WHOOP’s Post

🌟 Reflecting on New Beginnings...🌟 Just over a month ago, my professional journey at Newell Brands came to an unexpected yet anticipated end. After navigating through multiple restructuring phases, I found myself at a crossroads earlier than predicted — faced with a decision that many of us confront at pivotal moments: embark on a new job search or seize the chance to create something of my own. With a blend of foresight and preparation, the choice became clear. Over the past year, even as I continued to contribute to impactful projects at Newell, I was quietly laying the groundwork for a venture of my own. Inspired by a combination of research, advice from seasoned professionals, and a deep-dive into the entrepreneurial spirit, I started sketching out what would soon become a new chapter. In these past weeks, I've been converting plans into action. From refining my business model via online whiteboards to securing the perfect domain name, every step has brought me closer to realizing a vision that blends my passion for design with my dedication to innovative solutions. None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of my wife, a talented creative in her own right, whose insight and encouragement have been my guiding light. I also wouldn’t be in this position and well prepared without the wise counsel of friends and former colleagues who have been generous with their experiences. Stay tuned for an exciting announcement tomorrow—where I reveal the culmination of this journey. ZeroPointTwoSix is almost ready to meet the world, and I can't wait to share it with you all. 📅 **May 1st: Big Reveal!** #NewBeginnings #CareerTransition #DesignThinking #CreativeEntrepreneurship #ItsGonnaBeMay

[New Job, New Start, New Challenge] This blog, written by a new Colorkrew employee, reflects on his exciting 3 months at the company. Please stay tuned for his exciting journey at Colorkrew! #Colorkrew #Blog #NewBeginnings #ColorkrewAdventure

Guess what happened at Motley today! This month, we are in the middle of an exciting spatial branding project with a fantastic brand based out of Hyderabad. Jason and I were gearing up for a client call, strategizing how best to visually convey our team's innovative vision for a particular product display. And guess who became the unexpected hero of the day? Our incredible Administrator, Mahesh! 🌟 We at Motley have an open-door policy when it comes to brainstorming, as we strongly believe that ideas can come from anywhere. Mahesh was around, listening to our conversation, so we thought of asking him for his inputs, and to our delight, he gave some great value-additions. But the story doesn't end there! As we dove into the video meeting with the client, Mahesh, quick on his feet, not only contributed to the discussion, but also showcased a sample of the mechanism we were brainstorming for. Yes, you read that right – Mahesh's first client presentation turned out to be a spontaneous display of ingenuity. This moment and this visual of Mahesh facing a client with a smile reaffirms my belief that fostering a culture where doors and minds are wide open leads to extraordinary results. The magic happens when we break down silos, embrace diverse perspectives, and allow ideas to flow freely from every corner of the office. Cheers to Mahesh for being so proactive without even knowing what’s ‘proactive’. :) #MotleyCrew #ProactiveIRL

Last week I had the opportunity to participate in an all-hands meeting for one of our partners, Solink, to discuss how we collaborate on solutions to ensure safety at The Van Aken District. During the meeting, someone mentioned viewing my LinkedIn profile and how hearing about my background in other industries would be interesting. This got me thinking about my journey on the "road of my career" and how each of my previous positions and lessons have led me to where I am today. One fundamental philosophy I learned in my first job at a plant store when I was 15 has continued to guide my mentality to this day: "Always keep in mind that nothing we sell here is a necessity. That means people choose to spend their hard-earned dollars with us because they want to. We owe it to them to treat them right because without them, we would not have paychecks." This statement has applied to every position I have had since. My lesson learned: Don’t ever look at a job as just a paycheck. There is always something that can be learned and you never know how something as simple as a pre-shift meeting from when you were a teenager will continue to impact and pay dividends to your career over 20 years later. #goldenrule #frontlineworkers #hospitality #customerservice

Timing.... This week I left the security of working full time for a good company to jump headfirst into launching a somewhat complex business model for a startup (a business portfolio builder with an economic / human development social vision). Given approximately 70+% of startups fail within the first five years, trying to start more than one simultaneously, as the sole founder, is near the crazy mark. The economic and human development slant for my parent company is focused on small-urban and rural areas. Around two years ago, while investigating startup/business ecosystems in small-urban and rural areas in Eastern Idaho (Rexburg, Idaho Falls, Pocatello), I discovered Rob Poleki 🚽 and his innovative ideas in a very old marketplace--toilets. The growth of his company and story has been an inspiration to me for many reasons, with a few mentioned below. I find it double inspirational that I jump headfirst into starting my business fulltime when he celebrates his five-year anniversary of doing the same thing many moons ago. 1 Extremely hard work ethic. I saw many of Rob's posts in the wee hours of the night and morning installing new toilet seats. 2 Humor and working with a smile. This a bonus to number one as Rob, and his business partners, are always smiling while down in the trenches grinding away. 3 Innovative opportunities are everywhere. Rob shows there are innovative ideas outside of the typical technology popularity contest. Congratulations Rob! Not only have you beaten the statistic of startup failures, but I also know it's only the beginning because you "can't stop, won't stop". #startupsuccess #startupsupport

Hard to think of a more rewarding thing as a manager than promoting your team. Hard to think of an easier decision than promoting Jethro Cohen. If you are a founder...you must know Jethro! When he reaches out, you are ignoring him at your peril. He is passionate about what he does. He loves the job and loves helping those around him. He builds outstanding relationships and networks that he uses to help founders - whether we've invested or not. And when we do, he goes super deep and will run through walls to help you out. He's no just a people person though - he is smart, insightful and will give great direction on key strategic issues you are facing. It's no wonder he has such respect and admiration from founders and other investors in the ecosystem. Noone is perfect though, so buyer beware: he has the worst taste in icecream possibly ever. He staked his career on a certain flavour. Lucky he's bloody good at his job, because he lost that bet but we kept him anyway. Jethro Cohen - there's no stopping what you can do. I look forward to watching you develop into a future leader at Square Peg and across the industry more broadly!

Great advice for leaders.

Exciting news & quick story time 📣 I’m thrilled to announce my recent move into the Marketing Manager position at Swell Partners! 😊 The work is so exciting, and I genuinely look forward to each new challenge. While thinking about what to share in this post, a recent exchange with our CEO, Cari Gatto, came to mind. A couple of weeks ago, after a few consecutive fumbles, I openly acknowledged an area where I could improve. I loved her response and was surprised at just how much it struck me. "Square pegs don't fit in round holes," she said. And that she wasn’t in the business of making them do so. This resonated with me on a deep level. I often exist in spaces that hold up a mirror to my "squareness." I have been labeled as "sassy and aggressive" rather than brave and confident, marginalized based on my economic status, and confronted with outright racism and misogyny. Cari's reassurance meant more than she probably realized. As a proud Cuadrado, I've always embraced being a 𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘦. I'm grateful to work in a place that values and celebrates this. In a world where we've all felt the pressure to conform, I imagine many can relate to the journey of finding their place in the workplace. Leaders, let's make it a priority to foster an environment where employees know that individuality will be valued and celebrated. #happyworkplaces #happyworkpeople

Triad's nationwide sales team united in St. Louis for three days of learning, laughter, and team bonding. We reflected on incredible achievements in 2023 and planned for 2024, all while having a whole lot of fun! We started off with a delicious dinner at Edera, where the dinner table turned into a comedy club - fostering an atmosphere of camaraderie and shared joy. The next day we gained insights from thought-provoking presentations by department heads across design, customer service, engineering, finance, marketing, and installation. Engaging with experts from different departments provided us with a multitude of invaluable insights, enhancing our collective knowledge. Amen (our GM of facilities and production) guided us through the factory, showcasing our ongoing projects, machines, and investments. A significant investment for us was the construction of our new storage building. Wrapping up the experience, we had a blast at Top Golf, connecting with more members of our fantastic team and revealing some impressive skills among our team members. Triad is more than a team; it's a big, supportive family. We consistently have an incredible time whenever we come together, and we hope you have the opportunity to experience working with the Triad family. Working with us means not only getting industry experts but also a team that knows how to have a good time! #WeAreTriad #ContinuousLearning #TeamExpertise #TeamEnrichment #TeamLearning #TeamSpirit #TeamCollaboration #RetailExperience #RetailFixtures #TeamBonding #Collaboration #TeamCelebration #TeamUnity #WorkCulture #WorkEnvironment #EmployeeMorale #TeamAppreciation #EmployeeOwned #WorkExperience

💫 Embracing Creativity and Diversity at orderbird – Together we soar 💫 Diversity is a crucial part of my life and is a fundamental value for me 🏳️🌈. Immersing myself in various cultures and perspectives has deeply influenced my outlook. These experiences have taught me to appreciate the world through different viewpoints and cherish the unique stories everyone brings. 🌍 💖 At orderbird, these values shine through in the most innovative ways. One of my favorite traditions is the Lego Bird Challenge for our New Birds (new team members) during their Welcome Day. 🐦 🎉 New Birds have just 3 minutes to create a bird from Lego and then present it to the team with a name and a brief story. This engaging activity stems from Design Thinking, a powerful approach that fosters problem-solving through creativity and collaboration. 🧠 💡 The Lego Bird Challenge serves multiple key purposes: 1. Icebreaker: It makes New Birds feel welcome and part of our diverse community from day one. 2. Creativity Boost: It encourages out-of-the-box thinking and highlights the unique perspectives each person brings. 3. Team Bonding: It builds a sense of community and belonging, essential for a thriving and innovative workplace. This challenge celebrates the diversity each team member brings to our nest, reminding us that every bird counts and every story adds value to our collective journey. 🚀 💫 Being part of orderbird is a daily reminder of how diversity and creativity fuel innovation and success. Here’s to a workplace where everyone can thrive and reach new heights! 🙌 🎉 #diversity #inclusion #designthinking #teambuilding #innovation #orderbird #workculture #welcomeday #creativity #empathy #teamspirit