A Small Taste of What's to Come...

While I have a tendency to scarf down every meal that I eat, I tend to process a new experience slowly. I chew on it for several days. I let it sit on my tongue. I savor it, much like the chocolate that I tried during Hilary's "how to." For me, a new experience takes a long time to digest. Perhaps the best way that I can articulate my first week is to describe it as a small taste of what's to come....and from what I can tell, it's going to be a rich summer.

As you all know, I came into this internship with limited knowledge of Play and the role that you all have in the business world. I also had some of awareness of the language and culture of the company itself, and creative minds that make up the Play community. I came in excited to learn more. This week has been an invitation for new questions, further exploration, and many, many observations. Here are a few of the observations that I have had thus far:

-First and foremost, you are a company about people and about building relationships. As one of you wrote on a giant excel pad, "people" are your "products." Figures and statistics seem arbitrary.

-Your role is not to make people "more creative." Your desire is to challenge them, provoke them, and encourage them to generate new ideas and think about business from a new perspective.

-Transparency encourages vulnerability, new awareness, and "skinned knees." It's been so refreshing to be surrounded by a group of people who are wide open with one another. Several friends have asked me if I have felt nervous throughout the week because it was my first one. My recurring answer was "no." Immediately, I entered an environment where mistakes and wrong answers were not only accepted but encouraged as a way towards new growth. Thanks for being transparent with me. I am excited to grow with you guys this summer.

This week has been a great appetizer. I look forward to diving into the next course.