Our heartbeats.
1. We love new stuff.
We believe we can only continue developing our services if we are prepared to challenge what we do and experiment with new ways. We are design thinkers and see our work as a playground for creativity and innovation. Because we are curious creatures.
That’s why we organise an innovation week in the Summer season and have weekly wifi-free afternoons.
2. Our knowledge is for all.
Alone we can only make a limited impact on the world.
That’s why we promote sharing our science-based knowledge, methods, and tools with professionals worldwide. That’s also why everybody is welcome for a coffee. Because in the end, giving is all we have. That’s why we organise quarterly schools in emotive branding and run a worldwide training and licensing business for 23plusone.
3. We celebrate the initiative.
Everything that happens is the result of our own actions. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we fail. Sometimes it is not clear what it might lead to. But whatever we do, it takes courage to take action.
That’s why we list and celebrate on Friday afternoons all good things from last week. We volunteer for tasks during Monday’s week start. We do not ask for permission but ask for forgiveness. Better sorry than safe!
4. Sports keep us fit.
We are sporty people. Without a daily dose of physical activity, we don’t feel sharp.
That’s why we encourage people to train. We organise a weekly Bootcamp and run for charity together. That’s also why we go for a 15 min walk after lunch. And we never sit behind a screen for longer than two hours.
5. Freedom to do it our way.
We believe autonomy and happiness are related. We are not willing to do work that we don’t really like. Our personal and working life is intertwined and we see co-workers as our friends. We only have one life, so we better make the right choices on how to live it.
That’s why we don’t have fixed holidays or standard working hours. That’s also why we are picky in the people and organisations we aspire to work for. That’s also why we don’t accept loans from banks or external investors. Because we only have one happy life to live in.
6. We love warm food.
We believe that eating together creates social bonds. The typical Dutch sandwich with milk is not our idea of a hospitable lunch. Kim’s roots are in Indonesia, and Alexander lived many years in France, Indonesia and Italy, so he got used to warm lunches.
That’s why we love nasi goreng for lunch (or even for breakfast). And fortunately, there are many wonderful places to eat out in Amsterdam. That’s also why we often invite our team and clients to our private homes for dinner. Hospitality is our second nature!
7. We flirt with the edge.
We like going further, exceed imagination, making the leap into the unknown. We dare to flirt with the edge and challenge bourgeois and business conventions.
That’s why we do our best to make every intervention a memorable one. That’s also why we make people stand up and move. And why we try to avoid ordinary office practice and seek inspirational places to do our work.
8. We pursue purpose beyond branding.
We believe that brands can contribute to the happiness and health of people. And that happy people contribute to a positive culture and attractive brands.
That's why we create brands for organisations that are prepared to solve the world’s problems. That’s why we are a B-Corp and embrace the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. That's why we are pro-equality in our team, why we make conscious purchasing decisions and stimulate continuous education. It’s also why we don’t have bosses but give people the autonomy to decide.
9. We think emotive.
We believe in collaboration and inclusiveness. We embrace the concept of collaboration. We know that in the end, all that matters is how you make people feel. The rest is post rationalisation.
That’s why we mix talents, ages, races and sexes in our teams. And we don’t judge or value people on from which social tribe they come from. It’s also why we tend to hug people if they are kind. And it’s why we are proud and happy about paying our taxes!