Last summer, Slack introduced huddles, a new tool that enables you to hop on a quick audio chat with your coworkers. Think of it like sticking your head into a coworker's office or beckoning them over to look at something on your computer for a second.

All year, my team and I have been working with Candidate to write a series of articles exploring how startup and tech companies can create inclusive workplaces, build thriving corporate cultures, and navigate current hiring challenges. For our most recent piece, I had the chance to interview colleagues, clients, and friends about what makes them feel like they're part of the culture at the place they work. I'm republishing it here, because I think it's an important topic and the insights I got were really wonderful. Enjoy!

With multiple platforms, a potential mixed bag of writers who take on content, and numerous initiatives, what’s keeping your messaging aligned? Unless you have a content writer who has dedicated their life to fully knowing your messaging priorities, your communication is likely creeping away from your core content strategy.

One of the major challenges creative professionals face is burnout. This isn’t news to anyone—creative burnout has been a hot topic for years—but after two years of working through a global pandemic, we’re facing yet another shift: the transition away from the majority of the population working remotely. As a hybrid model of in-person and remote work looms on the horizon, it’s a great opportunity to consider how freelance creatives can avoid burnout in order to stay at the top of our game.

As we approach the end of the year, it’s time to start thinking about your business plans for the year to come and this includes setting up budgets. When determining how much to set aside for marketing; knowing your goals is very important.

Business is about relationships - and gift giving is about nurturing those relationships. Thoughtful gifts not only say ‘thank you’ but tell your clients and employees you value them - that they mean more than dollar signs or cogs in the wheel. So, to help inspire some thoughtful gift buying this season, we’ve pulled together a few ideas we hope will resonate with your values and the message you want your gift to send.

You don’t have to be a writer to know that every good story has a hero. Marketing content is no different. But many businesses—and this may include yours—are confused about who plays the hero in their story meaning their marketing lacks the ability to resonate with its audience. When you make yourself the hero, your story—and your product—never sells as well. And here’s why…

As we get closer to the holiday season, it’s important for all of us to prioritize time off. But if you’re questioning whether it’s okay to take a few days off, perhaps, like me, you need to remind yourself why you set up as a freelancer.