Aug 31, 2024
“I don't care when you show up to work!”
There I was, sitting in a HUGE office in downtown Chicago accepting my very first job as a Motion Designer.
I asked "What time should I come in tomorrow?
My new boss surprised me and said, "I don't care when you show up to work. Just hit your deadlines and make the clients happy!"
That's when I knew that working in a creative job was much different than all my other jobs growing up.
He continued...
"You are the artist! Come in late and work midnights if that's when you do your best work. Learning how you do your best work is part of the gig. Just get it done on time and make it great!"
This immediately made complete sense. I thought I was the weird one staying up late and working when everyone else was asleep. But here was my new boss telling me that this it's simply part of the creative process.
I internalized this and carried this through my career as a motion designer.
Years later as I grew Greyscalegorilla, I was now the one hiring amazing artists to work with. I knew that these words needed to be one of the core ideals of the company to attract and keep amazing talent.
Here were the few simple rules I created to share early on with the growing team.
NO
No tracking hours.
No need to come to the office. (Commuting to downtown Chicago SUCKS!)
No need to ask permission to go to the dentist or take your kid to a Dr. appointment.
YES
Be Kind!
Do great work!
Hit the deadlines!
Make our customers happy!
Today, Greyscalegorilla is about to celebrate its 15th year! And i'm proud that these rules are still true for over 25 employees and growing.
We have been fully remote since 2012. Hiring great talent from around the world.
Our team still doesn't need to ask permission to take care of themselves or their family.
Sure, some of our team enjoy the structure of a more typical work day. And don't worry, our customer support has actual hours. :)
But, those original words still echo throughout the company..
- Be Kind!
- Do great work!
- Hit the deadlines!
- Make our customers happy!