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.

By Rob Dorsey and Christian Bright

Hobbies are a great tool used to bridge the gap between work, school, and personal time. They offer a unique opportunity to demonstrate your hidden talents or uncanny abilities in a setting, far removed from work or home. Personal expression of ourselves is crucial to maintaining the delicate balance between work and pleasure and to do the things we love without making a career out of them; although sometimes our hobbies manifest themselves into a career.

Unfortunately, when our hobbies become tied to any sort of monetary-gain they don’t hold the same value as something that is pursued purely for enjoyment. And often times, our hobbies can become an unhealthy addiction that drives us to ignore our responsibilities in life. It is important not to allow this to happen. For example, having a favorite TV show that you religiously watch and follow closely can be fun and entertaining; calling in sick to work because you want to finish season 4 of Lost to find out if Jack, Kate and the rest of the gang finally get off the island, well that’s another story.

Having a hobby can be very rewarding and gratifying; have you put any thought into what your hobbies might be? This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go out and collect stamps or study up on the latest quilt designs. There are a variety of hobbies one can engage in ranging from sports and personal fitness, concerts and music, arts and crafts to even dining out at new and different restaurants, testing your culinary intellect.  Allow your hobby to be an escape from your daily grind; an opportunity to decompress from your normal routine of things; don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Feel free to even “Hobby Hop” - no one says you have to stick with one hobby forever, get out and explore as many as you can. In turn you are exploring yourself.

Can you tell the difference between a hobby and a job? Are you appropriately designating time to indulge in your favorite hobbies, while not at the expense of your friends, family and career paths?

1. Gives you a chance to turn-off (or turn-on)

A hobby can give you a chance “turn-off” and stop stressing about your day job. You can focus on things that relax you or make you smile. Hobbies can also give you a chance to “turn-on”. Your talents might not be used at your day job but your hobby lets you shine whether it’s art, music, crafts, writing, sports, etc.

2. Injects Energy into your life

Focusing on one task or subject every day, 5 days a week, can take its toll. Most of us want to go home, sit on the couch and unwind. Are we really unwinding? I think work is still on our minds. A hobby can put our focus onto something that we enjoy and give us a feeling of accomplishment. Doing this can push the reset button in our minds. It can give us different perspectives or trains of thought to solve issues we were having at our day jobs. Or, it will simply give you more energy to make it through the next work week.

3. Develop & Nurture Talents

Few of us have day jobs that fall in line with our hobby. Those few get to develop and nurture their talents every day. Even then I suggest nurturing that hobby outside of work life to keep it fresh and fun. The majority of us don’t have jobs that manifested itself from a hobby. I find it crucial for those people to pick up one. Everyone has a talent… whether its one, two, three or more. Find what you enjoy and nurture this portion of your life. It can relieve a lot of stress and give your life more meaning.

4. Chance to explore yourself

If you have no hobbies, finding one is a great way to explore who you are. You can meet like-minded people or be exposed to something different that may change your outlook on life. You may find things that you never new you would enjoy. Explore what makes you feel happy and accomplished.

Become a fan of Hobbies

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hobbies/110094879012652?ref=search

If you have never been to EMG headquarters in Irvine you should stop by and visit us sometime. Our office is located in a building constructed in 1892 that was originally used as a lima bean warehouse. The building is listed on the National Registry of Historical Sites and contains original wood flooring, grain elevators, conveyer belts and other elements that kept lima beans flowing to California. How did the lima beans flow you ask? Well located behind our building are still operational train tracks where trains would pull up to load their cars and then be on their way. The tracks are still currently in use and if you are ever on a conference call with us you just might hear them rumbling in the background.

The building is stunning but you may find getting here a little daunting. The reason being is a little street called (insert dun, dun, dun sound effect here) Burt Road or as I like to call it The Bermuda Triangle. Everyone who works here should receive the shirt below on their first day.

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 »

The era of the music video has been dead and a thing of the past for a while now. Networks like MTV and VH1 are riddled with reality TV. Who is to blame for the death of music videos? I think there are a few factors… one of them being that music just sucks now. Storytelling is dead (except for R. Kelly’s masterpiece “Trapped in the Closet” ). Reality TV, whether you love it or hate it, has taken over our lives! (”reality” is shaping reality). Another factor I believe killing music videos is the Internet. I think the big WWW has slowly chipped away the popularity of music video count downs and premier’s and will continue to chip away at television. Everything is about being on-demand… you no longer have to wait for the top 10 countdown to get to your favorite video. The proliferation of YouTube has enabled online users to instantly search for a video at their very own fingertips. Oh the wonders of YouTube, how I heart you so!

Enough rambling… I miss music videos (like this one) and wonder if they will ever make a come back. Recently I visited a sweet website that had an interactive music video clip that allows you to draw the music you’re listening to by using a brush that reacts to the music and lyrics. You can also play it back when its finished to watch your masterpiece. Here are some screen shots

Maybe this can be the future of music. An experience that is more engaging and interactive… allowing the user to become a part of the music and the artists’ message. Who knows? Check it out for yourself by clicking here. prollyROB OUT!