We are celebrating our TEN YEAR anniversary at Technical Integrity!
September 2020 marks the tenth anniversary of our founding in Boulder, Colorado.
My, how far we’ve come.
In celebration of our tenth anniversary, we’ve put together a list of what we’ve learned after ten amazing years in business.
Build Trust (and your business) Through Authenticity, Vulnerability, Kindness and Empathy
These four values are not ‘traditionally’ thought of as foundations of profitable enterprise businesses, but we’ve built them into our DNA as an organization from day one- to much success. We’ve found that indeed, taking a genuine interest in understanding someone’s point of view, opening yourself up to sharing similar life experiences, even if they are hard to share, bolsters relationships and trust.
Community Matters AKA #GiveFirst
We’ve written extensively on this topic having been inspired by TechStars’ #GiveFirst ethos. Giving of yourself to your fellow humans without any expectation of anything in return has inherent and limitless power that continues to amaze us daily. Walking into a networking event (virtual or IRL) and asking how you can help someone achieve their goals or overcome an obstacle, rather than who they work for and (presumably) what they can do for you will transform your personal and professional life. Try #GiveFirst as a core tenet in life and you’ll never be disappointed. We promise.
Work with People you Love and Respect- AKA Choose Your Clients Carefully
Just because someone approaches you to work together doesn’t mean you should pursue the business. First, determine if there is alignment of mission and values, ethics in business, timeline, and of course, budget and commitment to a partnership. We appreciate working with folks who understand the value we bring to the table and respect that our time is valuable. That respect goes both ways. Not all clients are created equal.
Building Equitable, Anti-Racist Companies and Technology is Imperative
Our technological (and let’s be honest, our fundamental) systems are broken. Algorithms that affect our daily lives are generally written without People of Color or women in the room and thus they adversely affect these groups as a result of the lack of their perspective in the development process. Our mothers, wives, sisters, aunts, cousins and our friends in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities deserve equity in America and beyond. We have been working actively with our friends in these communities to listen, learn, and become the best ally that we can be. Together we can build a more equitable tech sector. Let us know if you have questions on how to get involved in a better, more equitable and just future. Join us.
Use Radical Candor with Empathy
Speaking openly and tackling thorny issues at work and at home can be challenging, but doing so with grace is the goal. We’ve long been a fan of radical candor, but understanding that there is a living, breathing human with their own reasons for feeling the way they do on the other end must be part of the calculus. We strive to understand others’ position first through asking thoughtful questions and listening to their responses so we understand how we arrived at the current situation first. This understanding allows for the deliverance of feedback, thoughts, and ideas with empathy. One of our favorite quotes recently is from Vala Afshar– “The ability to stay calm and polite, even when people upset and anger you, is a superpower”.
Surround yourself with both personal and professional mentors
This one has been indispensable for us for many years beyond just this past ten. As the saying goes ‘if you are the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room’. Even the most accomplished CEOs and entrepreneurs have folks they look up to. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or request someone’s opinion, but certainly be respectful of their time. People want to help others. We’ve been fortunate enough to be surrounded by some of the most brilliant minds in startups and entrepreneurship because we asked for guidance. We wanted to learn from others’ mistakes and successes. We admitted we needed help and welcomed opinions on how to be better. We put our egos aside and we’ve never regretted it.
Own your mistakes
No one is perfect. We are all human. We all make mistakes. When you slip up and say or do the wrong thing, own the mistake in no uncertain terms. Learn from it, make sure you don’t repeat it, and then move on. People respect ownership of mistakes and relationships grow as a result of these actions.
Listen more than you talk
Your grandmother is likely not the only one that said this to you. It’s the truth. We will take it a step further to suggest that not only listening, but actually hearing what is being said is key to understanding your fellow humans, whether its business or personal interactions. ‘Nuff said.
Use your position of privilege and your platform to lift others up.
This is one we have done reflexively from the start, because it felt like the ‘right thing to do’. We are learning, listening, and understanding our position of privilege. As you may have seen in recent months we’ve done myriad high profile webinars on equity, helping small businesses during COVID and entrepreneur mental health. We care about our community and we are here to help.
Your Mental Health is Everything AKA Rest More
If you are not sleeping a minimum of six to eight hours a night AND taking time for yourself to exercise, focusing on things you enjoy, spending time with your family and friends…your mental and your physical health will falter. It’s scientifically proven that when you rest, your productivity, and your creativity increase, your stress decreases and you’re more likely to be happy in your role at work. We are indeed protective of our down time and we are always better for it. Create some space for yourself and your loved ones and you’ll never regret it.
THANK YOU for your support and kindness over the past ten years. We are extremely grateful for you.
Here’s to ten more amazing years, together.
Please never hesitate to reach out and let us know how we can be of assistance to you, at any point.
– Dave, Jaelin and the Technical Integrity team
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