KMG Through the Years: KMG Turns 7

Culture

Apr 1

Written By Kaleidoscope Management Group

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Happy Spring! 🌷And Happy Birthday to KMG and PRISM. It is hard to believe it’s been 7 years since I founded KMG and 2 years since we started sending PRISM.

The journey has been challenging, rewarding and illuminating. As part of this anniversary edition, I thought I’d share the top 5 things I’ve learned since starting the business:

I was wrong. When I first started KMG, I thought the hardest part of the job would be finding clients. We have had incredibly good fortune to work with clients across industries who trust us to advance their business goals through digital marketing. And we deliver. The hardest part has been making sure we find and retain the best talent who can fulfill this promise year after year. I am so proud to say that while it may have been a challenge, our team and the culture we have built at KMG makes me so proud. Takeaway: invest in your people. It will come back to you in spades.

A career in digital marketing is not as far of a leap for an art history major as one might think. Especially when you consider that Instagram is now the largest art gallery in the world, challenging art galleries and museums to remain relevant. My understanding of the arts, art history and communication has served me well in building a company whose purpose is to develop breakthrough content and messaging. Takeaway: if someone you love is considering pursuing a liberal arts degree, try and reserve judgment. It could turn out alright!

Tik Tok rivals therapy. I said what I said! This platform has been in existence since 2016, but exploded in the pandemic and doesn’t show signs of slowing down anytime soon. It was the world’s top downloaded app in Q1 2022 and, with 3.5 billion all-time downloads, it has been the top downloaded app each quarter (except for Zoom in Q4 2020!). I’m convinced that the algorithm knows us better than our best friend. For brands considering incorporating Tik Tok into their social strategy, consider these helpful tips. Takeaway: don’t knock it ‘til you try it.

The pandemic has profoundly changed us, permanently. I notice this in small moments, at the grocery store where everyone is seemingly learning to communicate and interact with people again. There is a noticeable edge that hangs in the air as we re-emerge from our cocoons. My guess is that society at large will still be licking their wounds (however they showed up in the last two years) for some time. Experts agree that we will likely never return to life as we knew it pre-pandemic. Everyone is fighting an internal battle of some kind and the last two years have made this even more pronounced. Takeaway: Be kind. Find some patience. Hold the door for someone. Smile at a stranger.

Mindfulness and meditation may just be the answer. As our team makes our climb back to achieving record, 2019 revenue levels, I’m convinced of the value of growing mindfully and sustainably… for the long haul. Most companies can grow fast for a time, but can they sustain it? Eckhart Tolle’s 10 Rules for Success serve as a helpful guide in this arena… especially for a high-achieving, Capricorn like me. I’m counting down the days to seeing Eckhart next month in Atlanta! Takeaway: Find a practice that helps you settle your mind. Slowing down to speed up is not just good for your health, it’s good for your business!

So happy birthday to us. Thank you for being on the ride. Here’s to another year of working with clients and teammates who are, to a person, visionary, collaborative and growth-oriented.

Warmly,