Around this time each year on the Porch, we take time for reflections. Reflections on the year – significant events and experiences, lessons learned, and what changes we hope for the next year.

The concept of time was a popular theme among the Rockers’ reflections this year. Perhaps this is because not only is another year ending, but another decade, as well. Perhaps it is because time holds such value in our lives. It is a constant reminder to embrace the here and now with an eye toward the future.

2019 Reflections from the Porch

For me, 2019 has been all about soaking up the memories made while marking milestones in my children’s lives. My son is a senior in high school. My daughter is in kindergarten. So, the passing of time, in our family, is marked by their “last firsts.” It is time that seems to pass so quickly you blink, and it is over. Yet, a tragic loss of someone dear to my family in May has made me realize how painstakingly slow time can pass when grief is involved.

There have been some fabulous surprises, as well. My son’s football team made it to the state semi-final game, a first in his school’s history, which ended his football career on a high note. Go Rangers! Our fabulous client, Faith Family Academy, took it even further and brought home their first State Championship Title in Boys Basketball.

Whether in the happiest of moments or the saddest, this year has provided so much opportunity. Opportunity to be grateful for the time spent with family, friends, co-workers and clients. It has taught me to be present in each moment, to give and receive grace, and to spend my time doing things that make me a better person, wife, mother and business leader.

For lil’ rock, Maria Gregorio, the time is now. “I tend to get caught up in ruminating about the past and worrying about the future. I do this so much that I forget that these days are ‘the good old days.’ In the movie Kung Fu Panda, Master Oogway says, ‘You are too concerned with what was and what will be. There is a saying: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.’ So, here’s to moving into 2020 more mindful to live in the present.”

Soak in the Power of Relationships and Reinvention

Part of living in the present is spending time with people and things that fulfill you. Rock Star, Vanessa Hickman: “I am thankful for relationships and community. Love is one of the most profound emotions known to human beings. I spent 2019 soaking in the love of the people around me and doing life with my family.”

Classic Rocker Greg Asher took this advice to heart. He is still reflecting on his reflection for the year.

Often, being present in the moment allows you to see a future need or desire more clearly. This year, we added All-Around Rocker, Lori Rahlfs, to the Porch: “Lately, I find myself thinking about the power of reinvention. The blessings and challenges that come with each stage and phase of life. Each, personally or professionally, calls for us to re-imagine or reinvent the life we are living. Then, we can satisfy new or future needs.”

The Rock, Tara Engelland: “I came across this quote earlier this year, and it has stuck with me. ‘Don’t fear failure. Fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.’ It’s important to remember when working with clients to grow or start their business. It is a reminder that you must take risks to get to where you want to be personally and professionally.”

Our Goals for 2020

As you look to 2020, set realistic and thoughtful goals to define or reinvent any part of your life that needs a change. Seek to find something that allows you to really focus. Are you considering re-entering the job market? Try these tips from Corps Team Dallas. Has it been a while since you’ve enjoyed an evening out with a friend or loved one? Go see a Ballet Frontier performance.

Whether your 2020 goals are to live in the moment, or to re-imagine, or (re)define your mission or your brand, there’s no time like the present. Like the beautiful jewelry from our treasured client Ellen Hoffman Designs, time is intricate and precious. May you spend it wisely and wrapped up in moments with those you love. We wish you a joyous holiday season and a Happy New Year (and New Decade!), Friends!

It’s not easy being green.

Or is it? The Pantone Color Institute has announced that Greenery is the official 2017 color of the year, number 15-0343 to be exact. And as a graphic designer, there is nothing I love more than a new source of inspiration.

In the world of marketing, color has a way of evoking feelings and attitudes toward companies and their brands that words can never quite achieve on their own. Color brings about meanings and connotations that cause the viewer to associate that brand with their unique personal experiences. Whether it’s the specific Pantone shade you have chosen for your company logo, the background hue of your website, or the paint on the walls of your store, color is powerful and can have an immense impact on the way customers perceive your company.

To complicate it even more, color works in harmony with shapes, graphics, and images to portray your brand or company. Color can increase brand recognition and symbolize meaning behind words. A fiery red portrays vibrancy and energy, while a cool blue conveys relaxation, loyalty, and tranquility. Even the names of colors matter. Research has shown that people prefer a mocha sweater over a brown one, and lemon colored plates over yellow ones. Even when they’re the exact same shade! There is actually a chemical reaction in the human brain that produces an emotional response to color. This reaction triggers various thoughts, memories, and associations. And when it comes to your brand, of course you want to make sure you are triggering the reactions you are looking for.

But what about this fresh new hue? What does green represent? It’s known for all kinds of things! A green traffic light means go. “Going green” means being environmentally conscious and recycling. “Feeling green” can mean you are sick, and “green with envy” symbolizes jealousy. Green also represents growth and rebirth. But what about this particular shade? Pantone describes Greenery as a refreshing and revitalizing shade, and symbolic of new beginnings. They say it is a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew. Illustrative of flourishing foliage and the lushness of the great outdoors, the fortifying attributes of Greenery signals consumers to take a deep breath, oxygenate and reinvigorate. What a rich and inspirational color!

Here’s a fun fact: did you know that there are more shades of green than any other color? Think of all the shades out there: lime green, avocado green, army green, emerald green, grass green, to name a few. There are so many green things to love:

• Green foods, like avocados, zucchini, broccoli, cucumbers, kiwis, limes, pickles, pears, and even green M&M’s (Legend has it that they are an aphrodisiac, or so we hear!)
• Lucky four-leaf clovers, and leprechauns on St. Patrick’s Day
• Sparkling green emeralds
• Evergreen trees, fields of grass, and lush foliage outdoors
• Green animals, such as frogs, geckos, turtles, lizards, snakes (ok, maybe not snakes)
• Money, also called greenbacks
• Legendary characters like the Incredible Hulk, the Grinch, Peter Pan, Shrek, the Jolly Green Giant, and Kermit the Frog

A few of our other favorite green things, here on the Porch:

Feizy green pin-striped rug (Duprine Collection), green juice from The Gem, and green jewelry from Ellen Hoffman Designs. We love green so much on The Porch, we even rocked it for our most recent team photo.

So next time you’re thinking green, or feeling green, or seeing green, try to remember how much color matters, and what it can do for you and your company. It is always smart to consider whether it’s a good time to rebrand yourself. What color is going to be the source of inspiration for your brand this year?

We. Are. So. Feeling. It.

Our five year business anniversary of making branding and marketing rock for our amazing clients has made us totally mad about the number five. FIVE. 5. Cinco.

And so, in keeping with our five obsession, we present Five Rockin’ Things We are Doing for Clients:

1. Development of the Todomodo Website: TodoModo is a consulting and investment firm. We were able to get in on the ground floor with them – we started with the branding process, defined their brand strategies and then translated it to this site. We loved working with them on this and are continuing to be the company’s marketing partner! We wrote and ran this release on the wire for them among other things.
2. Ellen Hoffman Designs at the Accessories Circuit: Ellen, the doyenne of Ellen Hoffman Designs, is a wildly talented jeweler that we are privileged to work with. We promoted her at the Accessories Circuit at the Javitz Center in New York.
3. The Gem Yelp Event: The GEM welcomed elite Yelpers to a mini “Day in the Life” event. Yelp promoted the program as an educational “how to” series.
4. Feizy Rugs Shows at High Point Market: At a champagne brunch at High Point Market, Feizy Rugs and the finalists in its Haute Trends^TM design competition revealed the initial designs for the collection. Each designer’s initial Haute Trends designs are featured on the Feizy website.
5. Vistage: For the past year and a half, our Chief Rocker has been a member of Vistage, which is a fantastic organization that brings together successful CEOs, executives and business owners and groups them into private peer advisory groups guided by expert executive coaches. These peer groups and coaching sessions help members solve their most pressing business opportunities.

We love our clients. We live for our clients. And there’s nothing more gratifying than helping clients rock their businesses!