are an expert, if you have done it twice you are the guru. I have seen that his can lead to a thought pattern where you have to follow what those who are boasting themselves the loudest have done.

   What we do is not easy, but that is no reason to think that we cannot do something new and do it better than what is out there now. That is what is exciting about our work and makes me want to come in to the office every day. I believe that we can learn from what is out there and challenge the so called experts, using what I know, have researched and experienced.

7. Enjoyment

   We all know that work is work and that some days are better than others. So when I say enjoyment I don’t literally mean every hour of every day, but as an overall trend. If I am not enjoying my work, the space, the people, the challenge, the camaraderie, it might be time to move on. But I have to think of these as a set that I can choose from at different times. I don’t expect to enjoy all at once, but as long as there is something I can derive enjoyment from and look forward to, then I know I’m going to be all right that day.

When I was in fifth grade my teacher walked in one day and announced to the class that she was going to be making everyone peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. The whole class cheered but I could tell from the look on her face that there was a catch. She then revealed to us that she would be making each of us sandwiches but they would be made based on instructions we gave her. The task was to take as long as we needed to write down instructions on how to make a PB&J.

I sat at my desk methodically (yes I was methodical at 10 years old) thinking of how to make a PB&J. I thought of removing the lids from the jars, taking two slices of bread out of the bag, picking up the knife and so on. I wrote out each step very carefully as I prepared the famed sandwich in my head.

Read the rest of this entry »

Last July we arrived at work to find a huge colony of bees congregating on a  beam outside our office door.  There must be something about our building that bees like because today we were revisited with an even bigger colony of those little devils.

Read the rest of this entry »

Here at EMG, most employees are running dual monitors. This helps to improve efficiencies by giving them more screen space to layout multiple windows and programs. I highly recommend the investment for anyone who multi-tasks with many programs. I find it so useful I’m considering a third monitor, but that is a conversation for later.

One problem I’ve always found was working with Microsoft Office Excel 2007. For some reason, when you open multiple excel spreadsheets (.xls or .xlsx) it opens one containing window for all of them. It does not create separate windows for each spreadsheet like Word 2007 does for documents. This is especially bothersome when running dual monitors because it is really hard to organize windows and properly use the space you are given.

If you find yourself with this same problem, you are in luck. I’ve found a simple way to open multiple excel documents, each contained in their own window.

Here’s how:

Read the rest of this entry »

There are several features that contribute to EMG’s most favorable professional environment: beautiful business/pleasure balance, casual dress, cool-and-oddly-cozy-hundred-year-old-lima-bean-factory location, healthy snacks of plenty, monthly team building events, etc. But the defining aspect of EMG’s refreshing and charming atmosphere is the team and its diversity. Team EMG is made up of 31 very unique individuals from an array of diverse backgrounds. In our creative environment, individuality, originality and even eccentricity are not only permitted, but fully encouraged. As a marketing agency that prides itself in being innovative and cutting-edge, we’re well aware that molds and boundaries need their limitations. Within weeks of working here, every employee quickly finds that they are at liberty to truly be themselves, 100%. And in the presence of such openness to diversity, we all learn how to communicate with, understand and genuinely appreciate one another - which, in many ways, has very much made us (oh dear Lord, I’m going to say it) a family.

Mid April brought us the paragon event in which EMG’s rich diversity is both highlighted and celebrated - our annual Earth Day International Potluck. On top of promoting the implementation of everyday green initiatives (bringing in plants for the work area and reusable dishes in lieu of paper products), each team member brought in a homemade dish that reflected their cultural background. During the course of a 2 hour lunch break smack in the middle of our work day, we got to know one another a little better through great conversation and the enjoyment of a variety of appetizers, entrees and desserts that gave us a more personal perspective of our colleagues. Read the rest of this entry »