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DV Core Value #10: Try Until You Fail

Written by Barbara Essien “Beware of the safe zone! The word "try" implies a level of uncertainty in the plausibility of the outcome. A fish doesn't try to swim, it just does! The only way to know the limits to what you can accomplish is to continually try to reach the next level.” - Michael Gill Creative Director

The past few months at Dynamic Vision has brought on the gradual adoption of Agile-Scrum. With that, the team adheres to empiricism which, “asserts that knowledge comes from experience and making decisions based on what is known.”  It’s a great way to make gains via trial and error. The different DV teams don’t decline an idea or effort unless it’s been given a shot and proves itself to be ineffective. However, this is only one of the many ways DV exemplifies the value, Try Until You Fail. “To me it is all about testing yourself beyond your comfort zone. It's about pushing yourself to find your limits and even then working towards extending your limits. Try until you fail means to try doing something new even if you know you aren't good at it. Then work towards getting good at it. Once you’re comfortable move on to the next endeavor. I think it goes in-line with one of my favorite quotes. ‘Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or what's a heaven for?’  - Robert Browning In many ways I've lived by that quote, and in a way always trying until I fail.” - Eduardo Quiroz Software Engineer & Mobile App Developer

Success credits shortcomings and the many aims that never lead to a bullseye. Therefore, it’s to be expected that each time team DV tries, and every time they fail, a product is becoming that much better. “There is no failure except in no longer trying.” - Chris Bradford Previous post: Embrace a Vision, Then See it Through

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DV Core Value #9: Embrace a Vision, Then See it Through

By Barbara Essien

“Visualize where you want to go, and what you want to accomplish. Then identify what it will take for you to get there, and stick to it until you make it. The steps required to get there may change as you go, so stay flexible. But never lose sight of where you're going and what you're striving towards.”

- Michael Gill Creative Director

DV’s visionary sets the tone for everyone else in the company. Almost ten years ago he attained an incredible goal. These days he strives to meet new marks with the help of the entire team. To do so, everyone welcomes the vision warmly, then holds close to it as each day brings on new endeavors. 

“To embrace a vision one must truly embody the vision in a personal and public way. If you don’t believe in the vision, it will fail. If you don’t show your colleagues/team that you believe in the vision, it will fail. Embracing a vision means sharing the vision with the team and getting team buy-in so the entire team has a stake of ownership in the vision (no one can accomplish something entirely on their own). So to see a vision through there must be clarity, task specifics, and inclusion of the team.” - Ryan Greenwald DV Product Manager

With technology’s ever-growing nature, it’s a must for teams like Dynamic Vision to keep up, and stay up. It’s with drive such a challenge is overcome. It’s with passion the necessary motivation is maintained. Most of all, it’s with the shared view of a target that encourages high aim that the success of DV is met. Previous post: Display Passion

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DV Core Value #8: Display Passion

Written by Barbara Essien

“In order to work hard at something, take ownership of it, or have fun doing it, you have to be passionate about it. But having passion is only half of the equation, you have to display it! Show others what you're passionate about and how that impacts you. Are you an avid bird watcher? Then spam the #random channel in Slack with pictures from your weekend bird-watching excursion. Do you live for musicals? Then cast some to a TV in the office and sing along. Passion is contagious.”

- Michael Gill Founder & Creative Director

One could wonder if Dynamic Vision always featured certain pastimes. Take ping pong for example. It’s played on a daily basis and it’s not because making it available to the team was a given. It was requested. There are a couple of pro players who happen to also program.

What about yoga? Plenty of articles have surfaced describing the deep breathing, light stretching endeavor being beneficial for office-folk. However, if it wasn’t for one team member expressing her love for it and how much she wanted to share it with the team, there wouldn’t be Namaste Wednesdays in the workspace.

Then there’s music. Walk by the picnic room these days and a mic, speakers and keyboard can be found within because one dev is just that devoted to music.

"Each one of us is truly passionate and invested in the work that we do here. But that passion isn’t simply limited to the work that's required of us in our particular roles at DV. We all have hobbies, talents, or interests that we are invested in away from the office as well. Display passion is a constant reminder that not only are we allowed to share these interests at work with the team, but we are encouraged to do so. It's great to see joy and passion so proudly displayed around the office each day. It all makes for a very inspiring and creative work environment."

- Aaron Gill Brand Manager at DV

Games of Rocket League, Call of Duty, Magic the Gathering and even chess take place at DV HQ. All introduced by one team member, and all welcomed by the entire group. Music, books, movies, breweries, sports or other, if someone has a passion for it, there’s a good chance it will be displayed to then be adopted by the team. It tends to be how the creative juices continue to flow. Previous post: Make Time For Fun

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DV Core Value #7: Make Time for Fun

Written by Barbara Essien “Work is hard, but it doesn't have to be boring! A big part of working happy is taking time to clear your head and have fun. At DV this is often accomplished through a rousing game of ping-pong, a nostalgic dive into YouTube clips of a TV show from yesteryear, or even a gif-driven tangent on Slack. We embrace this! Building software is a creative process, and creative processes are not switch-driven linear 4-hour segments of the work day.” - Michael Gill Founder & Creative Director

The work environment at Dynamic Vision is a space of many sounds. There is of course the harmony of fingertips dancing atop keyboards. Apart from that, there is the melody of a ping pong ball bouncing from paddle to table to paddle and back. The sonance of the yoga instructor’s voice guiding a developer through sun salutations can be heard at a distance. 

Music doesn’t only ring out from the Sonos speakers placed throughout the office, but also in the picnic room where jam sessions are held. And though the vibrations of the PS4 controllers cannot be as easily heard, the good vibes of the players are usually sensed by those around.

“Here at DV we take pride in our work and believe strongly in the “work hard, play hard” motto. After hours of developing application features I enjoy challenging my fellow co-workers to a friendly competition of ping pong, which I am not too shabby in.”

- Victor Cortez DV Software Engineer

At DV whether a team member has hit a wall, accomplished a task or has been ask to be a friendly opponent, that’s their cue to take the time to have fun. Because all work and no play makes a dev re-read lines of code.   Previous post: Support Your Team

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DV Core Value #6: Support Your Team

By Barbara Essien “DV is not a collection of freelancers. We are one team moving in the same direction towards the same goals. We are competing against complacency and division, not each other. If someone asks for help, help them. See someone who's not asking for help? Go ask if you can help them! You may be surprised at the results.” -Michael Gill Founder & Creative Director

Teams are not exclusive to athletes. Teamwork appears in various forms. A group of individuals whose efforts are combined so as to reach one goal can perform on a court, in an arena, or at an office. 

The office of Dynamic Vision is a place to witness the type of fast break that involves a Technical Lead charging towards a task with a set of skills he shares with a team of developers. They weave together the code. They layup a finished product. There’s another group that will receive a request from a customer who punts it their way. A catch is made and they take off! The team’s Scrum Master - like the good defense  he is - doesn’t let anyone get near the programmers, allowing them a “touchdown” come the end of their Sprint. 

“Support Your Team means lending a helping hand, offering encouragement, providing a space for others to discover their skill strengths and passions, and celebrating and respecting various personalities and work styles.

At DV, we thrive when we support one another. That realization that together we stand and divided we fall, is what compels us to rely on each other to reach our goals day in and day out. Believing that everyone has something of value to contribute to the team is part of who we are as a company.”

- Kianna Gill Logistics Coordinator at DV

Even when an endeavor doesn’t involve the entire team, a member can rest assured there’s a lineup cheering them on from the sidelines. As Kianna states, there are many ways to Support Your Team, and with the array of individuals at DV, the varieties are endless. Previous post: Work Until You’re Proud

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DV Core Value #5: Work Until You’re Proud

Written by Barbara Essien

“We all want to be proud of what we've done. In order to get there, we have to first do something that we can be proud of. The satisfaction of doing your best work translates into confidence that is contagious amongst your team and our customers.”

- Michael Gill DV Founder and Creative Director

The word “work”, at times, can have a negative connotation. However, team members at Dynamic Vision fall upon the positive side of work. This is due to the engagement in their efforts. Pride is brewed from their passion which is displayed via their achievements. 

The case where a goal has be reached is one that sheds light on the addition made by the responder to the original request. To work until you’re proud is the following: 

“It means that you can only get the true satisfaction of your work when you know that you’ve gone the extra mile to do the best you could, even if it was not necessary.”

- Sergey Kravchenko DV Software Engineer

However daunting that extra mile is, to arrive at a destination beyond the initial checkpoint is to welcome a new sense of fulfillment. The gratification soon turns into the motivation to reach yet another goal. It’s the nature of team DV, and it’s showcased in the team’s ever-progressing products. Previous post: Take Ownership

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DV Core Value #4: Take Ownership

Written by Barbara Essien

“DV expects everyone on the team to take pride and ownership in their role within the company. You are a member of this team for a reason. You bring a variety of skills and potential to this team that empower you to reach that next goal. This is your company, this is your team, these are your goals. See something that needs to be done? Do it! See something you don't like? Change it!” - Michael Gill DV Founder & Creative Director

Team members at Dynamic Vision have personal and professional goals. However, the collection of the lot of those desired achievements can be regarded as DV’s mission in its entirety. It has been proven that each team member brings something unique to the table. 

When one contribution is put into a melting pot of others, incredible results follow. These outcomes tend to be solidified when an individual holds close to their commitments, yet share their passion for the work that went into a task.

“To me, take ownership is about allowing your passion (who you are) to combine with your work (what you do). Everyone at DV puts a piece of themselves into what they are working on, and can have that ownership when they look at that project and see their talents in its reflection.”

- Austin Harris DV Software Engineer

There happens to be wonder in the work done by team DV. A myriad of skills, ideas, conversations, contributions, support systems, tasks, shoutouts, meetings, pushes, pulls, jokes, gifs, resources, emojis, challenges, breaks, breakthroughs and triumphs bring products to life. Their existence comes from the team players who own up to what’s novel about them, who then supply the work with something extraordinary shared by the team. Previous post: Create Something Great, but Never Call it Great

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DV Core Value #3: Create Something Great, but Never Call it Great

Written by Barbara Essien

“Great is relative. At DV we believe the best approach is to do your best work, then let the customer decide whether it's great or not. If they say it's great, congrats! Now challenge yourself to make something for the harder-to-please customer. If they say it's not great, don't insist that it is. Use it as motivation to push yourself to making a better product.” - Michael Gill DV Founder & Creative Director

A part of Dynamic Vision’s mission is to, “make great software.” To the team, that’s a given. Albeit, the creative process comes with both success and failure. 

What’s expressed when either outcome surfaces is a nod of acknowledgement, followed by the switch of a gear to continue to turn the wheels of great minds. While these minds may be great, it is left to the product to impress its user.

“Greatness should be found in every aspect of every part of everything we do. The tiniest pieces of a rocket are what allows us to reach Mars. Continuous observations about the rough seas around it add up to a ship that avoids the storm and makes its destination.

People aren't watching what we do at every moment, we're the only ones who know that we're always doing our best work. Be mindful, present, and aware of what you create. No need to tout your own greatness, that's a missed opportunity to be doing more great things. After all, if it's not great, what is it?”

- Brian Hubbell Senior Software Engineer & Lead Architect at DV

The group of creatives that make up team DV enjoy building, revel in problem solving, and excel at learning from mistakes. What’s more is the team’s ability to tally greatness rather than talk about it. They happen to be too busy enjoying the work they do to stop and tell the next person just how awesome their work actually is.  Previous post: Work Hard, Work Happy

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DV Core Value #2: Work Hard, Work Happy

Written by Barbara Essien

“Hard work is rewarding. The sense of accomplishment and self worth that come along with working hard can't be denied. DV focuses a lot of time and energy on creating an environment that makes even hard work fun, and surrounds you with people that can't help but enjoy what they do for a living.”

- Michael Gill DV Founder & Creative Director

To work with like-minded individuals, is to work with friends, the kind of friends that are there to tell a joke so bad, it defaults to being funny. This is how Dynamic Vision operates. Even when a task is daunting, tedious or just downright all-consuming, smiles happen to break loose, laughter creeps out between breaths, and on occasion a game of doubles ping-pong becomes an essential part of the process.

“What’s awesome about DV is that the idea of working hard can coexist with the idea of being happy at work. To begin with, our team is filled with some of the best people you’ll ever meet that have a passion to learn but also understand that learning takes some hard work. So naturally DV as a whole would embrace a work hard mentality. Add on top of that, the free-spiritedness of our culture and environment and you have a unique vibe at DV that encourages you to tackle any obstacle that confronts you all while supporting one another and loving what you do. I believe this is what is meant by our core value: Work Hard, Work Happy.”

- Mike Cebrera DV Software Engineer

At Dynamic Vision the method to the madness is really a making of the most. Team members make the best of their situations. With that, the most becomes of DV’s products. 

The team is here with a purpose and an intention to do great work and reap the pleasures of play. As a result, team DV works hard all while working happily.

Previous post: Stay Humble

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DV Core Value #1: Stay Humble

Written by Barbara Essien

“It's said that humility isn't thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. Focus more of your time on how you can help others on your team. Had a recent success? That's great! Now share with others on your team how you achieved that success and help empower them to achieve a success of their own. 

Once you've begun focusing on others, there is less pressure to present yourself in a certain way and you free yourself up to take risks. You'll have more courage to try new things, because you're not paralyzed with a fear of failure.”

- Michael Gill DV Founder & Creative Director

In the office, words expressed by each team member have never come together in a boast, they don’t sum up to self-declared announcements of awesomeness; actions don’t even come off too proud. Instead colleagues smile at one another when they recognize greatness. 

Small show-and-tell sessions of the path to success take place; heads nod, light bulbs go off and high-fives go around. At Dynamic Vision, the first core value - Stay Humble - is naturally displayed by each individual.

“I think humility is important because it means putting others' needs above your own; it means admitting when you make mistakes and not pretending to have all of the answers. It creates an open and collaborative work environment where people aren’t afraid of failure.”

- Caleb Naess DV Software Engineer

One developer will happily mentor another. That mentee will still offer up to the team an idea, resource or helping hand, because humility overrules ego everyday at DV. It’s just as important to a team member to acknowledge the achievement of another person as it would be for someone to recognize them. It is second nature for the team to exchange experiences so as to excel together. Cycles like these exist in the work environment as Dynamic Vision’s own circles of life. It’s with the modesty of each team member that brings a great product to fruition.

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Mondays are extra special when someone on the team brings in @cinnabon for the entire office! 😋

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Humble Beginnings

Written by Barbara Essien | 11.16.2016

Dynamic Vision’s mission, values and guiding principles did not appear out of thin air. They did not present themselves to the founder suddenly. In fact, the specifics of these statements aren’t specific at all. DV’s one Mission, five Guiding Principles, and thirteen Core Values were acquired by Michael Gill over time.

There was no seeking of these DV affirmations, instead Michael happened upon them, pocketed them, and went about his business. It was only when his company began to prosper that he dug deep down and picked the lint from the surfaces of these manifestos. Reflecting on the “how”, “what”, and especially the “why” behind the amass of such success was the next step in Michael’s journey forward.

The quest began like many others, with a push from inspiration itself. Michael’s experience from one company became the foundation for his own. While that stands true, Dynamic Vision’s evolution can be credited to its founder being a jack-of-all-trades. Dabbling in a bit of it all, Michael was able to note his growing interest in web development, and so became Dynamic Vision’s specialty.

From 2007 to 2016, Michael and the DV team have experienced exceptional growth in areas of product, places, and people. Almost ten years in the game, there was bound to be a moment of reflection. When that time came, Michael whipped out the notes he collected over the years, a breadcrumb trail back to his humble beginnings. One would think that the accomplishment of bringing a company to fruition would make all tasks following to be light. However, for Michael, switching gears so as to continue onward was an incredible challenge.

Dynamic Vision’s core values have been slowly curated over time, through years of experience by DV Founder and Creative Director, Michael Gill.

“It was hard boiling down this list in my notebook,” explained Michael. “There were things I gathered through my many years of experience, from books and even companies I’d worked for. There was no one source over the years, none specific.”

Although it may have been a daunting obstacle to provide his team with ideals, standards of merit, and a commodity of ambitious effort, Michael was yet again met with success. “I reviewed and reduced my notes. Then I attached unique meanings to them.” It’s not to say that these meanings are unique to Michael solely. They resonate with his team, so much so that each of them can make a connection and then exemplify how each definition is the makeup of Dynamic Vision’s culture. The mission is understandable, the principles are critical, and some of the values may exist in other companies, but all have become the gateway to DV’s decade.

Coming up on 2017, Michael and the team at Dynamic Vision maintain their mission, “to make great software and share it with as many people as possible.” They heed to their second guiding principle of, “Change is Good.” Most of all, DV abides by all thirteen of their core values, the first of course being, “Stay Humble.”

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How to Create Custom Formatted Messages in Citrus

Written by Aaron Gill | 11.15.2016

Welcome to the latest installment of the Citrus SMS walk-through on the DV blog. If you’re just getting started with Citrus SMS, make sure to check out our Intro to Citrus blog. Previously, we covered scheduled messaging. In this post, we’re going to show you how to create time-saving custom formatted messages.

Formatted messages in Citrus are custom message templates that you can create and use based on your company’s particular needs. Using formatted messages can save you a considerable amount of time if you plan on having to send the same types of messages to frequently. Here’s a few examples of formatted message templates that Citrus users might find quite useful: - Appointment reminders - Deals and special offers - Class or session openings - Reminders for payments that are due So now you that you know what formatted messages are, let’s get started creating one in just a few simple steps. In this example, let’s say I manage the service department of an auto dealership. Throughout the day, my technicians and I will need need to inform customers that work has been completed on their vehicles and that they’re ready for pickup. Creating a template for this type of message will save me the trouble of typing up the same message over and over again. 1.) To begin, I’m going select the “Formatted Message” in the Citrus Admin panel on the left and then select “New Formatted Message” in the top-right corner. 

2.) In the new message pop-up window, I’ll simply enter a title for my formatted message. I’m going to call this one, “Vehicle Ready for Pickup.”

3.) Next, I’ll enter message body text. This is where I’ll inform my customer that their vehicle is ready for pickup -- plus, I’ll add a little reminder on our closing time.

There’s even a handy url shortener allowing you to add a text-friendly url in your message -- perfect for directing customers to special offers or sign-ups on your website.

Tip: Click the “Formatting” button in the bottom-left of the message window to access snippets of code to add to your message. Copy and paste %FIRSTNAME% or %LASTNAME% into message where you’d like their name to appear. The code will automatically pull the first or last name of the customer your messaging from your contact list.

When your recipient views the message on their phone, the code snippets will have been replaced with their name. This is a great way to personalize your formatted message!

Once you’re finished creating your message, click “Save” and you’ll automatically directed back the “Formatted Messages” tab. From this screen, you can sort, edit, or delete messages as needed.

Now, the next time I need to send a message for a vehicle pickup, all I have to do is go to the “Customers” tab select my new “Vehicle Ready for Pickup” template in the “Send Message” drop-down menu.

And that’s all there is to it. Create and store multiple templates for whatever categories fit your needs and start saving some serious time in the process!

Happy messaging and be sure to stay tuned to the DV blog for more Citrus tips! Have any questions on formatted messages or any other Citrus feature? Tweet your questions to @citrussms -- we’d love to hear from you!

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7 Insanely Simple Ways to Make Your Mondays Better

Written By Aaron Gill | 10.24.2016

source: Giphy

As you may have noticed, Mondays can be rough. Chances are, anyone who’s held a job before has fallen victim to “a case of the Mondays” at one time or another.

Whether you had an unforgettable weekend out-on-the-town, or you just stayed in binge-watching your favorite TV show, it can be a real challenge to summon the physical and mental energy necessary to face the work week.

While there’s no remedy that can magically transform a Monday morning into Friday evening (trust us, we’ve looked into it), there is still hope.

With just a few easy tweaks to your normal routine, you can not only make Mondays more manageable, but you may even find yourself starting the week off on a high-note. Here’s are some simple ways you can begin to turn your Mondays around!

1. Rest Up on Sunday

source: Giphy Yes, I know what you’re thinking, “Get more sleep...how original.” Truth is, there’s just no way to overstate the importance of a good night’s sleep. Obviously, there are any number of factors that can make getting those coveted 8 hours a challenge. With that in mind, do everything in your power to get plenty of rest on Sunday. If this means taking a short afternoon nap or turning in a little early Sunday night -- go for it. Tackling your Mondays fully-rested can make a world of difference.

2. Create the Perfect Monday Playlist

source: Giphy Music can be a great motivator, so expertly craft a collection of tunes to put you in the perfect mood to start your week. Remember, there’s no shame in your song selections here; if it gets you psyched-up, blast it. So yes, this means it’s time to break out the secret Justin Bieber playlist you’ve been hiding from your family and friends.

3. Dress to Impress

source: Giphy They say if you look good, you feel good. It may seem trivial at first, but it’s been proven that being well-dressed can have a positive effect on one’s self confidence. 

Now, if your particular job requires you wear a uniform, you’ll need to get a little creative. Maybe it’s time to rock a new hairdo or your favorite accessories. Big or small, be sure to start the week off in style and feel good doing it.

4. Bring Your Weekend to Work

source: Giphy Did you just wrap-up the most amazing weekend ever? Why not bring it with you to work? It can be anything -- photos on your phone or a screensaver on your computer, souvenirs, ticket stubs -- you name it. 

Grab whatever you have that reminds you of the fun you had over the weekend and use it to fill your workspace and then let those fond memories flow.

5. Reconnect With Someone Special

source: Giphy Have a friend or loved one that you haven't talked to in awhile? Why not give them a call and catch-up? Or how about exchanging texts or hilarious photos and GIFs?

As an added bonus, if this special someone was a part of the previous weekend's events, you can reminisce on the fun you had and start planning your next crazy adventure!

6. Treat Yourself

source: Giphy What's your go-to treat? Donuts? Gelato? Perhaps it's a triple bacon cheeseburger? Or maybe you’d like to take it in another direction. Now is the perfect time to try that trendy new restaurant you’ve been eyeing. Whatever your fancy, Monday is a great day to deviate from your normal meal plan or routine and just indulge. Treat. Yo. Self.

7. End the Day on a High Note

source: Giphy Try planning something fun for Monday evening. Maybe it's going out dancing, catching a movie, drinks with your friends -- whatever you like. The important thing is to make sure you have something exciting to look forward to that will help pass the time and get you through your day and its many tasks.

So, there you have it! Give these tips a try and see if they don’t lift your spirits and get your week off to a fantastic start. Here’s to many happy Mondays in your future! Cheers! Have any Monday tips of your own? Let us know, we’d love to hear from you!

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The Finale: Finally We Can Get to Work!

Written by Barbara Essien | 10.18.2016

At this point, I should say, that’s a wrap! A lot has happened throughout this series. Dynamic Vision made Old Town Temecula its new home for headquarters. Team members learned how to build furniture successfully with one another, the same way DV developers build code together. The team found expression through the colors that make up HQ’s many many workspaces. Company connection grew as everyone put each item in its rightful place. We ate good all while we moved in, and had a first meeting that proved DV as highly capable, even during this transition. Not only that, but we celebrated, with confetti and all! The sum of this does make a means for an end, but I’ll be honest, this is not the end.

It may seem that by now the Oceanside crew is back in the penthouse loft, and team Temecula is enjoying the new space all while both groups get back to business. However, that only became true following Dynamic Vision’s first ever Culture Summit! 

Allow me to explain. With so much growth and connection, it was only right to shed light on what DV is really made of. The Culture Summit was an all day event where everyone got together yet again! This time it was to build upon Dynamic Vision as a team.

The Culture Summit began with a set of instructions: if($employer == “DV”) { goto other_entrance; }

The team didn’t know what they were in for. After being directed to the office’s west entrance, they were stopped short after entering the theatre area. The rest of the office was blocked off by blue hanging curtains. The only things in view were the round barstool tables topped with buckets containing random items. There were things like construction paper, post-its, sharpies, candy, chips, painted popsicle sticks, puff balls in varying sizes, pipe cleaners, decks of cards, Capri Sun juice packets, and even Legos! All team members were encouraged to use the lockers some of us spent so much time putting together. Nothing they walked in with was necessary. Once everyone had arrived, we took our first DV team photo. There were a few hiccups, like not knowing how to work the timer on the camera, and once figuring it out, me walking in front of the camera with precise timing. But, we got it in the end. Following the photo, everyone was informed that they will survive the day with whatever they choose from the array of containers before them. Each individual was handed a large ziplock bag, and lined up to collect the goods.

One person knew that for sure they would need a Snickers, another grabbed a handful of Legos with a huge grin; one developer even threw a roll of scotch tape into his bag. Altogether the group looked like kids in a candy store. Their eight hour day would be spent without their Macbooks, headphones and display monitors, but instead with materials meant for arts and crafts. No wonder there were smiles all around.

What was in my bag? I grabbed puff balls, styrofoam macaroni, pipe cleaners, Twix, a Caprisun, gummy bears, post-its, construction paper, sharpies, hot tamales, tape, paper clips, and a whole bunch of glow sticks. I was ready.

Eventually the entire team was anxious to get going, and so we did. I led them into the office which was remixed by a few helping hands. We first passed the area where the ping pong table would have been. In its place were all of the white conference room chairs lined up in front of the green and orange couches. All seats were facing the white IdeaPaint wall where the words “Press Conference” were written just above a makeshift podium.

The rest of the office was grouped in colors. Everything blue was just beyond the space where a press conference would be held. To the other end of the standing desk sat everything orange. Everything else that’s orange in the office was placed at HQ’s main entrance. However, the greatest space on this day was where the desks usually are. They were still around, but that’s just it. They were spread apart to make space for a circle to form with all of the desk chairs. This is where everyone took their seat to discover more.

Blue and orange balloons and streamers made the environment festive. The mood that seemed to go around was merry as every smile was made permanent. What was it that made this so? Without giving too much away, we broke down to build up. We talked and listened as group, then we divided into teams to react to what was heard. We would do this throughout the day, hone on an individual - on a small pack - to reunite as a stronger whole - a greater team.

I will detail some of the highlights of the day, one being what became of the items in the grab bags. Half of the material was snacked on throughout the day of course, with the rest, all teams were encouraged to build and design a team logo for their group’s new identity. This was a way to showcase that everyone has something different to bring to the table. Without the unique contributions of each team member, the various cool, creative, colorful - and one edible - logos would not have come to fruition. Again, we were like kids, uniting - play-date style - to create something better than last sand castles we remember building.

There was also what kicked off the event, an icebreaker called Headlines. This was our first step into getting to know more about each other. With there being six main types of headlines - the How to, the Finally!, the Question, the One that sparks Controversy, the To do, and the Short & Sweet - we came up with front page titles that would give insight about ourselves to share. 

Here are mine:

How to take 28 yoga classes in 7 days Finally, an FRS! Do you know how to Dougie? 5 year old princess refuses to wear mother’s crown jewels 16 things to do when you get walking pneumonia for the third time West meets East Some of my team members already knew I drive an FRS. Many are aware that I love doing yoga, but what about this Dougie, and what happened when West met East they wondered. The team found out during this summit in exchange for more about them!

Another thing that brought light and laughter to team DV was - you guessed it - pizza! Seriously, everyone here loves pizza. Albeit, to speak on something a little less obvious, we held a press conference. Whoever was up at the podium was given two minutes to answer questions templated for the team to ask, or ones that were created in a Mad-Libs kind of way. There were questions as simple as, cats or dogs? And others as complex as, “If you were stuck in an elevator with Kendrick Lamar and Blake Lively, what kind of sandwich would you make?” It was a good time.

The day’s icing on the cake was when we all gathered around the wall that displays Dynamic Vision’s thirteen core values. During this time our lead software engineer recognized each individual team member as they relate to a value. His contribution uplifted and enlightened the group. The same way we each took what was in our grab bags to create something great together, is the same way DV operates in it entirety. We’re passionate, humble, fun-filled, hardworking and so much more! We band together with what we have to build exceptional products from the ground-up; and what better example than the rise of our Temecula office?

If you enjoyed this series, stick around for the next one to learn more about our core values. First up, Part I: Dynamic Vision Core Values - Stay Humble

[dynamicvisioninc]

Part VII: Top 5 Ways to Surprise and Celebrate Your Team

Written by Barbara Essien | 10.14.2016

source: Giphy

The Friday following the meeting with our client was more like a Fri-Yay! Not that there was any commotion, but as a team we carried ourselves as though dust settled and smoke cleared. We were given the opportunity to rejoice over a brightness that broke through it all. I figure that was due to a successful first week at HQ with the entire team. It was no wonder why the boss decided to celebrate in a fashion.

Here are the top 5 ways to surprise and celebrate your team, inspired by DV Founder and Creative Director, Michael Gill:

1. Recruit others to be filled with as much joy as you!

source: Giphy

2. First gather, then share with your recruits the supplies intended to surprise the team!

source: Giphy

3. Surprise and celebrate one team member in secret first, and record it!

4. Send the recording to the rest of the team with a “you could be next” warning!

source: Giphy

5. Surprise and celebrate the whole damn team!!

source: Giphy

Now that you know one of fun ways DV shows team-appreciation, let us know how it’s done in your office!

[dynamicvisioninc]

Part VI: The Calm Before the Storm

Written by Barbara Essien

What’s it like to receive the keys to a new home, made ready to meet every need? Personally, I wouldn’t know; I’ve never purchased and furnished my own home before. However, I’m pretty sure my guess will come very close to hitting the nail on the head. I figure the same emotions that filled me the first day the team walked into Dynamic Vision’s complete Temecula headquarters in Old Town, would be the same if it were home sweet home.

Headquarters is the, “home away from home” to a little more than half of the DV team now. During the week I’ll still be in Oceanside with the exception of Tuesdays - for the T’mec Yoga Sesh. However, the initial first day left a deep enough impression to keep me cool if I wasn’t able to come up so often.

For a whole week the entire team was to work out of the new office. O’siders carpooled up, and those who’d always lived in the area probably slept in an additional thirty minutes. This week was a big deal. On Monday, doors opened. The team spilled into the space with wide eyes and opened mouths. Some had never been there before. Others who volunteered to assemble and move furniture could recognize some added newness. Everyone floated around, checking every corner, peeping into nooks and crannies, and did one other thing that was expected, test drive different seats and swivels.

There was no real work done for a moment as everyone settled in smiling. We took pictures, connected high fives, and threw up affirmative thumbs as a way to display our excitement. Eventually myself and the team tamed our enthusiasm for what was in store.

We had visitors coming into the office that Thursday. Our important guests would be clients of ours. They too were excited to see where DV would continue its efforts, but they were also looking forward to a well awaited meeting. Though many times I speak of ping pong matches, happy hours, and yoga sessions, the team puts in a great amount of work. After everyone made a claim on their workstation, it was back to business. The only sounds that tainted the silence were from the Sonos speakers playing soft rock, and the light but rapid typing on keyboards.

At times I would look up from my screen and witness my team doing what they do best. The vibes then were cool and calm. Of course here and there were laughter outbreaks and games of table tennis, because we’re DV. However, the day soon came for the most serious of moments.

Our clients spent an entire day at Dynamic Vision Headquarters. Were we serious the whole time? I would say we were seriously ourselves. The boss didn’t tell us to be on our best behavior. He mentioned nothing about dressing up. We weren’t even told to tidy our desks - some of which displayed character within days. What Michael said to the team was to let our guests view our true colors.

Transparency is a means for trust. To know that we’re a group of flip flop and shorts wearing, developers turned yogis, with a knack for ping pong and rocket league, and together can compile one of the wackiest playlists one will ever hear, should not hurt, but instead help the team. It’s how we build rapport. We connect and communicate. We share with smiles. If ever a customer were to wonder, if ever they were curious, questioning or confused, they would know us to be approachable. They would remember how warm and welcoming, how light hearted and considerate we all are as a team. 

Work doesn’t arrive sans conflict. Everyday there’s a new obstacle to overcome. Whether it be handled via technology, or within the confines of a new facility, it’s done with a humble respect and appreciation for everyone’s way of contributing. With that, I must add that our clients delighted in the tour of our new spot, survived an epic meeting with smiles, and left excited to learn what more is to come. I share their excitement.