This September marked 10 years of Everbrave! Since 2014, our three founding partners have worked alongside hundreds of companies, helping them grow. When you spend that much time working with over 200 companies, entrepreneurs and marketers in Calgary, Alberta, and across Canada, you are bound to learn a few things along the way. In celebration of Everbrave’s 10th anniversary, our founders took some time to reflect on the ups, downs and everything in between. Here are the 10 biggest lessons learned from our first 10 years at Everbrave.

Wilson Wong – Partner, Creative Director

1. Perfection is the killer of ideas and relationships.

I realize being a perfectionist is more about control and not everyone shares this value, and honestly, perfection isn’t achievable. Holding myself and others to such unrealistic expectations has been limiting. Over time, I’ve learned to let things go. Surprisingly, this shift allowed people to self-regulate and strive to improve on their own. In the startup app world, they say it’s better to ship first and iterate often. Waiting for the perfect moment or idea can mean missing opportunities. I’ve had many “I could’ve done that” moments but didn’t because I saw every challenge as bigger than it was. That’s usually because I wasn’t letting others in to help. When people did step in, the results often exceeded my expectations. It’s better to stay curious than to chase perfection.

2. Leadership is a work in progress.

Leading well means playing to people’s strengths rather than trying to fix their weaknesses. I’ve always appreciated direct feedback, but I learned the hard way that not everyone is like me. I thought I was helping, but after a 360 review, I found out that many saw my feedback as harsh and overly critical. Once I recognized this, I made a conscious effort to change how I communicate and deliver feedback to my team. This created a safe environment where they can grow and feel heard and appreciated.

3. We are resilient.

In 2014, we merged our companies during an economic downturn, which was challenging enough. We had to navigate the complexities of blending two cultures into one, but we survived. In 2019, we moved to our current office, and just five months later, the pandemic hit. Though I’m not asking for more challenges like a pandemic, these experiences have proven that we can weather any storm and adapt to whatever comes our way.

Brianne Hamilton – Partner, VP Growth

4. Never take leadership for granted.

Leadership is a gift, and with it comes the responsibility to empower others. Over the years, I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about being the loudest or most commanding presence in the room (which I’m not!) – it’s about being authentic, vulnerable, and a good human being. True leadership means caring about others, listening intently, and staying true to your values, even when it’s difficult. Building trust and fostering genuine relationships with the team creates an environment where people can thrive. I’m especially grateful for my incredible partners, Dan and Wilson, who’ve been with me on this journey. Our ability to be vulnerable and support each other has been a cornerstone of our success.

5. Working on the business is critical.

In the early stages, it was easy to get caught up in the day-to-day “to-do’s,” but I’ve come to realize the importance of stepping back and focusing on the business itself. This means dedicating time to long-term strategy, growth, and aligning the team with the company’s broader goals. Implementing the Traction model gave us the structure to prioritize and achieve bigger things. It allowed us to clearly connect individual team goals to the company’s vision, helping us maintain focus and work more efficiently. It’s about finding the right balance between the present and future, without losing sight of where we want to take the business. And of course, it’s always a work in progress! 🙂

6. An engaged team benefits everyone.

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is the immense impact of having an engaged and invested team. When individuals feel supported, valued, and connected to the company’s vision, they not only show up for each other but also deliver exceptional results for our clients. Creating a positive and collaborative culture has been crucial to this, ensuring that each team member feels empowered and that we have each other’s backs.

Dan Bergeron – Partner, President, Director of Strategy

7. Change is a constant.

Marketing is often on the bleeding edge of innovation with new technology and methods of connecting with customers evolving at a fever pitch. But not all inventions are good inventions, being too quick to adopt tools and technology and hacking your way through marketing can leave you with wasted time and money, and no results to show for it. Although I’m an early adopter by nature, I think when it comes to marketing you have to be pragmatic and ease into the latest innovations while continuing to optimize what’s already working.

8. Growth takes time.

There is no silver bullet to unlocking sudden growth, and although you can be lucky from time to time, it’s the consistent focus on improvement and optimization that makes the biggest difference to any growth program, for both sales and marketing. Time and again, we see results crystallize after a measured period of time following the implementation of growth tactics. It rarely, if ever, happens instantly. Those who understand that long-term gains come from consistent, intelligently executed campaigns are winners in the end.

9. Effectiveness over efficiency.

Too many marketers (and clients) convince themselves that certain marketing KPIs are the holy gospel of results and rely solely on ineffective KPIs. For example, measuring lead generation by quantity is common, but we should really be measuring lead quality. Growth in ‘impressions’ doesn’t matter if doesn’t translate into growth in revenue, but we’re often guided by the best-looking charts that move up and to the right. It’s critical to have an honest look at the KPIs that truly move the needle for your business and be steadfast in pulling the levers that have the most effective impact.

10. Collaboration is the heart of success.

The most successful clients we have are those who work with us with an open mind and spirit of collaboration to get the outcome they’re looking for. Our unique skillset combined with our clients expertise and commitment to excellent products and services is the only formula for success.

As we reflect on the lessons learned over the past decade, we’re excited for what the future holds. These experiences have shaped Everbrave into what it is today, and we’re eager to continue growing, adapting, and delivering exceptional results for our clients. Here’s to the next 10 years and beyond!

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