I talk about culture and mindset a lot. People are the essential ingredient at Purple Office Productions and a high vibration culture is by design and critical to our approach. What does this mean exactly? It starts with watching our words. Words are powerful pointers to what’s going on in our minds and what we believe will happen (and then “make” happen), both positive and negative. For instance, I was recently in a workshop and every participant in the room as they were introducing themselves bemoaned the state of the industry while at the same time feeling entitled to more. Every person in the room had a project they “wanted” picked up, but the talk was filled with all the reasons why this wasn’t going to happen, with all of the reasons being “out there.” A producer that received an important grant then went on to say it was “nothing.” She meant in terms of the overall budget, but the words had already escaped. The gratitude that I am sure she felt when receiving the grant was accidentally dismissed. It’s so easy to do.

Everything matters. Words matter. Acceptance matters. Challenges exist and will always exist. I’m challenging my own acceptance by constantly looking inward and asking, “Have I done everything that I can today,” completely letting go of, “It’s a crappy market. There’s nothing we can do. Survive to 2025” and then oops, it is 2025!

It’s a leader’s choice. We can refrain from constantly harping on industry challenges, turning the challenge into problems, and problems into still bigger problems, weighing down culture and behaviour – and ultimately negatively impacting the company. I prefer to accept the climate, enjoy the moment, meet challenges head on without running, ruminating or creating illusory closed doors that simply may or may not be there. We prefer curiosity and playfulness, making magic and opening doors instead! It’s way more fun and raises our game.

Be absolutely infinite,

Cheryl