It’s our birthday! Today, OrangeBall turns nine! What’s a birthday, really? They’re more than just a marker for another trip around the sun. Birthdays are a time to reflect, to look backward and celebrate the past, and to cast our visions forward into the future. Where have we been and what have we learned, and where do we want to head from here? When looking back, what are we proud of?

Visibility. Of all the things we do in our work, using our eyes may be one of the most important keys to success. Cells in our eyes, the retinas specifically, take light and colors and convert them into signals that speak to our brain. These impulses are relayed to us, and we’re able to take that information and use it to make decisions, read our environment, detect danger, and see opportunity. It all happens so fast that we take it for granted most days, but the reality is this – what we see, we do. Here’s how to turn this reality into immediate impact, both professionally and personally...

The idea of including play and joy in our work can sometimes feel foreign. There's so much to do, so many things to get done, and so many responsibilities… how in the world is there time in the middle of all that for a joke? A better question is this. If there's no margin for fun from time to time, is this all worth it?

In this morning’s team meeting (our virtual water cooler sessions), Ciara from our team shared something that hit us all. In her words, “For 2021, I’ve embraced the idea of being the change I want to see in the world. I know that sounds cliche, but I realize that I have power over me and how I show up, and I’m going to work on that this year.” The phrase "Be the change" may be one we have heard many times. But have you stopped to think about what that could mean for 2021?

Zoom, Hangouts, Teams, Skype, Facetime… pick your poison. How about Picturephone? You’ve probably never heard of it; but did you know it impacts you every day?

As we're all looking ahead toward the new year, and thinking about how 2021 will be different than the year we're leaving behind, here's a challenge for each of you: Choose one thing you will do this coming year to grow your marketing. Many times, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by all the options. Instead, pick just one thing, commit to it, and use it to kickstart your 2021. You don’t have to do EVERYTHING – just do ONE thing.

Christmas is a time of joy and anticipation – it’s a special time for us as we prepare for the birth of a savior. This year, whether you share that faith or not, the yearning for joy is something we all share. Coming out of 2020, we could all use a little more of it… so where do we find it?

Today, as you're reading this, you are enjoying OrangeBall Insight's 100th blog post. For the last two years, we've shared conversations we've had with people just like you, the lessons we've picked up running our own business, insights on marketing and content, and some random thoughts that don't fit into any bucket at all.

We shared a social post earlier this week with a reminder from our 2020 Bounce calendar – an invitation to slow down amid all the hustle and bustle that is coming over the next few weeks. It seemed like a conversation that deserved some additional attention as our own week got busier and busier…

Here's a nugget to spend some time thinking about as we start to wind down 2020. YOU are your brand.