Educate.

You’ll never know how deeply you may touch somebody’s life. Sometimes you’re fortunate enough to get to, like when walking out the airport doors.

Today, consumers are in the driver's seat, setting standards and expectations for how brands interact with the rest of the world. They want them to be “with the times” and aware of current movements and changes in contemporary culture. The values an organization carries and represents are more important than ever.

In today’s world it can be easy to forget to pause, reflect, and give thanks to yourself, others, and the world at large. Whether you are responsible for a company, a team, or simply yourself, taking the time to truly value those around you can lead to profound change, innovation, and collaboration.

Businesses must navigate a long and winding road when it comes to the cultural shifts and economic gyrations that have occurred since 2020. In these times, it is important for leaders to learn how to reframe the problems of today into opportunities that teams can leverage tomorrow. 

Creativity has the power to calm the most turbulent of minds. It has the ability to bring vibrancy, challenge old narratives, and provide a space of rest. With all of the complexities of daily life, it can be easy for stress to take over and stifle new ideas and solutions. Self-expression is a wonderful practice that can help to revitalize and bring clarity to both your work and personal life. Whether you choose to channel your thoughts through paint, dance, writing, photography, or some other outlet, there are many benefits for implementing creativity into your daily routine. 

Building a diverse, inspiring, and energizing team is easier said than done. With so many different backgrounds, perspectives and ages, it can be difficult to find the common threads that connect us all together. However, one of the best methods for turning individuals into a cohesive team is by bringing unity through shared values. Creating a value-based culture can foster a team environment that is collaborative and united through shared visions and goals.

What does it mean to truly be you more? With so many outside influences and distractions of day to day living, it is easy to lose sight of your values, goals, and purpose. When we are our truest selves, working towards living to our fullest potential, we become more energized, inspired, collaborative, and open to new possibilities while staying true to the internal compass that guides us.

“Values” are at the forefront of many conversations as people and businesses adapt to the rapid changes occurring in the world. At the very center of this growing trend is the challenge for individuals and companies to stand for and live by their values.

Change has the power to be a catalyst for incredible transformations and insights. By choosing to embrace the shifting tides rather than running from them, leaders can not only stay current in their industry, but harness new opportunities and surprising innovations. 

Making changes whether in life or business can be scary. As humans, we have a tendency to resist change at every turn, which can lead to stagnation and a regression of progress. However, change can be positive, even exciting! This can often mean growth, transformation, and a revitalization of ideas. So, how does one go about embracing and utilizing change?‍

Respect is a fundamental aspect of human interaction and a crucial component of healthy relationships. It is a term that is often used, but its meaning is not always well-understood. Respect involves treating others with dignity and consideration, regardless of their differences or circumstances.

The words, “Change Champion” are deeply embedded in ShiftUp’s daily language, mission, and culture. But what does this frequently used term mean? A Change Champion is an individual who not only lives by their core values but is an active participant and innovative leader in the world.

This blog post has outlined three key strategies for gaining wisdom: learning from mentors and experience, reading books, and engaging in self-reflection. Each of these strategies can help individuals develop a greater understanding of themselves and the world around them. However, it is important to remember that wisdom is not just about knowledge and experience. It is also about understanding yourself and the world around you, and taking the time to reflect on what you have learned. By combining all three approaches, individuals can gain the insight they need to make better decisions, become wiser leaders, and find success in their personal and professional lives.

Practicing acceptance can be difficult for many of us. Because it goes against our natural inclination to resist change and hold on to what is familiar. It can be hard to let go of our expectations and desires. Or to accept the reality of a situation, especially if it is painful. We may struggle with anger, disappointment, or sadness as we try to come to terms with what is happening. But despite the challenges, acceptance is a powerful tool that can support us in finding inner strength in the face of adversity.

Hope is a simple, yet incredibly complex idea with many layers and intricacies. When initially reflecting upon the meaning and importance of hope, I asked myself, “what is hope? How does one maintain hope and how can I inspire others to have hope as well?” Though I cannot speak for everyone, the answers found within myself provided some much-needed clarity about the work I do with environmental advocacy and why it is important to continue striving for change.

Every person is an artist awaiting his or her muse. Awaiting his or her community. Awaiting his or her own sense of acceptance and belonging.

When I say Be You More, most people ask me what it means. I answer them with a question. What do you think it means? When I throw the ball to their court, they start thinking deeper and coming up with beautiful descriptions of Be You More.

When I think about the word ‘mastery’, it often feels like something unattainable or elusive, just out of arm’s reach. Though as I’ve researched, reflected, and recently discussed this topic with others, I’m starting to see it in a much different light.

I was pleased to be a guest on The Conscious Business Leader podcast where I discussed how, as a strategic change agency, ShiftUp serves companies looking to embrace brand, culture, and marketing shifts based on their values. I hope you’ll take a few moments to listen and share your thoughts with us.

It’s not easy balancing getting shit done and loving the people in your charge. Most businesses prioritize “get sh*t done” over care for their people, which sets you up for emotional conflict where the care you have for your teams takes second fiddle. I’ve seen this in my work with execs and team leaders. I’ve been there myself.

She invites and calls adversaries to curiosity’s common table, where each get’s heard. Her compassion and presence for each side quells hostile emotions. She picks up on and cuts to the emotional root of the conflict in light of their common goal for inspired realignment. In the safety of peacemaking, with weapons set aside both can recommit to move forward together.

Keeping up with the ever-changing dynamics of sales is not as easy as you think. In a world living through a pandemic, consumers are unpredictable and wary, which makes running a company and embracing an authentic brand experience a difficult task.Keep your brand relevant to strengthen your

Developing high performing sales teams is essential for any organization looking to maximize revenue growth, which leads me to this…what strong leaders should focus on is how to build successful teams. We are only as strong as our weakest link, right? Below are some key factors to consider when teambuilding:

These are all questions every company, organization, and individual must ask in order to get clear on what the core of their brand represents. In this fast-paced world, everyone from Fortune 500 companies to teenagers on Instagram are projecting a brand. However, there’s a difference between just projecting a brand and building a brand that connects.

It’s a new year in an uncertain world. Your startup or established organization is hoping to position itself to realize success in 2021, but where do you start? Do you start with a new website with the latest functionality, or do you start with a new innovative product or service? Maybe your marketing strategies need to focus on customer loyalty? These paths are a good start but not the only answer. To start 2021 off on the right foot, you might want to focus on establishing and re-energizing your organization’s culture and the foundation of your brand.

Imagine that your business is a car driving down the freeway. In order to start reliably and run smoothly, your car must be cared for. Remembering to schedule oil changes and routine maintenance are what help ensure your car stays in good working order.

What does it take to initiate purposeful, positive growth within your business? Organizations grapple with this question on a daily basis. Many times growth and change are prompted by a product or service launch. Other times it’s felt when there is a disconnect between the internal company culture and how that’s expressed externally to customers.

Salesmanship shouldn’t be such a dirty word. Unfortunately, when we hear it, we still conjure up brash infomercials with pitchmen hawking their wares. But good salesmanship is more subtle and more personal. An informative salesperson at a store for running shoes or a helpful hotel concierge are masters at salesmanship and highly appreciated.

Everywhere we turn and for every single one of us—at work, at home, out shopping, and preparing our kids for school—the world has become almost unrecognizable in the past year. We are all grieving the loss of our new normal, while, as of this writing, looking toward the glimmer of light that is the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 has caused a deep shift in the way we function in the world and the way we see the world—in this case, quite literally, from behind masks.

Businesses are constantly evolving, introducing new products and merging and consolidating operations. Changes like these can be disorienting to your brand, especially for customers. Communicating a consistent brand message during times of growth and change is more important than ever. Today, we see a renewed interest in re-branding efforts to “bring back that special feeling” in a dis-jointed CV-19 world.

A guy asked what I thought made for a great team. Well, the first thing that always goes through my mind with that question is, “don’t be a Dick.” So I said it. He chuckled, and then said, “no seriously?” I said, “yeah, (pause- with a bit of a smile) I’m serious, … think about when you’ve dealt with a crappy supervisor or coworker. Were you in the zone doing amazing stuff? Or, were you distracted by the ever-present reminder (voice, email, task) of what a jerk he was? And, that reminder, invaded your ability to perform at the best you could?” Guess what his response was?

Everyday leaders are asked to make decisions that can drive revenue, impact employees and influence customer loyalty. Thinking through all the possible outcomes and preparing for the potential unknown variables can change the trajectory of a business and its leaders. Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity (VUCA) may best explain the current circumstances we find ourselves living through.

Have you ever been to a music festival where a few bands are playing simultaneously and you can hear both bands’ sounds bleeding together? Now, think of how chaotic it would sound if there were 1,000,000 bands of all different styles playing at once.

Change happens, by choice or by chance. Proactive or reactive, small tweaks or profound shifts, every business must adapt to survive and grow, especially right now. As my Seattle-based branding and marketing agency helped all kinds of companies create and communicate change over the past 25 years, my team and I came to recognize a common theme. Whether a client came to us seeking a new brand, a new website or a new messaging strategy, it almost always meant that some internal or external shift had happened—or needed to happen.

With so many shifts happening in the world today, it can be overwhelming to maintain the energy you need to show up fully. It’s a common challenge we all face; finding the passion and flow to live with purpose. The chaos of everyday life can make it incredibly easy to lose sight of your personal mission, to feel burnt out, and to be confused about how to move forward.