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Boldare Shakes The Workplace Up. For Good.

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When Piotr Majchrzak (“Pete” is acceptable for native English speakers) founded Boldare, he wasn’t just trying to create an innovative and exciting digital product design and development company. He was trying to create a work environment where anyone could excel. 

I never believed in formal structures.” 

Most of what we’re familiar with in professional environments is a hierarchal structure. One person on top with underlings below them and underlings below them and so on. The person on top makes all the decisions and rules and the underlings follow them. That’s just how it is, right? 

Piotr Majchrzak, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Boldare

I can compare the running of this company to like running a city. 

“If you’re in the city, you have your own house, maybe a flat, and you can do whatever you want. 

“But of course … you have to obey some rules that you set up with the neighbors.” 

Boldare calls this their Holacracy Experience. Think of it as the freedom of driving your own car, but you have to drive on the right side of the road. The same applies to a workspace. We trust drivers to follow the rules of the road. We should trust workers to accomplish their tasks competently. 

Anyone who has worked with a manager over their shoulder knows the tension and resentment it can cause. That micromanaging negatively affects productivity. The irony is that when managers think their involvement can only help, it actually hurts. 

Boldare Breaks The Rules And Wins

If you take a look at some of the work Boldare does, you can see that there is a high level of competence and good taste. There is a dedication to what the client wants but an authority in the quality of work produced. If you think this result is because management is cracking skulls, you’d be mistaken. 

I was working at a certain company which had to downsize. It was a small company – like 10 or 15 people. But they decided that they had to downsize the team. 

“So, I called my boss, ‘OK, maybe you don’t have to fire this guy. I’ll make the company and people are paying me for the service you want to have.’” 

How many managers or higher-ups are you aware of that would create a new company in order to preserve the livelihoods of their employees? 

Friends came to me [asking], ‘why aren’t you doing that in the proper way?’ And I was asking, ‘Okay, what’s the proper way and why should I do it?’ 

“And so I didn’t get it. [I got the feeling that] there is a certain way of doing things.

“It didn’t work. I was looking for something to be some kind of new way of working.

“[So we created] an organization [where] …  you can be your own boss.

“I found it effective.

Employee Autonomy and Why It Works

Find me a worker with a level of autonomy and I’ll show you someone who can be trusted to get the job done. The more you micromanage, the less you trust your employees, the worse off your business is. 

If you don’t believe me, take a look at the work Boldare does and tell me that their method is ineffective. 

Of course, there’s always the “we’re a family” speech that managers give. You’d be kidding yourself if you haven’t rolled your eyes at that sentiment. Not because coworkers are incapable of bonding and enjoying each other’s company. But because we know that managers are often being disingenuous when they claim “we’re a family.” 

What’s more accurate is “we’re a team.” We have to work together towards a common goal. If you foster that sentiment, you just may see some success.

There are plenty of workspaces that are productive, effective, and healthy environments. Those environments are the ones where workers are expected and trusted to produce good work. Nobody likes a manager that nitpicks your every last interaction with a customer. Nobody likes a supervisor standing over your shoulder. 

One of the few silver linings of this pandemic is that it exposed the poor working conditions in our labor market. The Great Resignation is a long time coming. For the first time in a long time, workers have leverage. Managers, supervisors, and executives need to take note. 

When you trust your employees to do good work, when you give them the conditions in which to live their lives to the fullest, and when you expect quality from them, they most often deliver. And that’s good for everyone. 

Boldare knows it, and it’s working for them. It can work for all of us.

Chris Blondell is a Philadelphia-based writer and social media strategist with a current focus on tech industry news. He has written about startups and entrepreneurs based in Denver, Seattle, Chicago, New Haven, and more. He has also written content for a true-crime blog, Sword and Scale, and developed social media content for a local spice shop. An occasional comedian, Chris Blondell also spends his time writing humorous content and performing stand-up for local audiences.

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What’s the Best Logo Design Agency in New York?

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TLDR; If you need a logo design agency in New York, check out Penji, MBLM, Rootless Agency and Catchword for excellent branding, graphic design, and logo design for your aviation company to stand apart.

Did you know that 60% of consumers are more likely to purchase from a brand they recognize, and 50% say they’re more likely to use a company with a logo they know? Your logo is the face of your business—it’s your first impression, lasting memory, and a powerful symbol of everything you stand for. Get it wrong, and your brand could struggle to make an impact. Get it right, and you create instant recognition and trust. 

If you’re searching for the best logo design agency in New York, you’re in the right place. Below, we’ve highlighted four standout agencies known for exceptional branding, each with unique strengths, pricing, and creative approaches.

1. Penji

Penji is a design-as-a-service agency which offers unlimited graphic design through a subscription basis. They don’t just create logos for their clients, but they are a full-service agency as they also offer branding, web design and more.

Pros: 

  • Penji offers unlimited design requests with quick turnaround times
  • Penji also offers a dedicated design team just for you
  • The designs you receive are cost-friendly
  • Penji emphasizes brand identity

Cons: 

  • Turnaround times may vary based upon complexity of work
  • They are not as personalized in approach as agencies that are boutique
  • They focus on companies which require routine graphic design work

If you want to work with a logo design agency in New York that is budget-friendly but flexible, Penji is the agency to go with.

2. MBLM

MBLM is a branding agency that is full-service and works beyond logos alone. They focus on strategy and creativity and establishing an emotional connection between brand and consumer.

Pros: 

  • MBLM is knowledgeable about branding and strategy
  • The agency has experience with enterprise-level clients
  • They take a holistic approach to logos and branding
  • They utilize deep research for their designs

Cons: 

  • They may not be friendly to small businesses regarding costs
  • Their timelines may be long as they use complex research methods
  • Their approach to branding is unique and thorough

If you want holistic branding along with a logo design agency in New York, MBLM will provide complex, in-depth strategies so you can invest deeply into your brand.

3. Rootless Agency

Rootless Agency operates within New York even though they are based in Massachusetts. They focus on creating a logo, WordPress web design and strong branding with effective cohesion.

Pros:

  • The agency is highly personalized in their service
  • They collaborate well with their clients
  • They are communicative and responsive
  • Their management skills and turnaround times are exceptional

Cons: 

  • The small size of the agency could hinder the ability of the agency to work with large projects
  • You will need to have virtual meetings since they are not located in New York
  • They may not have the recognition of other agencies

If you want a logo design agency in New York that takes an iterative process to ensure all your needs are met, Rootless Agency is your best bet.

4. Catchword

Catchword is a top-rated and award-winning agency with nine years of recognition as the top naming agency. They design more than just a logo as they also work on naming and provide excellent insight. They offer strategic expertise and knowledge on trademarking logos which will benefit your company.

Pros: 

  • They have strong standings when it comes to naming and branding
  • They consider the cultural and linguistic relevance of names
  • They offer insights on trademarking before the logo rollout
  • They have valuable resources on validation by Fortune 500 companies

Cons: 

  • They are high-end with pricing so may not benefit start-ups
  • They are focused more on naming than logos so they may not fully suit your needs
  • Their thorough process will take time so you can get quality results

If you want a quality logo and a name from the best logo design agency in New York that receives trademark protection, Catchword is the agency to choose.

Cover Image Credit: Photo by Proxyclick Visitor Management System from Pexels

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Design Hack Your Office For Maximum Productivity

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Beautiful startup office designed for efficiency and productivity

Did you know that your workplace design can impact the productivity of your employees? Aside from this, office design also affects employee safety and health. A study by international architectural firm Gensler in the US states revealed that only 38% of employees strongly agree that their workplace currently provides a great experience, highlighting a major gap between what offices offer today and what employees actually need to perform at their best.

So how does the environment impact the health, safety, and productivity of employees?

Design To Encourage Movements

People walking down stairs of an office
Photo by Proxyclick Visitor Management System from Pexels

Our work has a big impact on your health. Most of the time employees spend a lot of time on their desks, so they are becoming sedentary. As we all know, sitting down for long periods of time has adverse effects on our health. In addition, movement offers instant benefits, including cognitive performance boost.

Designing office spaces that encourage movement or walking can help curb these problems for employees and employers alike. There are workstations that are designed to be used in either sitting or standing positions. An open space design also encourages employees to walk from one section of the office to another. Sometimes something as basic as an ergonomically correct chair can help prevent ailments like backaches.

Natural Lighting > Fluorescent

Open office with abundance of natural lighting
Photo by Marc Mueller from Pexels

Good lighting can help people see details clearly and increased visibility can help increase productivity. But, this does not mean to say that you can skimp on lighting in the office because a study from Cornell University shows that poor lighting is connected to low production levels and social satisfaction among employees. Many offices are composed of cubicles to give employees privacy to do their work. However, the cubicle arrangement also blocks natural light, which means that some employees are not exposed to natural lighting during an entire work cycle.

Humans are wired to seek natural lighting. In fact, many buildings in Europe encourage exposure to natural light. Employees who had the best views were the most productive and were most likely to describe themselves as healthy.

Dedicated Noise-Isolation Areas

Quiet area of office where people can concentrate
Photo by Startup Stock Photos from Pexels

Acoustics is another key contributing factor to productivity. To achieve acoustic comfort, the office must have appropriate acoustic support that is conducive to interaction, confidentiality, and concentrative work. If it is too noisy, workers will not be able to communicate with each other let alone concentrate.

Design your office to have multiple quiet areas where employees can migrate to in order to make calls, have private meetings, or to focus on their work.

Designed With Health In Mind

Office workers enjoying a healthy environment
Photo by CoWomen from Pexels

Aside from these factors, employers should also provide workers with suitable ventilation, access to greenery and the gym to help encourage a healthy lifestyle. Even something as basic as giving them access to increase or reduce the temperature in the office can impact their productivity. Employers should also encourage employees to personalize their workstations so that employees are happier. Workspace design should allow employees to socialize with each other easily while at the same time giving them access to views and privacy so that they can work properly and productively.

Good lighting, comfortable furniture, pleasant color schemes, and access to views or natural lighting can help generate positive energy in the office and employee mood. In fact, 8 out of 10 employees said their working environment affects their mental health.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by CadoMaestro from Pexels

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Tips For Starting A Profitable Business

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profitable business

How many entrepreneurs do you know start a company with the intention of failing? We hope that this number is zero, but fail can be the result of a business even if it is unintentional. Serial entrepreneurs know many different ways to fail. This is because success in not guaranteed no matter what business you get into. They also share their tips to avoid failure to help you start a profitable business.

Surround Yourself With The Right People

The phrase “It takes a village to raise a child” also applies to a profitable business. Without talented individuals working for you, it will be very hard to survive. Surround yourself with amazing friends and successful business owners so that you can have access to different skills and knowledge that can help you grow a profitable business and make it thrive.

Build a Strong Foundation

Before starting your business, ask yourself why you’re starting it in the first place. How is your product or service going to help your target audience’s lives better? How does this idea align with your core values? Do you have a solid profitable business plan to make this dream a reality? The answers to these questions will help your business have a strong foundation.

Perfect Your Pitch

You should be able to describe your company in 3-5 words.  Think of AirBnB: a place to stay. Describing your business concisely will make it easy to understand. If it is easy to understand, it is also easier to sell. When working on your pitch, stay away from mistakes like using industry jargon that is hard to understand for the layman, asking the wrong questions to those who listened to you, not making the pith relevant to the listener or only talking about yourself.

Know Your Competitors

Keep your enemies close and your competitors closer. They are not the enemy but not knowing what they’re doing could be harmful to your company. Don’t hesitate to use tools to analyze your competition. Tools like SEMrush, SimilarWeb or even Google Alert can help tell you what your competitor is up to and increase your chances of survival.

Build a “Must Have Product”

Sites like Hacker News have a ton of really cool startups ideas. However, if you really want to increase your chances of survival and success, build a must-have-product instead of a nice-to-have product. The difference between the two is easy to spot. The former is a product that is hard to live without while the latter is more disposable.

Build A Company That You Can Scale Independently of Your Staff

It’s better to grow a company that can be scaled using technology and automation. Take Groupon for example that did the opposite. They have a massive staff because they need it to keep new deals flowing everyday and to service their customers. Their company is not scalable because their growth is dependent on the number of staff their hire. This is why their balance sheet is awful.

 Find Ways To Keep Costs Low

You can think of cash as your company’s lifeblood and high cost is equivalent to a hemorrhage. Remember that all the cash in the world is not worth anything unless it’s a positive cash flow. Find ways to keep your costs low like going directly to the supplier or negotiating for better prices. Find better ways to finance transactions and ways to work out deals.

Focus on Sales and Marketing

Nothing happens in business unless a sale is made. From the start, find ways to get leads and ways to convert those leads into sales and make sure you are getting repeat sales from your customers. To do this you need an effective sales and marketing funnel that you can work, test and measure.

Always Find Ways To Increase Profits

Don’t rest on your laurels yet. Don’t just be happy with getting customers and making them buy from you. Always find ways to get them to buy more.

Embrace Creativity

Brands like Apple and Ikea stand the test of time because they have followers who are loyal to them. They also differentiated their companies from their competitors by embracing innovation and creativity. Reach out to your employees and don’t be afraid to use their ideas. Launching new products and developing a clever marketing campaign is a good way of retaining that competitive edge your company needs.

Test and Measure

Are your marketing campaigns increasing sales? Is your social media presence helping drive traffic to your website? Testing and measuring everything gives you perspective especially if you want to find ways to increase traffic and keep costs down. Use tools like Google Analytics and Unbounce to help you test and measure marketing campaigns.

Empower Your Staff

No matter how big or small you are, empowering your staff by letting their voices be heard can help boost your profitability. When they feel that they are contributing or when you give them freedom to work, you are making them feel wanted which can greatly affect their productivity and self confidence.

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