Finish what you start. Reading that, a project you’ve been working on for a while probably popped into your head – that thing you need to finish. We all have one, personal or professional. It’s the “blood, sweat, and tears” thing you’ve been focusing on, the one that all of the other responsibilities keep derailing, the project that needs to cross the finish line. Here’s how we’ve kept putting one foot in front of the other, and a few things that will help and motivate you as well...

We believe that where we focus our energy dictates our results. Sitting with a client the other day, this belief drove our conversation. Our discussion briefly touched on their competitors in the marketplace. We intentionally kept that part of our conversation short. Here’s why we did that, and where we shifted our attention instead…

Walking into our office this morning, we’re seeing the first few leaves changing color on the maple tree across the street. Soon, the green will be replaced by vibrant shades of orange and red. Our kids are preparing to go back to school, the Minnesota State Fair is open, and pre-season football is in full force. It’s the signal of one season ending and another arriving… a time of transition. Looking back on the last season and forward to the next, it’s a time for beginnings, endings, and “continuings.” We’re asking ourselves three simple questions...

As a marketing firm, we spend a lot of time talking about creativity. It’s a great word, and we’ve even included it as part of our name – we feel it’s that important to what we do. Creativity was one of the 3C’s we built our agency off of, along with Consistency and Connections. We love the word. However, there’s another word that's often tied to creativity, and it may be even more powerful… Imagination. Let’s dive into why this word matters so much...

Years ago, sitting in a meeting with a client as we were discussing a project, the following question came up, “What does perfect look like?” We’ve continued coming back to that question ever since, and here’s how it can help you impact your own work and personal life as well…

No matter where you get your news – online, TV, or radio – the constant stream of negativity is crushing. Terms like massacre, carnage, and terror are commonplace. It’s called “Breaking News” because it’s breaking our hearts. Our friends at Good Leadership refer to this as the “dark noise.” They challenged us recently in their own blog to help be the ones who rewrite the headlines. So as businesses and organizations, teams and coworkers, what’s our role in creating that change? Here’s where we fit...

For each of us, you and our team here at OrangeBall, work is only a part of our lives. On the other side, once our 9-5 or 7-7 ends, there’s another side to our lives that our coworkers and clients never see. When we walk out the door, we become spouses and parents, siblings and friends, and our responsibilities shift depending on the roles we are stepping into. This past week has been a reminder that all those pieces fit together like a puzzle, and that in the middle of that puzzle sits empathy.

Whether it’s developing a website, creating a new logo, or writing copy and designing your sell sheets, we all know someone with some basic skills. “Our neighbor’s high school daughter is a whiz and good with computers.” In the age of DIY everything and solutions like WIX, Squarespace and Fiverr, it’s easy to think that creating your own marketing (or having your cousin’s neighbor’s nephew do it) is an OK idea. Fact: OK ideas generate OK results. Here are 4 characteristics to look for when selecting a valued partner, in any industry.

Patience. It’s something we can all agree is noble. “Patience is a virtue.” That has a nice ring to it. It’s great in concept, unless you’re in that middle space where you’re having to BE patient every day. Then, patience can take on some other feelings. Frustrating, discouraging, held back… So how do you keep moving forward in those middle moments where you feel stuck and held back?

As we’re working with clients, our main focus is on making sure their marketing messages are engaging and reflective of their values. Part of this conversation almost always includes their mission statement. You can usually find these mission statements up on a wall somewhere prominent in their building where customers can see it, and teams can walk past it every day. But, when we pull staff into a conference room and ask them about it, even if they can remember it or repeat their mission statement, many don’t FEEL it.