Showcasing Kelton's Values: The "Entrepreneurial Spirit" Edition

At Kelton, there are five core values that guide us and drive our success: an entrepreneurial spirit; trust in one another; honest, clear communication; genuine reflection; and contagious passion.  We believe these values help us maintain a culture that encourages freedom, innovation, responsibility and self-discipline.

We try to maintain these values as we work to uncover great research insights and make strategy recommendations that will help our clients navigate their brands through changing landscapes.   But it’s not always easy to adhere to these attitudes and behaviors; every now and then we need a little inspiration, and a reminder of our core values, to push us to do our best work or just to get us through a tough day.

We wanted to share some of our favorite motivational quotes that remind us to maintain our entrepreneurial spirits, just in case you’re in need of some inspiration today.  Check back in the coming weeks to see more motivational quotes around our other core values.

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. –Helen Keller

My dad has had this quote framed on the wall of his research lab for as long as I can remember, and I still think of it often – a reminder to not be afraid of risk, to try new things, to make brave choices instead of sticking with the status quo.   It’s something I think is definitely part of the Kelton DNA — to innovate and not just replicate — but this quote helps in those moments when I’m considering a particularly complex client challenge or new methodology, and need a little inspiration.

COURTNEY CLARK
VP, RESEARCH AND STRATEGY

 

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.   Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.  — Neil Gaiman

Great permission that the act of trying something new is more important than if it succeeds or not.  Once you figure that out, new stuff isn’t nearly as scary, and a lot more fun.

GREG RICE
MANAGING DIRECTOR, LOS ANGELES

 

You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute. – Tina Fey

While I don’t always live by it, it’s a helpful reminder that in order to enjoy the experience, you have to take chances. When it comes to our work, we can’t be scared to throw out an ‘off the wall’ or ‘not yet fully baked’ insight. Overthinking can lead to inaction, while taking that step down the chute can result in unlimited opportunity.

ALLISON SLOTNICK
MANAGER, QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

 

Simply a matter of work. – Brian Eno

This quote reminds me that generating good ideas isn’t a matter of waiting around until you feel inspired – you have to just get down to it.

STACY LUTZ
DIRECTOR, QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

All things are difficult before they are easy – Thomas Fuller

I love this quote because it is a reminder to always keep trying. It tells us that no matter what we may stumble upon, difficulty is only temporary. Accordingly, it infers that the outcome is always in our hands; we are the agents of our own results.

JENNA BELLINI
ANALYST, QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH