2019 Is the Year to Go Boldly

What does it mean if someone calls you “bold”? It could be that your actions seem courageous. Or that you take risks and have a certain fearlessness to your character. But it does not necessarily mean you are thoughtful. Although it should. Because boldness requires listening and openness too — traits that are sorely needed today.

To create something positive and lasting always requires you to be bold. This is especially true in our increasingly fractured world.

There is no guide. But courage gives you the confidence to attempt what has not been done before. It empowers you to see the world from different points of view. It gives you the strength to persevere against adversity. And it emboldens you to pursue what is right — especially when the effort requires staying true to your mind and heart.

I shared these words with our team at Aha! when we recently met up for our twice-yearly company onsite. This is because I believe deeply that now is a time to go boldly — which is why we recently added the concept as a new principle of The Responsive Method (TRM).

If you are not familiar with TRM, let me explain how it came about. In early 2014, as customers began to adopt Aha!, we rapidly expanded the company. To support this growth, we formalized our approach into a framework of principles for personal and business success.

We were a young company at that point and creating our own framework was a bold move. But we felt strongly that what we were doing was different and worth sharing. We also wanted new team members to know exactly what we stood for.

When we first defined these principles, I had no idea how impactful TRM would be. I am continually humbled by the emails and comments we receive from folks who are interested in bringing this approach to their own organization. Today, TRM is still the engine behind the phenomenal growth of Aha! — but it is not static. Our framework matures as we do.

When I look to the year ahead, I know that boldness will continue to define Aha!

We will increase the value we provide customers, create an organization that continues to redefine what remote teams can accomplish, and inspire other companies to reimagine how to build a high-growth and profitable business. Our focus is unwavering and we are energized about new ways that we can serve our customers and each other.

Of course, the boldness the world needs in 2019 will be bigger than what Aha! or any one company can provide. It is going to need a big collective effort. So, what will define those who are successful? Experience tells me it will be the people who break boundaries and change the world for the better in the process.

This change does not always come with big fanfare. Sometimes it is as simple as helping a colleague who needs last-minute help to finish a project. Sometimes it is as complex as reimagining how a company services its customers and community. And sometimes it is a selfless act of kindness that buoys someone’s spirit and helps them to go boldly on their own — facing their own self-doubt.

This is why I believe that 2019 is the year to go boldly. Because if not now, when?

Our team is happy, productive, and hiring — join us!