Our last meetup was a round table style discussion time. It was the first time we’d done anything like this. Since our group has so many new faces we wanted to make sure everyone had a chance to speak up and share. When you’re young and running or starting a business there are tons of questions that you have and sometimes it’s hard to track down the answers. We wanted this meet up to be a place where attendees could get their questions answered without having to be worried about what others would think if they asked them. So…  everyone was able to submit questions anonymously for discussion after dinner. While everyone snacked on tapas from mi Tomatina in Winter Park, we pulled questions out of a jar one by one and opened up the floor for discussion. Some great topics were discussed from “what is success?” to “how do you balance customer satisfaction with your own artistic vision?” to “is it normal to get only 4 hours of sleep a night?”.

We hope everyone had an amazing time, we know we did. We can’t wait to see you all again over the summer! Stay tuned to the blog and twitter for upcoming meet ups and get togethers! And if you’d like to use this image for your own blog post about the meet up, you can download it here courtesy of Studio222 Photography and It’s Better Together. Please make sure you link back to us if you use it.

Seed Cathedral, acrylic rods cover the exterior and shiver in the wind.

Promise Tangeman | Join the cause

From the art collection of Hugh MacLeod at Gaping Void. Author of Ignore Everybody.

The team graciously shared insights on how Lure Design and L2 Design Collective, their sister company, work together; and about how to create dynamic and amazing partnerships like theirs with Drive New Media and Think Creative. As a studio that has always had a goal of staying small and turning out the highest level of creative and innovative work, Lure Design has been blazing trails in Orlando for years. You may know them without realizing it, as many of us did, when we saw this poster that recently garnered international attention at it raced around the internet, shared by graphic designers and creatives alike, because of it’s witty message.

Towards the end of their talk we asked all 4 members of the Lure Design team what their one piece of advice would be if asked to give it based on everything they’ve learned working at Lure and we got some great nuggests of wisdom:

“Know yourself and your limitations”

“Be true to yourself, always.”

“Be organized both for yourself and for your clients.”

“Always partner with the best.”

The team also graciously created a design based on our It’s Better Together logo and allowed every single attendee the chance to pull a screen print. The prints came out amazing, each looking completely different than the last as each member chose different colors and pulled their print on different recycled posters. For all of our graphic designers in attendance, this was an especially special experience!

After the posters were made, Lure design graciously provided us with an entire table full of refreshments and everyone was able to mingle and chat. And, as always, everyone was able to meet each other organically without any pressure to try to meet everyone because we put together our business card packs. This is something that we are really proud of and make it a point to put together at each meet up to allow everyone attending to not have to worry about “networking” or giving their card to as many people as they can. It takes the pressure off trying to remember to meet every single face in the room and allows everyone the freedom to mingle naturally. This time, Ashley of Ashley Brooke Designs was kind enough to design our name tags and business card packs this time. When everyone first walks in the door, they drop off all their business cards or marketing materials on a table and take a name tag. During the first half of each meet up, while speakers are talking, a small group of us go through and put one card of each attendee in each pack. Then, before everyone leaves, they take a pack home with them so that they have all the information of everyone there.

We had a wonderful time and want to thank each and every one of you who attended and who continue to attend and make our meet ups wonderful. If you weren’t able to make it this time, know that we host these meet-ups quarterly and the next one is coming up in April so if you haven’t already, subscribe to the It’s Better Together Blog and follow It’s Better Together on twitter to stay up to date with any announcements, business tips, daily inspiration, and more. We are so excited to see what happens in 2010 with our group and we’d love for you to be a part of it with us.

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