Looking Back

Looking back to the very early days of what we now refer to as “The Pandemic”, everything’s a blurry cloud of anxiety. To say I was worried about the future of Studio Dzo and my team would be putting it mildly. I was fucking scared. I still sometimes find myself staring off in space, asking, how the hell did we get here?

On February 17th, 2020 we officially moved into our newly remodeled studio on South Lamar. One month later, on March 16th, we helped carry desks, chairs, and computers to our team's cars and trucks as they prepared to work from home for what we thought would be a few weeks or so.

That first week, as restaurants and shops began to shut down, nothing happened. Partners weren’t responding to emails, new projects weren't popping up in our inbox, our phones weren’t ringing, and we weren’t receiving payments for work we had completed. Keep in mind, Elizabeth and I were also consumed with concern for the health of our family, friends, team, and ourselves. All we knew, at that time, was that millions of Americans were getting sick and thousands (soon to be hundreds of thousands ) were dying, all in what felt like a matter of weeks. 

As I mentioned in our very first post, Keep Climbing, daily panic attacks quickly set in. Can we keep paying our team despite income no longer coming in? What happens if someone gets sick? How are we going to survive this? It took me looking inward to understand that what we had built was firmly grounded in our values and mission. With an amazing team that was committed to our motto “Do Good Work” and the unwavering support of my wife and business partner, we could and would continue to climb.

How did we keep climbing?

The first thing we did was get a company account to Headspace. These unprecedented times added a level of stress unheard of so we wanted to support our team’s mental health. (To this day, I meditate daily. Get your mind right, get your grind right.) We kept our regular scheduled morning scrums going and made sure to stay updated on each other's lives. And not just with work stuff. We made time to make sure everyone was doing the best they could in their personal lives as well as their professional. Due to the relentless commitment of Elizabeth, co-owner and controller, we were able to receive two PPP loans to keep us afloat during 2020. We didn’t cut a single team member or even have to reduce anyone’s pay. In fact, we were able to give raises and even convert our Intern to a part-time salaried position. 

July 2020, we doubled-down on our remote work model. Instead of talking about when we were going back to the studio, we were focusing on moving forward. We examined and improved our processes so we were more efficient. We increased sales by hosting virtual dog & pony shows. We pivoted where we could and started selling Studio Dzo branded merchandise following our success with our Austin will survive thrive campaign. We helped one of our favorite small businesses, Cute, with their pivot, by designing hundreds of packages as they shifted from services to products. We took on some new and exciting opportunities in marketing thanks to AO Tours. We even took on international design projects, working with new partners in Singapore and Canada.

After almost a year of working on giant desktop iMacs in makeshift home offices, converted dining rooms, and corners of bedrooms, we needed to make some changes if we wanted to truly embrace the benefits of working remotely. We purchased new laptops for everyone so they can get away from their desks and work from wherever they chose. Now that Covid cases are trending in the right direction we are thankful for the freedom to work from anywhere. (As I sit here writing this post from an airbnb in sunny Galveston, Texas.)

We found that life was still happening all around us despite the work hours we had tried to maintain from when we were in person at the studio. Kids were learning at home online and needed assistance. Household matters needed attention. Some of us experienced the challenges that come with the loss of a friend or family member. Life was always busy, but with it all happening during the work day in our work spaces, we noticed how much we truly had that required our attention. So in order to create an even better work-life balance for our team we shifted to a “Get it Done” model. As professionals, we know what is needed and expected from us individually and as a team. We live by the team calendar. Internal and partner meetings are scheduled, but outside of that it is the responsibility of everyone to ensure that the work gets completed. When it’s done may not always be between the hours of 9am and 5pm. And that’s ok with me. Keeping it 113. We do good work and it was never because we ran a tight ship. It’s because everyone at Studio Dzo truly gives a damn.

So where are we today?

Team Dzo - 2021

We are slightly bigger, surprisingly better, and incredibly wiser. Putting it simply, We’re good! But it is only because of the maniacal focus, unwavering determination, and unmovable commitment of our team, that I can look back to where we were and celebrate where we are today. I want to sincerely thank Jordan Braithwaite, Paul Ross, Yen Lien, and Hailey Lyons for trusting me even in times of uncertainty and staying on the path through rough terrain. I want to welcome Erica Blanco and Kristina Freres to the herd. And to Elizabeth Arenella Toynes, thank you a thousand times over, for your relentless support and refusal to quit moving forward. Persistence overcomes resistance! I love you.

We are surviving thriving, still climbing, and doing good.

— Russell