Every year I do an annual recap and it’s sadly only the second post I have published on Gossip Genie blog in 2018. It’s not that I don’t have anything to say, it’s that I had to prioritize my time while maintaining a work-life balance. There was a time when I wrote a post every day of the week. Although that is no longer feasible, I have supplemented with my incredibly well-written colleagues and our audience has thanked me because of it. Our blog has turned into a resource for all things social media, it is a wealth of information crafted by an ultra-talented team of Genies. That team of Genies is everything to me, so sit back, relax and let me just gush about my team, 2018 and what I’ve learned over the past 11 months.
The year started with a complete rebrand of Gossip Genie. Gossip Genie has evolved and our antiquated branding no longer aligned with our level of sophistication. Therefore, we completely overhauled every element of the company, from the logo to the color palette to the website and in February on our 8 year anniversary, we unveiled our new look. The feedback was fantastic. I’d like to take a moment to commend, thank and appreciate Janelle Prisner for this initiative. Rebranding a company is no easy feat, Janelle took over the project and every little detail was accounted for. She became the liaison for all of the moving parts and left no stone unturned. Janelle did such an incredible job that our client hired Gossip Genie to manage their complete rebrand. Janelle crushed that project as well. In addition to everything else, Janelle has completely revamped our Gossip Genie social presence. We can finally say we “practice what we preach.” I receive compliments daily regarding Gossip Genie’s social aesthetic and content. Not only is everything cohesive, but it’s also a prime example of the services we offer. Much like her work, Janelle as a person is wonderful. If I had to use one word to describe her it would be genuine. We should all aspire to be like Janelle, she’s loyal, devoted, honest and I’ve never heard her say a negative thing about anyone, ever. Basically, she won’t be joining me and Anthony in hell.
Violet has set the bar so high, I am not sure anyone else will ever be able to reach it. Violet manages so many different accounts and nothing ever slips through the cracks. On top of everything else, she also volunteers. Trust me when I say, no matter who you are, Violet will make you look bad because she’s that good. She goes above and beyond in so many different ways and her memory is more powerful than any computer. Tell her something once and she remembers it forever, birthdays, anniversaries, names, dates, numbers…she is our human calendar. It’s been an absolute pleasure being a part of all her accomplishments throughout the past year.
Ashleigh joined us in May but it feels like she’s been here forever. From day one, Ashleigh blew us all away, she assumed the position and made us a stronger team internally and externally. I’m impressed with Ashleigh on a daily basis. It’s not every day that you find a recent graduate that is as professional, creative, hardworking and dedicated as Ashleigh. Soon after starting, she was client facing and I was beaming with pride hearing her present at a pitch meeting for the first time.
Hiring someone on the spot is extremely risky, it’s like a marriage proposal on a first date. We lucked out with Lizz because we are all working in holy matrimony with this gem of a Genie. Lizz is always cool, calm and collected with an inner fierceness that shines through her work. There is no task too tall for Lizz, whether it’s a niche outreach initiative, creating content for horribly dry industries or crafting a fancy cocktail, Lizz has her black belt in all the above and in karate as well.
To the ladies of Gossip Genie…From fathers to brothers to boyfriends, husbands, male friends, and my son, we are each lucky enough to have wonderful men in our lives but we can all agree that Anthony is the most wonderful man of all. If I’m ever down on myself, I think about the fact that Anthony, one of the most incredible people I’ve ever met has willingly chosen to work with me for over 6 years. That is one of my life’s biggest accomplishments. We have been through so much together and you have accomplished more in 6 years at Gossip Genie than some people do in a lifetime. Things that used to be out of your comfort zone are a part of your daily routine, presenting to large groups, seamlessly managing all aspects of our biggest accounts, tackling difficult conversations with clients and peers, asserting yourself and making tough executive decisions based on your analysis of the situation. To say that I’m proud is an understatement. I almost feel as though saying I’m proud is condescending because you’ve humbled me. Your very presence motivates me, inspires me and reminds me why I started Gossip Genie in the first place. I never want to do this without you and by “this” I mean life.
One of the things I value most is a positive attitude. Taryn, thank you for being you. Your emotional intelligence is something I am in awe of. You have taught me so much about the importance of consistency, confidence, and compassion. You carry yourself with such grace and class, my mother calls you “the salt of the earth.” Whether it’s clients or coworkers, you know just when to step in, what to say or send their way to make them feel special. You are such a talented writer and I love reading everything you write, from audits to blog posts. Your creativity is overflowing, did you all know that Taryn titled this outreach email to Glee Gum: Hey Glee Gum — Looks like you might be in a sticky situation! Above all else, the way you dedicate yourself to your team and clients energizes me on a daily basis.
Liz with one Z – even though you’re new to the team, you’ve made a major impact in a very short time. You’ve restored violet’s faith in humanity and successfully alleviated her overwhelming task list. I am really looking forward to getting to know you better because I knew from our initial interview that you were destined to be a fantastic asset to our Genie family.
In conclusion, I want to tell you all how much I appreciate your hard work, loyalty, and support. This year has had its ups and downs and at the end of each day, I knew things would work out because I had this strong team by my side. I promise to continue to support, listen and motivate each of you in 2019 and beyond. We have worked together to grow so many channels on behalf of so many clients. As a result of our efforts, our collective efforts have impacted millions of people from a digital perspective. In 2018 we have traveled and made our mark near and far, from New York to Las Vegas, DC, Orlando, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. We have had highs and lows, losses and gains but at the end of the day, we are all damn proud to be Genies.
