Going to new places–especially larger, urban destinations, is a wonderful departure from my day-to-day suburban experience. I recently spent five days in San Francisco with my lovely wife. We flew in and spent our days walking the streets, riding public transit, and admiring the architecture.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of a trip like this, to a place like this, is the drastic contrast to my current living situation. The city. The sights. The people. The restaurants. The buildings. The lifestyle. The history. Everywhere I looked was a sight to behold–to soak in. The rich history of a city like San Francisco provides great visual nuggets every step of the day. From the quirky details of old buildings, to beautiful signage, to people from all walks of life–the city is a great place to recharge and refill your creative banks.
Below is a random (limited) collection of images that caught my eye as we trudged up and down the hills of Frisco.
What I’m saying here is nothing new–we all know that taking time away from your computer, your office, and our day-to-day environment–and spending time in new places is a good thing. What I am saying is more of a reminder and encouragement to get away (sooner rather than later). The world is big and wonderful and full of ideas–take advantage of it.
We launched http://hellomay.com earlier this month and have been pleasantly surprised with the outpouring of luv from the design/code community. A hearty thank you to the following list of gallery sites who have included us. We appreciate you :)
Thanks again and if you see our site in any other galleries, let us know.
I recently returned from the two day Global Leadership Summit in Chicago, Illinois–what an amazing and inspiring time. Over 5000 people joined an additional 55,000 people (via live broadcast) to experience emerging thoughts, best practices and provoking examples of New Leaders.
With the recent launch of my new design firm May, this conference offered a timely opportunity to glean some valuable knowledge from high profile business, spiritual, and industry leaders. The two packed days did not disappoint. Of the many great tips and lessons, three main principles hit home and I’ll be working hard to implement them in my life and business.
1. Employee Best Practices
A vital part of having and keeping quality employees is an open, ongoing dialogue about company policies, employee (and employer) performance, and expectations. Regular evaluations (monthly, quarterly, yearly) allow praise to be showered, encouragement to be applied, and short-comings to be caught early. Be open, honest, and transparent to dispel any uncertainty. It’s also important to solicit employee feedback regarding communication, project workload, and any workplace questions? To sum it up: Have Candor. Use Care. Be Clear.
2. Democracy in the Workplace
Many innovative companies are bucking the traditional management systems of the past and are practicing new workplace ideals and strategies to foster community and promote innovation. Businesses are embracing change and encouraging co-creation/collaboration which allow employees to mobilize, connect, and support each other. Ideas and opportunities flourish as team members band together under a common purpose. Companies practicing democracy and a decentralized workplace are reaping the benefits. WorldBlu is a non-profit organization dedicated to highlighting such companies and providing practical resources, tools, and information for your company. To delve deeper into democratic principles, check out Gary Hamel’s book The Future of Management.
3. Giving Back / Helping Others
The final point that I came away with was the importance of being a part of something bigger than yourself/company. You can teach/share your ideas and experiences through blogs, conferences and podcasts. You can donate a portion of your profits to the environment, a noble cause, or a non-profit that helps the less fortunate. Jessica Jackley, founder of Kiva, gave an inspiring interview at the GLS about having a passion to help others and actually stepping out and doing something about it. A few short years later they’re (micro)loaning $5 million dollars a month to entrepreneurs in developing countries. Pelago, maker of Intervals, is a proud member of 1% For the Planet, partnering to create a healthy planet. Pick something to get involved in to remind yourself and/or your company that there’s a bigger picture out there.
Chicago and Willow Creek provided an amazing two days that spoke to me on a business, personal, and spiritual level. I would highly recommend attending next years Global Leadership Summit (there are many satellite locations nationwide) to anyone interested in growing in the area of leadership. Let me know if you’re going—we’ll meetup :)
Art: Kyle Steed
I thought about putting a bunch of Lorem Ipsum text here, kind of a designer's joke but figured most of you would assume I was just being lazy. That’s certainly not the first impression I want you to have of May. We’re quite the opposite—motivated, dedicated, and super rad.
Our plan is to partner with companies to help them better promote themselves and market their products and services. We’ll come along side ya, get to know you and your goals-then buckle down and work our magic. We’ll be using our diverse life experiences, nifty design sense, and stellar client communication to meet your needs and have a great time meeting you in the process.
So this first post is to just get the word out that May is officially official. Check back on the regular and expect great things! We’re super excited about the number of projects currently in the works and promise to write regularly to keep y’all in the know of what’s going on.
Make sure to hook up on Twitter and jump on our email list to so we can keep you posted on May’s happenings. We’re amped. Hope you are too :-)
