I mentioned last week that we recently had our annual family company picnic!  This year was a fantastic, amazing year filled with great people, beautiful places and meaningful time spent together.  Our meeting was a time to look back over what worked and what didn’t, and to spend time celebrating together.

Year end meetings can be a tricky thing for a small business.  Especially if you’re fighting the good fight all by yourself.  I can’t stress how important it is to take the time to ask yourself honestly some tough questions, and if possible get a trusted friend or two to sit with you during the process.

Every year we ask ourselves a few simple but poignant questions.

- Define what success and failure is individually and as a company.
- In what did we succeed?
- In what did we fail?

These questions are huge.   The majority of our meeting centered around them.  Really considering what success looks like is critical for knowing where you’re going and if you’ve accomplished anything.  It’s easy to adapt a worldly stance that leans more towards riches and fame.  While tempting, we realize that to be sustained in our craft, we only fail when we don’t always strive for a clear vision, stretching each other creatively, growing in friendship and realizing the unique qualities of incredible clients we are blessed to build relationships with.  We succeed when we find ourselves surrounded by true community and can spend time investing in meaningful relationships.

I am especially thankful that the four of us are all comfortable enough with each other to speak up if needed and also to receive constructive criticism well.  We’ve committed to a plan and to keep each other creatively and professionally accountable.

thanks to sean flanigan for this shot of jacqi and i

Over all we’re feeling super pumped about 2010.  It’s good to recalibrate with the team as a whole, to motivate each other in creativity, and to check in with everyone to make sure our work continues to fill us with life.

Floral Design: Elizabeth Designs

Venue: Novelty Hill - Januik Winery

Check out their engagement session on the UW Campus.

Matt + Jen are a Seattle couple who were married at Gorge Crest Vineyards in the Columbia Gorge.  It works out well that Gabe and I tag team the northwest.  We were able to hangout with Matt + Jen in Greenlake, planning their destination wedding over coffee at Zoka, which is practically Gabe’s backyard in my opinion.





Sneakin a peek.

I’m a big fan of Jen’s veil and vintage style.  I overheard her say she found it through indybride.com.









Party on!

I’d also like to say “howdy” to our new friend Debbie who just started a rad personal blog, Bridal Hood, that features her experiences planning a destination Hood River / Columbia Gorge wedding (at Gorge Crest!).

Mustache Frame

Over some nice wine and cheese, the four of us (Gabe, Myself, Ashley + Jacqi) got together last night to sit and share ideas for the future - something I would definitely recommend for every small business.  Even if you’re in it by yourself, find people you respect to mentor you and meet with you.  Later this next week  I’ll be posting some things that have helped us in these meetings and tips for others in the creative industry looking to do the same.