Is it just us, or did Q1 fly by?
It feels like we blinked and suddenly we’re into April. Sunshine, mud puddles, and a fresh quarter full of potential. As a team, we always take a moment to meet and reflect at the end of each quarter or as close as we can get to it. It’s part of how we stay focused, aligned, and excited about what’s next.
As we are coming up to our Q2 meeting I’m reflecting on everything we’ve accomplished so far and the importance of our quarterly meetings, our goal setting and our purpose. Here’s a little behind-the-scenes look at what Q1 looked like for us, what kept us busy, what we achieved, and why making time to plan and check in on your goals each quarter can make a big difference in your business (or personal life, too).
What We Were Up To at Create Marketing
The start of this year (and most years) was packed with energy and momentum. Our team was busy supporting clients with some major campaigns and events.
- Branding Projects – We wrapped up two exciting branding projects, one for our friends and neighbours Brandon First and the second for a national non-profit, helping both define their voice and visual identity so they can better connect with communities and organizations across Canada. These kinds of projects really light us up.
- Royal Manitoba Winter Fair – One of Brandon’s signature events, and a massive opportunity for marketing, communication, media, public relations, content creation, and on-the-ground support. This is our 4th year supporting the Provincial Exhibition with this event and we were proud to be part of the action behind the scenes. It’s a wild week, but we love every minute of it.
- Brandon Home & Leisure Show – Planning and promoting, speaker series setup, vendor support, communication and so much more. This is a new event for our team but we are proud to be a part of it and we’re so excited for all the opportunities for growth and revitalization of the event going forward.
I’d write a novel if I listed all the amazing accomplishments we had in Q1 with our client work but this gives you a bit of our behind the scenes.
Inside Create Marketing: Our Q1 Goals
One of our unofficial goals for Q1? Survive the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair and the Wheat Kings’ end-of-season playoff push. 😅
But in all seriousness, we had some key plans for Create Marketing this quarter—and we’re happy to report, we’re on track.
- Getting organized post-incorporation – After making the move from sole proprietorship to incorporation late in 2024, we focused on administration and internal ‘things’ to help set the foundation for long-term growth. YAY!
- Assigning a lead for our own marketing – We do a great job showing up for our clients, but when it comes to marketing ourselves? Let’s just say it’s been on the back burner for a few (or more) years. This quarter, we made it a priority to get serious about our own brand presence.
We are approaching our 8th year in business (that’s wild to think about) and realized most people still don’t have a hot clue what it is we do. We’re not just your social media girls, but that’s on us, marketing activated.
Let’s Talk About Goal Setting (And Why It Actually Works)
At Create, we’re big believers in writing things down and making our goals visible literally. Each month, every team member sets goals in four areas:
- Personal accomplishments
- Business/work
- Client-specific
- Learning & development
We share them with each other, we post them at our desks, and we check in at the start of every month. It’s a mix of accountability, celebration, and motivation—because seeing your progress (or your roadblocks) helps you keep moving forward.
We also look back at the goals we set for the previous month and talk about what we hit, what we missed, and what we’ve learned. Sometimes the goals shift, and that’s okay. What matters is having direction and making space to reflect.
Simple Steps to Get Started with Your Own Goals
You don’t need a fancy planner or a new calendar year to set goals. Start small and keep it simple:
- Pick a few areas you want to grow in, personally, professionally, or otherwise.
- Set one goal for each area.
- Make it specific and give it a timeline (even if it’s just “by the end of the month”).
- Write it down and put it somewhere you’ll see it every day.
- Share it with someone who can help keep you accountable.
- Schedule a check-in, whether weekly, monthly, or when it feels right.
Takeaways You Can Use Today
- Grab a sticky note and write down one goal for this week or month.
- Think about a small step you can take today that gets you closer.
- Tell a friend, teammate, or partner what your goal is.
- Make time to look back and ask: what worked? what didn’t? what’s next?
We’re excited for what’s ahead and grateful to do this work with so many amazing businesses and community partners.
Here’s to fresh starts, sunny days, and big ideas.
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