Celebrating Our 12 Year Anniversary

It’s our 12-year anniversary! Seriously where does the time go? We feel it even more with the global pandemic upon us, this notion of moving too fast and yet also standing still. But if there’s one thing these past few years have taught us, it’s the importance of celebrating milestones. No matter how big or small, no one is going to tell you to pause and take in your journey to date. You have to take that initiative, and we do too. So, we’d like to use this space to celebrate our 12-year anniversary.

Thank you for being a part of our journey.

Thank you to our team here at Points North. We are only as good as the people who stand behind us. We’re excited about the variety of backgrounds, minds, and talent we have in-house. Small diverse teams drive the work at Points North. We accelerate and support each other in pursuit of our mission.

We also believe that you have a choice when you choose creative firms. And we don’t take that choice for granted. Thank you to the clients who have worked with us for years, or for the first time this past year. Though our clients come from diverse backgrounds and professions, the passion they have for their work is a common thread that weaves everyone together.

At Points North, we also believe that if we are thriving, our community is thriving too. From Baltimore Womxn in Tech, to AIGA Baltimore, and Volunteering Untapped, our community in Baltimore is spectacular. We look forward to many more years of going North. Thank you.

 

A reflection from our CEO

Sometimes April showers spill into May. As I move through time and space, I find myself being more protective of my energy, and also fighting for the little things that bring me joy. We’re 12 years old as a company this year. Isn’t that wild? You are witnessing a self-funded dream that started with an idea and a credit card. Somehow you saw me, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and you said “yes.” Thank you.

This journey of entrepreneurship, of small business ownership, of walking into rooms where you may think you don’t belong and speaking up anyway… it is not for the faint of heart. But I do it because there is a deep love for this work, and there is value in working with good people. I’ve got this desire to make a difference through design. It’s a fire that burns from within. Here are my three biggest takeaways as I continue to walk this path:

Care about something.

Because yes, we’re all here to make a living. But if that was my only reason for being here, I would’ve stopped a few years back. There are easier jobs with higher salaries. I’m here because I believe good design can change the trajectory for a business or an organization. It’s what allows us to ultimately connect with each other and make a difference. Through Points North we have a goal of working on projects that matter. That passion is what fuels us through the obstacles and challenges in our way.

Failure is a part of the game.

There is actually a repetition game in Improv, where if you get it wrong, you have to go to the center of the room and dramatically yell “I failed!” And then something magical happens, your class circles around you and celebrates your failure. We can’t be afraid to fail, it is a part of life. Out of failure comes wisdom and experience, and sometimes a new way. In response to a question about his missteps, Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed 10,000 times—I’ve successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.”

Take care of yourself.

Tell you what, I have noticed that no matter how many hours I put into a week, my inbox always has emails coming in, and there are always things that need to get done. These seem like good problems to have, but there is no good that can come from sacrificing yourself and your livelihood for your business. I respect the hustle, and yet the longer I’m here, the more I realize my business cannot thrive at the expense of me. We have to teach people how to treat us, and set boundaries to protect what matters most. This is not always easy, but I’m human and I’m working on it.

 

As I was saying about the rain, sometimes April showers spill into May. And sometimes we need to pause and accept the rain. Let it nourish or let it wash something away. Can we sit with our storms instead of resisting them? Can we catch the lessons in the puddles? As author Vivian Green once said, “life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” Without the rain, there can be no life. Here comes the bloom.

In Conclusion

We’re beyond excited about these 12 years and look forward to many more to come. Thank you for being a part of our journey. If you liked this post, you might also like Lessons from 11 Years of Our Community Engagement, and 5 Opportunities to Bring More Gratitude to Your Work Life.