When we started Elemental Concept, I had all the time (and excitement) of a start-up founder and wrote a blog about the rollercoaster ride we had started.
I wrote about trying to figure out the point of Twitter, and reflected on the early parts of our journey. As you can guess, whilst the enthusiasm didn’t die, the time I had to naval gaze did (and I still haven’t figured out the point of Twitter, or X, as I’m told it’s now known as).
We are 8 years in and in reality, I still don’t like looking at my belly button (and I’m not really sure anyone would), but I felt it was worth giving an update on our journey, as some good stuff is happening.
We’re still on that proverbial rollercoaster with some downs, as well as ups, but let’s talk about one of the brilliant things that has happened recently.
Bringing Purple Shirt into the family
Over the past 4 months, I have been in conversation with Steve Alexander and Blake Lough about bringing their incredible business (Purple Shirt) into the Elemental Concept Group. This wasn’t some pre-planned long-term strategic mission (I’d love to say it was, but those of you who know me would call me out); rather, it’s what happens when you have a catch-up with people you like, and start to realise that magic is happening. I’ve known Steve and Blake for years, and as friends do, we talked about where we are, what we enjoy and how we want to get to wherever our businesses end up.
That conversation evolved because Purple Shirt, as much as Elemental Concept, believe in the power of behaviour – in business, how you do ‘it’, is as important as any number, and we share a common language of ‘doing the right thing’.
So what we ended up with was a realisation that our businesses are hugely complementary, and fit for the following reasons;
- We have incredible people working for both companies
- Combined, we can offer more value to our existing customer bases
- We share the same ideology about doing things differently to deliver better
- We can have a great deal of fun doing it.
Purple Shirt do Strategy Consulting, employee, user and customer experience; a brilliant mix of tools to complement our own tech strategy and delivery. But there wasn’t some master game plan here (or was there Blake?); it just felt right.
I’m happy to make space on the roller coaster for the team over in NZ; sharing the experience with like-minded people will help me stop staring at my tummy.
