Yesterday we celebrated Blak Labs’ 6th birthday with awfully chocolatey cakes, bowling and dinner.
Over 3,800 days ago when we first started, we had no idea how far we could go or how long we would last.
And when you consider the stats that say over 90% of start-ups fail, it feels good to be able to sit back, enjoy a slice of cake and a glass of good red for a minute.
We’d better make the most of those 60 seconds though. Because if we relax any longer, we run several risks.
In this economy, we have to work twice as hard to earn every penny. Clients nowadays are squeezing every drop of thinking and value out of every job to get the best result. That’s because their livelihoods, and jobs, depend on it. (As do ours.)
The second risk is this – relying on a single client, or a single market.
Fortunately, we have learned to think beyond businesses and borders; with nascent success in Myanmar.
Since we added new talent to our Yangon office and moved to a much improved home/office, business has improved significantly too.
As I write, we have one team missing our birthday celebrations to shoot a new campaign near Mandalay. Later this month, another team will be filming two success stories in Yangon.
The third risk? Believing you can do it all on your own.
We wouldn’t have made it this far without each other. A team of partners who support and challenge each other every day.
In turn, we are thankful that we have the support of several other important groups. First of all, our talented teams of creatives and project managers in Singapore and Yangon. Not to mention, the producers and photographers, retouchers and directors, printers, publications and couriers we work with.
Secondly, our clients. From those who took a chance on us all those years ago, to newer ones who choose us because of what we’ve achieved.
Finally, our families. We couldn’t do this stuff without the love and support that our loved ones provide.
So whether you’re a partner, a team member, a client or a loved one, THANK YOU for helping us reach the age of 6.
Cue the commercial message: If you’ve got a business problem or are looking to do extraordinary work (the two are closely linked), please give us a call or drop us a line at talktous@blaklabs.com
FYI, we’re not so good at bowling, better at creating new ideas.
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