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Life doesn’t always let us be as disciplined as we want. Sometimes all we can do is one thing to move the pile forward, clock out and call it a day. And in these moments, it’s hard not to be hard on ourselves. When we can’t seem to steal enough moments from the crowded day, our default response is to grab the gloves and jab ourselves until we’re black…

The Joey Company is a full service integrated advertising agency. Their team of research nerds is known for their abilityto see what is obvious, but not necessarily apparent. I sat down with founder Joey Cummings and posed three crucial questions about belonging: 1.    Good brands are bought, but great brands are joined. Why do you think your employees join yours? Coming from Chicago, culturally we have a Midwestern work ethic, competitive…

You’ve chosen an uncertain path. You’ve adopted an inconvenient lifestyle. You’ve embarked upon an unconventional journey. You’ve felt the voice inside you growing more urgent. You’ve committed yourself enough so you can’t turn back. IN SHORT: You’ve decided to play for keeps. This is the critical crossroads – the emotional turning point – in the life of every young artist. And I’ve been there myself. Here’s a list of…

Identity is a complex adventure. On one hand, when you build your identity from the outside in, from how people respond to you, the vision you have of yourself comes solely from the social mirror. You let the world tell you who you are. And it’s hard to grow into yourself when you’re smothered by expectations.                   On the other hand, when you build your identity from the inside…

Tronvig Group is a full service marketing agency in the business of helping museums, arts organizations, non-profits, service and retail businesses do better at doing good. I sat down with James Heaton, Creative Director, and posed three crucial questions about belonging: 1. Good brands are bought, but great brands are joined. Why do you think your employees join yours? Everyone has a voice. We always ask why, not just…

I have extensive training in narrow thinking. Assuming everybody thinks like me, making decisions from a limited perspective, refusing to let go of processes that have been good to me, throwing around the word forever like it’s a nerf ball, killing myself trying to accomplish outdated goals, backing away from perceived negatives, leaning my ladder against the wrong wall, believing that just because somebody kissed me once means that…

Big Duck is a Brooklyn agency that works exclusively with nonprofits to help raise money and increase visibility. I sat down with principal Sarah Durham and posed three crucial questions about belonging:  1. Good brands are bought, but great brands are joined. Why do you think your employees join yours? Big Duck works exclusively with nonprofits, so the people who want to work here are usually do-gooders with a…

We can never take away someone’s joy. If doing something fills somebody’s spirit, captures her imagination and makes her feel useful and important — and isn’t negatively affecting the world — than we have no right to stand in their way. We have no right to block their path of joy. To do so insults their heart’s desire and robs them of their humanity. If somebody wants to spend…

Free Association is a boutique digital agency in Brooklyn that partners with brands to deliver world-class digital experiences. They’re human friendly and they’re in the business of delivering experiences, not things. I sat down with Michael Piliero, Creative Director, and posed three crucial questions about belonging. 1. Good brands are bought, but great brands are joined. Why do you think your employees join yours? It’s a confluence of factors. First,…

Our species spends a lot of money trying to buy happiness. And a lot of the time, it works. For a little while. But if nothing is ever wrong – something is probably wrong. Suffering is underrated. It’s a healthy, human reality. It’s an essential part of the life experience. And if we’re trying to scrub our world clean of it, we’ll never grow. We’ll never reach our full…