When we talk about values in a company, the standard that comes to mind is that which the vast majority uses, stamped on websites, without much concern to whether they are really part of the company's culture or lived in their day-to-day life.
Values are a very important pillar and directly affect how you impact people, manage deliveries, and differentiate yourself in the market. This self examination is not outward, it is inward.
At Elephant Skin, our definition of the company values did not come from any external model, but from the vision of those who work within the company. These values are present from the administrative to the artistic execution of a project and are fundamental to all areas.
What I'm going to share with you is how ES built its own values in the market, our true mission, and how we see the world, based on expressions we use in our daily lives.
The construction of this list was very organic. We didn't create it; it was the company that gave it to us. But, what does that mean?
It's no use looking outward, without first looking inward, at the essence and what is experienced in practice. What are our values and beliefs, and how do we want to impact the world? Maybe our list can inspire you in some way.
#1 - We Create WOW Stories!
The question we asked was the following: what reaction do we seek from people when they experience our work?
And the answer was: WOW! We seek an impactful reaction of enchantment.
When you are properly impacted, words are hard to find, right? Because the audience is emotionally bombarded and is processing the experience.
This is how we build 'WOW Stories' and does not only apply to the artistic team that produces the films, but to all people within the company who have the autonomy to have and create their own wow story.
The desire to impact a customer is common among us all, right?
Do it first! We don’t say much during our production process, but we do deliver! Our presentation shows what we have been doing and that we place great value on emotional impact.
#2 - Embrace the Challenges
Elephant Skin has grown significantly in 5 years. This achievement is thanks, in part, to the company's ability to embrace and solve challenges. There is no growth without overcoming challenges!
ES is a company that disrupts mediocrity; encouraging people to grow so that no one can get too comfortable. Here, it is required to think, learn, and evolve.
The best projects are the most complex and, within these 5 years, we have faced market challenges that no other company would want to face. As we grew, we improved our processes to embrace even more challenges. This is not the place for whomever doesn't like to leave their comfort zone.
On the other hand, ES is the perfect environment for those who want to face and overcome challenges.
#3 - Sh*t Happens. Don't be afraid.
Something will go wrong along your path, whether as an entrepreneur or professional. It doesn't matter if you are very good at what you do, you will fail at some point. What matters is your reaction and ability/speed to solve it.
There is something very strange going on if a team doesn't make any mistakes.
You need to know how to make mistakes quickly in order to correct them quickly. Why do I say this?
In 2010 I opened a company with two friends, the name was Foome. We did exactly the same thing as iFood but, clearly we know which company succeeded and which failed.
I can explain why Foome didn't work: there was no room for error. We had a giant vision, but it couldn’t advance and, as a result, we were swallowed by the market!
In that moment, I promised myself that if I ever had a company again, this wouldn't be a problem. Failures are relative opportunities. An idea that has gone wrong in the past may yet work at another time.
# 4 - Don't grow up… It's a trap!
I believe in this blindly. The truth is that the average adult is very limited and boring. As we grow up, we begin to fear complex situations.
Of course, we need to grow and mature. But, let’s not forget the cool part of childhood, where you question more, take risks, allow failure, have an enormous curiosity about life, and laugh at silly things.
No one should be rigid at all times!
As you grow into your adult self, try to hold onto the lightness, creativity, and courage so genuine in childhood that hibernates in each one of us.
#5 - There is no ‘I’ in team. It's an illusion to think that people depend on companies. On the contrary, companies depends on people. Elephant Skin depends on each and every person who is part of our team today.
Everyone wants to win, but you can win together. Worse than losing is winning alone and not having a team with which to celebrate.
We value collaboration at ES, and in view of our achievements, everyone who is part of the company is a true winner.
#6 - Think big or go home.
Thinking big and thinking small take the same effort. Channel your efforts to what matters, to the BIG. I'm never fully satisfied, but I enjoy the process. I resent someone telling me "you don't have the slightest chance of doing this!"
Elephant Skin gives people the opportunity to think big. The world is bigger than your space, and can be altogether much bigger than we imagine. When you think big, you must also see yourself as bigger.
I trust and rely on the talented people who make up our team. Every one of them makes a difference.
#7 - Make yourself proud.
There's nothing worse than delivering a subpar product of which you’re dissatisfied. If not even the creator likes their creation, just imagine how the customer must feel! You need to be the most harsh critic of the business and of what you deliver.
Now I pose an interesting question: how do you expect people to deliver something good if they don't even like working with you?
Building values is, first and foremost, to be living them. More than creating impactful WOW stories, our values reside in the air we breathe.
Written by:
Henrique Driessen CGO
Communications Manager - Roberta Lemos | Communication Intern – João Victor Campos
Author – Jornalist Daiana Barasa and Juliana Rodrigues | Naiá
Interviewed - Henrique Driessen - CGO
*All Rights Reserved to Elephant Skin Group Corp.
About Us
Born in 2017 in Miami, Elephant Skin offers a cutting-edge, integrated branding experience for real
estate developers. Our services include brand storytelling, still renderings, concept development,
CGI, 3D renderings, film productions, floor plans and interactive tours. We are a company for
creators, for people that never settle.
