When we first started Long Winter Media three and a half years ago, I was anxious to secure new business anywhere and everywhere. And as a bootstrapped new business, it only made sense to pursue every new lead. But somewhere along the way, I started to realize that my favorite projects were for the companies I really believed in. And that my team did its most creative work when they believed in the project at hand. And truth be told, we’ve been lucky. More often than not, we’ve had the opportunity to work with good folks who are up to interesting things. So, about a year ago, Dan, Samantha, and I sat down and wrestled with the idea of exclusively taking on projects for “brands we believe in.” At fist, the thought of turning down business was scary. But ultimately, I experienced freedom in thinking more about who we say yes to than who says yes to us.
So, now, the first thing I do when a new opportunity presents itself is ask a set of simple questions:
Do I believe in what this company is up to?
Are they doing business with integrity?
Are they, in their chosen industry, striving to create meaningful products and experiences for their target audience?
If the answer to these questions is yes, we proceed. If it’s no, I kindly suggest that we may not be the best fit. This simple set of questions has saved me sleep, money, and probably a year of grey hairs. And perhaps even more importantly, it sets our company up to serve our clients with excitement, loyalty, and creativity.
Are you creating something meaningful? In need of a creative champion? Get in touch. Michaela [at] Longwintermedia.com
