Roux — Remaining Blog Posts for Duda Import

Why We’re Called Roux: The Story Behind Our Marketing Agency

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 20:25:21 GMT

You work for who?

What’s the name of your company?

We hear that a lot. We are roux — pronounced just like Roo, the joey from the Winnie the Pooh stories. That’s it - the “x” is silent.

Even so, it trips people up more than we ever expected. We’ve heard “Rux,” “Row,” and everything in between, along with the occasional guess that there’s a hard X sound buried in there somewhere.

So why did we choose a short, often-mispronounced word as our name?

To understand that, you need to know a little about our roots.

New Title

Food for Thought: Supporting the Hot Springs Food Pantry

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 21:51:00 GMT

We are excited to announce the recipient of our most recent Food for Thought grant — the Hot Springs Food Pantry, located in Hot Springs, South Dakota.

Food for Thought is a fund we created through The Community Foundation to offer grants to organizations that help feed children in our community. This isn’t just about money though. We’re also on the lookout for ways to teach kids about good food, to help them learn to prepare it, and to encourage them to love it as much as we do.

We are always looking for organizations in our local communities whose mission aligns with ours and have specific needs we can provide grants for. Because our croux reaches far and wide, “local” doesn’t just mean Tennessee.

In this case, the community is local to one of our core team members, Lauren. After moving back to her hometown of Hot Springs, South Dakota to be closer to family, she got involved with the local food pantry and saw a specific need there.

The food pantry needed a refrigerator so they could provide more fresh produce and protein to families in the area. They were also seeing an above average need in the community due to rising costs which has depleted some of their funds. The grant received from Food for Thought will go towards these efforts and help provide fresh food for families in the area.

The Hot Springs Food Pantry is in the midst of its Community Resource Center Campaign to expand the pantry into a community center to provide classes for cooking, nutrition and financial budgeting and planning. You can learn more about the organization and how to support them here.

Do you know of an organization in need that aligns with the same mission and goals of Food For Thought? We would love to learn more as we prepare for future grant seasons. Please email hello@rouxllc.com with inquiries.

You can also help by donating to Food For Thought as supporting our grant efforts. Visit rouxllc.com/causes to learn more.

Say hello to Annie

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 22:53:00 GMT

We’re back with another creative croux feature. Normally, these pieces are put together by one of our freelance writers, Annie Van Essen, but this time, we’re spotlighting her!

Annie manages our roux social media and blogging, as well as some other client copywriting projects, and she has been part of our creative croux for about five years now.

Tell us about yourself!

I grew up near Minneapolis, Minnesota and moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to attend Augustana University, where I studied English and journalism. After graduating, I worked in marketing for a while before going out on my own as a freelance writer, which I’ve been doing full-time for five years now.

I married my husband, Mason (who I met on the first day of college!) in 2018. This June, we welcomed our first baby, a little boy named Crosby James. We also have a three-year-old mini sheepadoodle pup named Nessie.

When I was a little girl, my dream job was to be a baby name consultant (who knows… there’s still time!), so names have always been a big deal to me. Our son’s first name is a nod to my mom’s hometown in northern Minnesota, where I spent a lot of time throughout my childhood, and his middle name is in honor of my dad, who passed away in June 2022. Even our dog’s name, Nessie, is a fun nod to a study abroad trip to Scotland that my husband and I went on together in college.

When did you join the roux croux and what brought you here?

As a kid, I used to visit my aunt and uncle out in the Black Hills of South Dakota every summer. In their neighborhood, there was a family with two daughters who were a few years older than me, and they would graciously play with me and take me on adventures when I was in town.

One of the girls was roux’s very own Lauren. We kept in touch over the years, and when I began freelancing, she reached out to me about working with roux. The rest is history!

Here's a throwback photo of me and Lauren with her sister and cousin!

Tell us about your role with roux. What are you typically working on or involved in?

I’m a writer, so I help out with a variety of copy-related projects — primarily roux’s own social media and blog content, as well as sporadic projects for other clients such as ad copy, social content and press releases.

What’s one of your most memorable moments from working with roux?

Way back in fall of 2019, I was able to meet up with everyone in person while on a trip to Nashville. Most of my clients are local to Sioux Falls, and I get to engage with them in person on a regular basis, so it was a fun opportunity to spend time with a remote client.

What has defined your path? Did you always envision yourself in a role similar to your current one, or were you following a different path before finding this?

Storytelling has been a passion since I was a little kid, so I think writing was always in the cards in some way. My direction became more clear in high school when I joined the yearbook staff and was formally introduced to the world of journalism. I went into college dreaming of working for a magazine, and while I have enjoyed freelancing for several local magazines here in Sioux Falls, I quickly learned that telling people’s stories was what I’m ultimately most passionate about, regardless of the medium.

No matter the client, I’m happiest when I have the opportunity to create content that speaks to their personality or what sets their businesses apart. Everyone has a story, and I love discovering them.

What’s something you’re looking forward to, whether work or personal?

I’m in a really sweet season of life right now where I have the ability to stay at home with my son and fit in my work projects where I can. Every day is different — he’s always growing and changing — and I genuinely look forward to seeing how I can continue to creatively fit my writing around my mom duties. It’s been a challenge, but I’m beyond grateful for it.

What’s something your colleagues may not know about you?

In addition to English and journalism, I also picked up a German major in college. I am by no means fluent, but I can understand it decently well and enjoyed learning about the culture and history.

Tell us about your hobbies!

I love cooking, family walks, travel, music and movies.

My husband and I have a regular movie night with another friend, where we each take turns bringing three movie selections to the group, and the other two get to vote on which they want to watch that night. We log, rate and write reviews for all of our picks on a movie app called Letterboxed (think Goodreads for movies), and it’s been a fun way to expand our film repertoire.

For the kitchen:

Favorite local restaurant/bar/coffee shop:

If you ever make it up to Sioux Falls, Queen City Bakery is a must-stop. I actually used to be a barista there when I was getting started in my freelance career and needed a little extra income, and now it’s my favorite place to work from or meet up with friends. Absolutely everything is made in-house, and it’s impossible to pick a favorite treat.

Your all-time favorite food:

This may sound silly, but I don’t think there’s much better than a great piece of crusty bread, slathered in quality butter, perhaps with a slice of cheese or some jam on top. I recently got back into making sourdough, so we pretty much always have fresh bread around, and it just doesn’t get old.

Your signature recipe:

This is cheating a bit as it’s technically my sister’s recipe, but it’s one I’ve adapted and enjoy making for friends and family. She lives in the Netherlands, so there are a couple odd ingredients that are a bit tricky to find here, but Amazon has come through for me when local grocery stores fail. It’s a unique but fairly simple pasta with a bit of a sweet kick to it. I like that it’s creamy and filling enough to enjoy in winter, but the veggies and sweet chili also make the flavor work for summer.

Creamy Thai Chili Pasta

Ingredients

Boneless skinless chicken breasts (I usually use two, but it’s flexible if you want to bulk up your meal a bit)
16 oz package of a hollow/tube-shaped pasta (rigatoni, penne, etc.)
1-2 heads fresh broccoli
1/2 a yellow bell pepper
1/2 an orange bell pepper
1/2 package of mushrooms
1 stick herb butter (Kerrygold makes a good pre-made version — or you can make your own compound butter with herbs of your choice. Garlic, thyme, rosemary and chives would all work well.)
1 package of Boursin cheese (the garlic and herb flavor is usually my pick)
1 package of creme fraiche (or sour cream, in a pinch)
1/2 TBSP yellow curry powder
Red pepper flakes (to taste)
Ketjap (sometimes spelled kecap ) manis
This is the tricky one — it’s an Indonesian soy sauce, and it’s thicker and sweeter than what we’re used to. I haven’t been able to find it in grocery stores here in South Dakota, but perhaps you’ll be luckier than me in a larger metro area. I go with Amazon .)
Thai sweet chili sauce for drizzling

Instructions

Chop uncooked chicken breasts into bite-size pieces.
Marinate for 20-30 minutes in a mixture of the ketjap manis and curry powder.
Melt half the stick of herb butter in a pan, and begin sauteeing the chicken in the butter (add any leftover marinade to the pan, too). Give the chicken a few minutes to brown up, and then toss in all of your chopped veggies.
Cook the chicken and veggies together, stirring regularly, until nearly done.
Add in the rest of your herb butter, the creme fraiche and the Boursin, and mix together until it forms a creamy sauce (I never said this was healthy! ��). Season with red pepper flakes at this point.
Once the sauce is well-mixed, add in your cooked pasta and stir to combine.
Finish it off with a healthy drizzle of sweet chili sauce (to taste, keep adding until it tastes good to you!).

Mardi Gras 2024: Celebrating 10 years of good times

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 15:01:00 GMT

We celebrated our 10-year anniversary in July 2023, making this our tenth Mardi Gras as a krewe. We are so thankful for the many projects, partnerships, clients and friends who have been a part of our journey so far.

The essence of Mardi Gras can be summed up in one lighthearted phrase, “ Laissez les bons temps rouler!” — French, for “Let the good times roll!”

We’ve had a lot of good times here at roux over the last decade, and we’re excited for them to keep on rollin’.

Bon Mardi Gras and merci beaucoup, friends!

Sharing our 2024 “Words of the Year”

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 14:45:00 GMT

Every January, we like to gather as a croux and plan for the year ahead. It serves as a holiday celebration and a strategy session. We look forward to it every year.

Over the last few years, we’ve also begun incorporating a “word of the year” practice, where we each choose a word that we will focus on throughout the year.

It’s proven to be an impactful practice, and if this resonates with you, we encourage you to take some time to choose your own word for 2024. It’s not too late!

Stefan

My word for 2024 is "empathy" because so much of what we do internally and externally relies on understanding things from another's perspective. This helps us be better teammates and leaders as well as craft better communications and marketing for ourselves and our clients.

Lianna

I decided to carry my word, “intentional,” over from last year. I felt like I made some strides with it, but I am not quite finished yet. I set new goals for myself personally, spiritually and professionally this year. The goal with my word is to set a course, so I am not just drifting wherever life takes me, but making a plan to be a better wife, mother, colleague and friend.

Karen

Instead of one word, I am claiming a phrase this year — “Let it be.” Rather than attempting to control situations, other people's actions or outcomes, I am committed to letting them play out knowing that, ultimately, God is in control; not me.

Lauren

My word for the year is “grounded.” After a busy last year with two littles, I lost track of some of the habits that help me thrive and feel grounded in everyday life. Choosing this word will help keep me accountable to taking my vitamins, making time for devotionals and doing the things that feed into my soul and well-being. It's the little things that recenter ourselves so we can be fully present for others.

Have you chosen a word of the year? We’d love it if you shared it below!

A little bit of “lanyappy”

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 15:50:00 GMT

Bon Mardi Gras!

It’s that time of year again…

Here at roux, we love to celebrate our Louisiana roots. French for “Fat Tuesday,” Mardi Gras is a high-spirited holiday of merry-making before the Lenten season of fasting begins.

This year, we decided to take our merry-making to the streets of Nashville to see how well the average passerby could interpret some of our favorite Creole vocab. The results were… entertaining. See for yourself!

We’ve had so much fun putting together videos to celebrate Mardi Gras over the last few years.

Check our our past creations here:

Creating a stir (2022)
King Cake (2021)
Gumbo (2020)

Thanks for celebrating with us! We hope you enjoyed our little bit of lagniappe !

Our favorite Super Bowl commercials — EVER

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 19:51:00 GMT

Every year, our croux puts together a roundup of our favorite Super Bowl commercials.

This time around, we thought we’d switch it up and ask for submissions of our team’s favorite commercials EVER. Whether from 2023 or 2003, we want to celebrate the advertising magic of Super Bowl Sunday.

Check out our picks below!

Lauren

This commercial caught your attention quickly between the great music and sick dance moves, but more than that, it was an example of how a simple message and scene can be more powerful that a long, complicated sequence.

It appeals to the general population’s desire for more time doing what we enjoy. The commercial teaches you that by buying their product, you get more than just help with taxes, you get freedom to enjoy life. This triggers you to think about what makes you happy, thus creating a subconscious positive impression of the brand.

This commercial isn’t from a big brand name like Doritos or Google. It doesn’t have celebrity cameos or elaborate sets. What it does have is a story that makes you feel an emotional response and is instantly relatable to millions. It’s a great marketing piece because it triggers a deep love for our pets and a desire to keep them healthy so that you can have more years together, thus creating a need and interest in their products.

Steve

For the last two decades I have steadfastly maintained that these two companion spots are as close to perfect as any Super Bowl ads I’ve ever seen. (Haven’t heard much agreement from others, but I shan’t be swayed! I could write a term paper on how and why I love these spots.)

It’s impossible to take your eyes off of it. It’s perfectly tailored to the event (building off the much-publicized cost of airing a spot), and it’s inextricably linked to the client’s offering.

Bob Garfield of Ad Age gave this his only 4-star review of the year, calling it, “Impossibly stupid, impossibly brilliant.” I couldn’t agree more.

Again, E-Trade plays off a well-known cultural phenomenon (the bursting of the dot com bubble) in a way that’s both insanely watchable and directly linked to the client. The cherry on top (out of several inside jokes) is the Iron Eyes Cody reference at the end. And just two words — “Invest wisely.” Magnificent!

Lianna

Absolutely genius to market a men’s deodorant to women!

Karen

My favorite from the past is Reebok's 2008 "Office Linebacker" spot!

Although I also really liked the "Jesus Gets Us" spots, my favorite from this year was the "Office Rockstar" Workday ad.

Thanks for checking out our picks. Leave us a comment with your favorite Super Bowl commercial below!

Say hello to Kyle

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 17:57:00 GMT

Here at roux, we have a wonderful team of creatives supporting us, including photographers, videographers, writers, and designers.

Today, we’re excited to introduce you to Kyle Sorvick, one of the talented graphic designers we work with as part of our extended croux. You can check out his professional portfolio here .

Keep reading to hear all about Kyle, in his own words. (And make sure you read to the end — there just might be a recipe in it for you!)

Tell us about yourself!

I grew up in Franklin, WI, a suburb of Milwaukee. In high school, I started dating my future wife Becky and after college (I received a B.A. in graphic design from UW-Milwaukee), we got married. We’ve been blessed with two amazing kids — Will (13) and Gabby (10). God led us to Mt. Juliet in 2014, and we have loved living in the Middle Tennessee area.

What brought you to roux?

In 2016, a neighbor of mine introduced me to Stefan and Lauren, and I’ve had the privilege of working with the roux team ever since.

What are you typically working on?

I’m involved with a variety of design projects from all stages, from ideation to execution and different levels in between. I help with logos and branding, print designs, and other projects as needed.

What’s one of your most memorable moments from working with roux?

In summer of 2022, I was invited to a photoshoot in Dallas with the roux team for the Averitt Uniformity catalog. It was great to be a part of a large collective project, and I loved working with all the great talent throughout that experience.

What has defined your path? Did you always envision yourself in a role similar to your current one, or were you following a different path before finding this?

My path has been a unique one. I worked with great companies while I was in school (Harley-Davidson and Northwestern Mutual), and I was able to lead a creative team at Marcus Theatres in Milwaukee. My wife received an amazing job opportunity which brought us to Mt. Juliet. When that happened, I envisioned working in a creative department in a corporate setting, but once we relocated, I started freelancing and have been doing that ever since. It’s hard to beat the 5 second commute from my kitchen to my office! ��

What’s something you’re looking forward to, whether work or personal?

I feel I’ve been blessed with a creative viewpoint on things, I look forward to impacting businesses with thoughtful, effective, creative designs that tell their stories, and impact their customers and businesses.

What’s something you think your colleagues may not know about you?

I lack depth perception. I’ve had two eye surgeries, and my eyes don’t like to work together. When I was growing up, I loved to play baseball, but in high school, as the pitches started getting faster, my hitting regressed and I had to quit. I later found out my eyes were the problem.

Tell us about your hobbies!

For the kitchen:

Favorite local restaurant?

I'm a pizza guy. There are two pizza places I love.

The Capri in West Allis, WI. That was a great treat growing up as a kid, and we still visit when we travel back home.
The Gondola House in Hermitage, TN -— best pizza around.

Your signature recipe?

Chicken Enchiladas

(Serves 8)

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups water
8 ounces tomato sauce
Enchilada seasoning (mix 1 tbsp of: chili powder, onion powder, ground cumin, pakrika, garlic powder -- with 1 tsp of: salt, brown sugar & sugar)
1 pound ground chicken (can use beef too)
8 flour tortillas
1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese (get the best cheese you can find)
1 half cup onions - chopped
1 half cup black olives - sliced (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Mix water, tomato sauce and Seasoning in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer about 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally.
Brown chicken in a medium skillet on medium heat. Drain fat. Stir 1/2 cup sauce into meat.
Lay tortilla flat. Spoon about 1/4 cup meat filling onto each tortilla. Add chopped onion and cheese. Roll tortillas tightly. Place seam-side down in a greased 11x7-inch baking dish. Pour sauce over enchiladas. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and olives if desired.
Bake for 15 minutes or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted.New Paragraph

Christmas greetings from partners and friends

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 21:34:00 GMT

We all look forward to receiving Christmas greetings from friends and loved ones, whether it’s a social media post or a physical card to display in our house or hang on the fridge.

But when it comes to company Christmas cards, corporate greetings can sometimes fall a bit flat. We love when a company spices things up and sends a message that’s genuine and fun.

Videos can also be a more effective and affordable option for a company, when you consider the reach made possible with email and social media, and the savings on printing and postage.

Averitt and JetRight are two local companies that knock it out of the park every year when it comes to their video Christmas cards. Whether they choose to be lighthearted and silly or share a heartwarming message, watching their videos shows you the real people and spirit behind the companies.

Check them out below!

Averitt

JetRight

Here at roux, we produce a fun holiday video for our community as well. Because of our Cajun roots, we focus our energy later in the year, and send out a Mardi Gras greeting in February instead!

Check out the photos below for a sneak peek of what we’re cooking up this year, or watch last year's video here .

Zydeco Fried Turkey

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 18:24:00 GMT

Add Zydeco dust to your fried turkey recipe to add some extra flare.

A season of gratitude and giving

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 17:15:00 GMT

Here at roux, we love good food and good causes . And during this Thanksgiving season, both of these are on our minds even more than usual.

It’s a time to be extra grateful for all the blessings we’ve been given, and it also brings about the poignant reminder that not everyone gets to experience the warmth and abundance of the holiday season.

We know that there are many folks right here in Middle Tennessee who don’t have access to nourishing food, and that’s an issue close to our hearts. Over the years, we’ve sought out partnerships with groups who are making an impact and serving the needs of those struggling in our community.

Recently, we joined our friends at Joseph's Storehouse for a food pick-up day benefiting the many people facing food insecurity in our region.

As we head into this season of giving, we encourage you to consider organizations like Joseph's Storehouse in your prayers and donations. They are doing such critical work in our area and are always in need of support, whether that's gifts of time, money or food donations. Visit their website to learn how you can get involved, and check out this recent video we shot with Joseph's Storehouse to learn more about their mission.

Joseph’s Storehouse is just one of the wonderful organizations we’ve been able to partner with locally. We are also humbled to work with many clients who share our values, and we’ve enjoyed the opportunity to support their causes over the years as well.

As you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, we encourage you to savor the blessings you have received and find ways to spread that abundance to others. Gratitude and generosity go beautifully hand in hand.

Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving from all of us at roux!

Feeding the world one soul at a time

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 21:18:00 GMT

We’ve been blessed to work with some incredible organizations here at roux, and Joseph’s Storehouse is one that is doing deeply impactful work in Middle Tennessee.

Their motto is “Feeding one soul at a time,” and their team and volunteers work daily to serve those facing food insecurity, regardless of the situation. Not only do they give away food, but they also offer prayer and encouragement to everyone who visits.

We had a wonderful time creating this video for Joseph’s Storehouse that shares some of the heart behind what they do. If you’re not familiar with them, please take a moment to check out their story.

Reflections (and book recommendations) from Global Leadership Summit 2022

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 21:15:00 GMT

A couple weeks ago, our croux had the opportunity to (virtually) attend one of our favorite annual events, Global Leadership Summit (GLS).

GLS is an inspiring leadership event that brings together some of the world’s sharpest speakers and thinkers. This was our team’s 10th time attending, and we look forward to it every year.

We always like to share a few takeaways from the summit, and this year we decided to compile the book recommendations we made note of as well. We hope you find these tidbits valuable, and perhaps you’ll be inspired to attend GLS in 2023. We’d love to see you there!

Lauren

My biggest takeaway was from the talk by Vanessa Van Edwards. I always enjoy talks that include practical advice or actions you can put into practice immediately. Vanessa opened our minds up to how something as simple as a question can impact the connections in your life. She challenged us to ask questions beyond just “How are you?” because we all tend to answer the same way: “Good. Busy, but good.”

In order to build more meaningful connections with our co-workers, friends and family, she suggested alternative questions such as, "What's the highlight of your day?", "Have anything exciting coming up?" or "What's your personal passion project?"

These are simple questions, but they make such a big difference. Research even shows that answering these types of questions releases dopamine because it prompts you to remember something happy.

She went on to tell us that effective leaders use emotion to connect instead of logistics or metrics. As the world becomes busier and more hectic, I think her challenge is something we could all use to encourage one another and grow together.

Lianna

I also really enjoyed Vanessa Van Edwards’ talk. She discussed how easily we get in the routine of asking people questions that don’t really build connections. I appreciated how she offered up examples of specific questions we could ask that could take all of the relationships in our lives to the next level.

Add to your reading list:

Cues by Vanessa VanEdwards
Captivate by Vanessa VanEdwards

Stefan

My standout was Craig Groeschel and the way he frames "it," and challenges us to get better for ourselves and the people around us, both personally and professionally.

Add to your reading list:

Lead Like It Matters by Craig Groeschel

Karen

I went into GLS looking forward to several of the presentations and speakers, but especially Ron Howard. I recently read his book, The Boys , which chronicles his life, family and career. One of the things he said that stuck with me was that he loves collaboration.

In his example, he was talking about a movie scene and how collaboration helped it become something better than he could have imagined. I also get excited when I experience good collaboration because it isn’t always easy.

A few quotes from Howard that stuck with me were:

“Have the confidence to be open to collaboration.”
“Don’t be a control freak.”
“Be a worthy collaborator.”

All of these spoke to me, and I am working to be better at collaboration for my family, croux and clients.

Add to your reading list:

The Boys by Ron Howard

We hope you enjoyed our takeaways from GLS 2022. Drop a comment below if you’ve read one of the books we mentioned! What were your takeaways from it?

Why your business needs a style guide

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 19:47:00 GMT

When you’re starting out in business, branding and marketing are some of the first things you invest in to share your unique story and mission.

Whether you’re DIY-ing it or working with a creative team on those elements, it can be all too easy to just throw spaghetti at the wall, hoping something will stick and determine your brand direction.

Think about it though—do you really want to be careless when it comes to brand recognition? It’s one of the most powerful assets you have to attract new customers, and it’s completely in your control.

When you’ve worked hard to create a distinct identity, you should do everything you can to maintain it. Sound overwhelming? It doesn't have to be. One of the best pieces of advice we offer our clients is to create a style guide for their brands.

Consistency is key when it comes to brand identity, and a style guide is one of the best tools to help you achieve it. Once developed, your style guide will make marketing your business less overwhelming by removing any ambiguity about how your brand should be represented.

What’s your brand identity anyway?

Before you can begin developing your style guide, you must first be in touch with your brand identity.

This includes everything from knowing your company’s philosophy and mission statement back and forth, to nailing the visual elements of your brand, such as the logo, fonts, colors and graphic elements.

Having a firm grasp on your mission is the best way to inform your voice, a critical aspect of maintaining consistency.

Have you ever come across messaging from a company that just sounded off? Perhaps the company typically uses light, casual language, and just released a stuffy, formal blog post out of the blue. The difference between the two tones can quickly create a disconnect between the company and its audience.

When a company does something off-brand, it can sow seeds of distrust and skepticism, driving once-loyal customers to the fringes. While it may sound extreme to correlate a change in copywriting tone with a loss of trust, it’s a subtle signal to the customer that this company may not be aligned on their mission.

Similarly, maintaining a consistent visual brand signifies that a company is steady and in control. It trains your audience’s eyes to recognize the brand with simple cues like colors, fonts, or shapes. Think about Nike—nearly everyone recognizes the brand by its signature swoosh, regardless of whether the word “Nike” is included. Similarly, a specific combo of red and yellow are naturally associated with McDonald’s. Visual consistency is a powerful force for brand recognition.

What should your style guide include?

Every style guide is different because, of course, every brand is different.

In general, however, a style guide should always express your company’s mission and philosophy—what you’re all about.

It should then address your written and verbal tones. Are you relaxed or formal? Do you defer to a certain writing style (think AP, MLA, or Chicago style), or are you comfortable using slang?

Additionally, are there any styles unique to your company? For instance, the name of our company—roux—is never capitalized. We also like to have a bit of fun with our Cajun heritage, tossing in fun Southern phrases where appropriate. Because of this, our company style guide includes a brief glossary of Southern Louisiana slang.

Finally, your style guide should address all visual elements of your brand. Consider the following:

Fonts: Do you use a particular font in your materials? If so, which one(s)? Your team should be instructed to use only the approved fonts and no others.
Colors: Do you have brand colors? Provide the specific details, like PMS, CMYK or HEX numbers, and offer guidance on when certain colors should be used. For instance, at roux, we use a very minimal palette in our branding materials, but we have developed some secondary selections for when the occasion calls for it.
Logos: Every company has a logo, but the brand guidelines don’t end there. Is your logo only allowed to be featured in a certain color or size? Most brands don’t allow their logos to be stretched, cropped or distorted. Provide examples of what to do and perhaps even more importantly, what not to do.
Trademarks: Does your business have any trademarks or specific phrases or words that you use intentionally? Include these, along with guidance on usage.

Once these are in place, you can share the style guide with your entire team as well as any printers or contractors you might be working with on branding or marketing. People will be grateful for the guidelines, and your branding will thank you, too.

Many businesses are now choosing to publish their style guides online, making it easier to access for both employees and partners. Don’t think of it as proprietary information, but rather a handbook that will allow anyone who might be referencing your business to do so within your style guidelines.

In fact, you may want to peruse the internet for examples of style guides you may wish to emulate. Remember, no style guide is the same, just as no brand is the same. One company might require a 30-page style guide, while another can say what they need to say in 3 pages or less. Some style guides might read strict and formal, while others have fun with design and humor.

The style guide itself—not just the guidelines within it—provides a perfect opportunity to show off your unique brand voice.

If you’re interested in viewing our full roux style guide, you’re welcome to download it here.

Say hello to David

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 20:51:00 GMT

If you’ve been following along for awhile, you know that we’ve been featuring different members of our croux here in the kitchen. It’s been so fun to read about everyone’s backstories prior to joining us, as well as getting a taste of their personalities through the Q&A.

Today, we’re introducing you to David Lavender! David is a freelance videographer who works closely with us on projects for many of our clients. While he’s incredibly talented with his video equipment, at the heart of it, David is a storyteller and a problem solver. As you read, you’ll enjoy David’s voice and perspective and see what makes him such an important part of our extended croux.

Keep reading to hear all about David, in his own words.

Tell us about your background.

I was born in Nashville to missionary parents who, at the time, lived in Cervignano del Fruili, Italy. One of my sisters was actually born at a hospital in Italy, but it was a tough experience, so my parents flew home a month before my birth, and flew the whole family (2 older sisters and myself) back to Italy a couple of months later.

When I was 4, my family moved to a small town in Illinois just outside of St. Louis. I got to watch Ozzie Smith, a hall-of-famer shortstop, at the height of his game. Oddly enough, I’d like to think this is when I first developed a love of the arts. Ozzie had the grace of a ballet dancer, and he brought a panache to everything he did on the diamond.

He got the job done at the highest level, but he often added a little flair for entertainment value.

My family moved to Nashville when I was 8 (1990), and I’ve nearly been here ever since. So I remember when Brentwood and Cool Springs were a bunch of pastures. (Sits back in rocking chair, squints at the sun, takes a sip of his Arnold Palmer.)

Fast forward a few years, and I was writing and editing copy for SERVPRO’s corporate office in Gallatin. One of my best buddies and I were making silly short films on weekends, and we realized we could create our own careers out of it. So we started Yeah Yeah Creative. (“Yeah yeah!” is what we always said when we landed on an idea that got us excited.)

When did you join the roux team and what brought you here?

I got the call from Katie De Souza back in 2013, just before my first kiddo was born. She had cooked up a really fun idea for an Averitt Christmas video, and they needed someone to help bring her recipe to a boil.

I have to say, the croux had me hooked on that first shoot day. They asked so many questions about me, my wife, and my forthcoming son. Their genuineness touched me.

And that video project was a blast. The camera tech has changed quite a bit in 9 years, but that video holds a special place in my heart.

Tell us about your role at roux. What are you typically working on or involved in?

Even though I handle a camera and edit video for roux, I consider myself a problem-solver, first and foremost. Blue-sky opportunities are big and beautiful, but they’re also intimidating. It’s easy to drop into a creative quagmire when anything is possible.

I think that’s why I love working with an established company like Averitt. They have their established voice, and they have a really strong brand. So that gives us a few boundaries, but then we get to play inside that sandbox and find ways to creatively tell stories in an engaging way.

Nine years into working with the Averitt brand, we still find new shots to try out, new stories to tell, and new ways to shine a light on all the awesome people at Averitt. I get a huge kick out of the problem-solving aspect of figuring out how to balance the established brand with fresh ideas and new energy.

At the same time, I love the regular change of pace that comes with working for an agency. I’ve been able to work on projects for a variety of roux’s clients, including CapWealth, AAG and Cold Box, and partner with other talented creatives within roux’s sphere.

Most memorable moment while at roux?

Man, in nine years with these folks, it’s tough to narrow down. The first thing I always mention when I tell friends and family about roux is their genuine empathy. That’s not easy to find in a work environment, and especially so in the marketing world. Whether it’s clients or freelancers, they take care of their people. I could name a few dozen examples of times they’ve touched me with their thoughtfulness.

What has defined your path? Did you always envision yourself in a role similar to your current one?

I graduated from Lipscomb University as an English major. (And my wife still married me.) I tried out sports journalism, I tried the book publishing world, but those industries were going through existential crises as I window-shopped them. I realized I liked marketing – I enjoyed digging into a brand, learning all about it, and trying to help it grow.

As far as being a freelancer, I think that was foreshadowed for me as far back as middle school. I ran cross country and track through college. Those are team sports – you build your teammates up to try and achieve something greater than any individual could. But at their core, those sports require each runner to take care of their own business.

I love working with roux – I enjoy brainstorming, strategizing, and being a part of their team. But I also love getting to retreat to my computer and work through making the croux’s plan come to life on screen. I really enjoy getting to have the interaction with the team paired with the individual responsibilities and freedoms of a freelancer.

What’s something you’re looking forward to?

Stefan and I have this one in common: I’m always looking forward to the next fishing outing. I love hopping in a kayak and floating down a stream alongside a buddy or two, seeing what will jump on the line.

What’s something you think your co-workers may not know about you?

Do you have any hobbies we should know about?

I’ve mentioned fishing already, but I really love senseless competitions with silly consequences. Rock-Paper-Scissors championship? I’m in. Who can guess the population of Norway, and the loser gets taunted? Sign me up. Who can throw the thing closest to the other thing while avoiding this one thing? Man, you’ve got me all day.

For the kitchen:

Your all-time favorite food: Any kind of homemade Italian food. My family makes an orange creamy pasta with bacon called Flambe, and I could eat an inadvisable amount of that dish.

Go-to coffee order: Tall and black. But as long as it has copious amounts of caffeine, I’m in.

Favorite local restaurant: Baja Burrito has had my heart and soul since the late 90s. Never change, Baja.

Your signature recipe :
Flambe
Ingredients:
1 lb. bacon, chopped
1 lg. Onion, chopped
8 oz. tomato sauce
½ pt. Heavy cream
1 lb. fettuccine or other pasta
Parmesan cheese
Directions:
In a skillet over medium heat, cook chopped bacon until transparent. Drain; add onion and cook until transparent. Add tomato sauce and cream. Reduce heat and simmer for at least 15 minutes. In a large pot, cook pasta by directions on the box; drain. Toss pasta and sauce together. Pass with parmesan cheese.

Zydeco Seasoned Cheez-its

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 11:54:00 GMT

Make Zydeco seasoned Cheez-Its with Roux Kitchen flavor for a simple, bold snack for parties and gatherings.

Zydeco Dusted Scallops

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 11:54:00 GMT

Try Roux’s Zydeco dusted scallops recipe for a flavorful seafood dish with bold seasoning and simple preparation.

Hamburgers

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 11:53:00 GMT

Make Roux’s hamburger recipe with flavorful seasoning ideas and simple cooking inspiration from Roux Kitchen.

Cooking with Zydeco Dust

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 11:51:00 GMT

Explore Roux Kitchen recipes and ideas for cooking with Zydeco Dust, a bold seasoning inspired by Louisiana flavor.

Creating a stir

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 17:34:00 GMT

Bon Mardi Gras, mon ami!

If you’ve been around here for a while, you probably know that Mardi Gras is our holiday (and if you’re new here, bienvenue !).

Our Louisiana roots run deep, and we love to celebrate this high-spirited holiday as a krewe. French for "Fat Tuesday," Mardi Gras falls the day before Ash Wednesday and provides a last chance to eat, drink and be merry before the Lenten season of fasting begins.

In the last few years, we’ve enjoyed creating festive videos to commemorate the holiday. Make sure to check out our King Cake and Gumbo videos if you didn’t catch them at the time.

This year though, we thought we’d give a nod to our namesake — the humble, yet all-important, roux. If you’re unfamiliar, a roux is a mixture of equal parts flour and fat that forms the base of many traditional Southern dishes. Think gumbo, gravies and savory sauces.

Food-lovers that we are, the roux became a perfect emblem of our brand. For us, the perfect roux comes together with equal parts creativity, clients and community.

And of course, every great roux comes together with the help of a roux spoon or paddle. As we were developing our brand, we knew we wanted to create unique swag for our clients and partners. A custom roux spoon was just the ticket.

We partnered with our talented friend, DJ Remington , who hand crafts these beautiful roux spoons, laser-engraved with our company name.

Over the years, we’ve loved seeing the spoons make their way into our community. We tell people not to baby them – these spoons are tough! Our roux spoons are built from a quality hardwood that truly gets better over time.

We’re grateful to DJ for creating this special piece of swag for us, and we hope you enjoy watching her process in our 2022 Mardi Gras video!

Our Favorite 2022 Super Bowl Commercials

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 20:51:00 GMT

We’re back again with our annual roundup of the Super Bowl commercials that made us smile or laugh (or cry). Nostalgia was a major theme this year.

Lianna, Lauren and Karen share their favorites below. What were yours?

Lianna

I thought the commercial for Coinbase with the bouncing (90's-esque) QR code was really clever. I liked that it was reminiscent of the bouncing cube that was a default screensaver way back in the day. It also prompted an action without saying anything. In my marketing brain, I'm thinking how genius it is to be able to track how many people were actively engaged with your commercial while the rest of the ad spots can only gauge impressions.

I'm also always a big fan of the ones that tug at the heartstrings and the Toyota commercial featuring the McKeever brothers did just that. What a great story.

Lauren

The Barbie Dream House was a fun, nostalgic concept with the different personas they created.

This ad will hit home for any 80's or 90's kid that is facing the current housing market. Plus, Anna Kendrick!

This commercial gave me Wes Anderson vibes with its beautiful use of color, camera angles and whimsy.

It did a great job at holding your attention with the interesting storyline and scenes throughout. A nice visual vacation from some of the busier ads.

Karen

Although a little scary, this one rang true, and it’s funny.

Thanks for reading! We'd love to hear your take in the comments below.

Creative talent always welcome

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 19:53:00 GMT

Here at roux, we have a close-knit group of senior strategists who are supported daily by a wider community of trusted, talented specialists.

We deeply value our community of freelance creatives, as they expand our reach and abilities, allowing us to serve clients better.

Our relationship with this community isn’t purely transactional. We love getting to know our freelancers, and we treat them like an extension of our roux family. Local or not, we welcome all to our krewe — we have creatives stationed right here in Franklin and as far afield as Florida, South Dakota, and Uruguay.

We’re always excited to meet new freelancers, and regularly work with photographers, videographers, copywriters, web designers, animators, social media strategists, graphic designers and more. At the moment, we’re particularly in need of an additional graphic designer or two to add to our lineup.

We regularly develop and create visuals for our clients, from print materials to social media graphics and more. We’re looking for designers with standout talent, a strong work ethic, and who will take pride in their work.

If that sounds like you or someone you know, we'd love to have a conversation, and see what you’re all about.

Learn more about working with us here .

Say hello to Shayna

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 19:56:00 GMT

We’ve introduced almost our entire core team now (if you missed any of those, check out our blog posts on Stefan , Karen , Lauren and Lianna !), so it’s time we start featuring some of our incredible extended croux.

Today, we’re introducing you to the wonderful Shayna DuPré! Shayna hails from Central Florida, but she connected with us while living in Nashville for a season. After moving back to Florida in 2019 to be closer to family, she has continued working with us in a remote capacity. We’re so grateful to have her as part of our team, even if we don’t get to hang out in person as often as we’d like.

Keep reading to hear more of Shayna’s story.

Tell us a little about your background prior to roux. How did you get here?

When did you join the roux team, and what brought you here?

Tell us about your role at roux. What are you typically working on or involved in?

I started primarily as a researcher, but as time has gone on, my role has expanded to include things like scheduling, billing, data transfer, event planning, and other odds and ends. At some point, I gave myself the title of office manager, but as with everything else at roux, we just do things a little differently, so my role ebbs and flows based on the needs of the moment.

I get to assist Stefan and the team with all sorts of fun projects and regularly interact with our clients and freelancers as well. This is my long-winded way of saying that writing a job description for this role would be a challenge, which is why I love being at roux and doing what I get to do.

Can you share one of your most memorable moments while at roux?

I think I’ll have to cheat on this one because I’m not sure how I could possibly decide on just one. I could easily choose the cooking class we took (my first time at a roux event) or our roux family gathering at Top Golf. Sitting in a private jet for the first time would also be a natural choice, as would going on a shopping spree as a Christmas gift from Stefan! And I can’t forget making King Cake at Meridees, or being flown back up after moving to Florida to be part of a video shoot with the team.

All of these events have been solidified in my memories as constant reminders of how lucky I am to be a part of this team. But if I absolutely have to choose, it’d be getting to help plan Averitt’s Nashville Songwriters Night at the Grand Ole Opry for the CSCMP event. I was pinching myself that whole night wondering what I’d done right to get me to that place and time. Having worked in the music industry before, I knew what a special treat it was just to be in that building, but when you add the people, the music, and the food, it was just a magical night.

Career-wise, what has defined your path? Did you always envision yourself in a role similar to your current one, or were you following a different path before finding this?

I went to school double-majoring in communications and psychology, thinking I would go down a pastoral or therapist route. While working in the music industry, the education I had in those fields came in quite useful, but it was clear my life was taking a different path than I’d originally thought it would. It’s funny because I’m actually quite a planner, but for some reason when it comes to my career, I always feel compelled to take risks and just try something new to see if it fits. I had no idea I’d be where I am now, but I feel very lucky to be here. My recent goal has been to have a full and balanced life doing things I love, while also trying to raise nice humans and be one myself. Career is important, but I’m learning to allow it to look different depending on the season of life I’m in. I’m very grateful for where that thought process has led me thus far.

What’s something you’re looking forward to, whether work or personal?

Typically, I’m very much someone who is looking forward to the next thing. But I’m trying to challenge that a bit in myself and be more content in the moment. I think watching time fly by in the faces of my 2 and 5 year olds is teaching me that. Don’t get me wrong, having something to look forward to is a bit of a life hack to the secret of happiness, but in my current chapter, I’m trying to slow things down just a pinch, and stay as present as possible.

What is something you don’t think your co-workers know about you?

I don’t think they know that I used to be a radio actor. Being a road manager meant chunks of time at home, so I was always taking on odd jobs like that. I was also a scorekeeper at a local basketball league! Another fun fact is when I was in high school, my youth group was giving away a free mission trip to Denmark to whoever brought the most kids that week. I pulled some strings, borrowed a school bus, and packed that thing full with kids! Needless to say, I went on my first overseas trip that year, and that lit a fire for travel that has continued on and taken me to countless countries and places.

Do you have any hobbies or passions we should know about?

Anything else?

For the Kitchen:

Your all-time favorite food? I love food way too much for this question! I think I legally have to say macarons, which isn’t a lie, but Mexican food or anything with a runny egg on it should be mentioned as well. Or, does coffee count as a food?

What are some of your favorite local restaurants/bars/coffee shops? In Nashville, it was a place called The Yellow Porch. On the rare date night, we would always struggle between trying someplace new or sticking with our favorite, and more times than we probably should have, we ended up back at The Yellow Porch. Actually, no regrets, that place is awesome! For coffee, my favorite had to be Steadfast in Germantown. In Florida, my favorite coffee place at the moment is Foxtail, and the restaurant would have to be Chroma in Lake Nona or pretty much anywhere in Epcot.

Do you have a signature recipe you’d be willing to share? Someday I promise to share some macaron recipes with you, but for now, I’ll share my mom’s famous macaroni and cheese. Spoiler alert: This is not a low-fat dish!

Mom's Famous Mac ‘n Cheese

Ingredients

Butter - 1/2 cup (1 stick)
Flour - 1/2 cup
Salt and pepper to taste
Milk - 1 cup
Heavy cream - 1 cup
Gruyere - 1 cup, shredded
Sharp Yellow Cheddar - 1 cup shredded (plus more for topping)
White Cheddar - 1 cup shredded
1 box of pasta of your choice (I usually use medium shells or cavatappi.)
Bread crumbs or Ritz crackers

Instructions

In a saucepan melt 1 stick of butter.
Add 1/2 cup of flour to the butter to make a roux.
Add a pinch of salt and pepper.
Simmer over low/medium heat and stir for about 2-3 minutes.
Then add one cup of milk and one cup of heavy cream (Mom kept the heavy cream a secret from me until I kept pestering her about why mine wasn't turning out quite like hers!).
Stir and let simmer on low until it begins to steam (It should also get a little thicker. Not a lot, but some).
Add about 1/2 teaspoon more of both salt and pepper.
Then add:
1 cup grated or shredded gruyere cheese
1 cup grated sharp yellow cheddar cheese
1 cup grated white cheddar cheese
Mix all of that with the milk mixture until completely melted.
Boil your pasta until al dente, rinse and pour into your baking dish.
Add the cheese/milk mixture and stir well. It will be a little runny, but will thicken as you bake it.
I add a sleeve of crushed Ritz crackers on top with a little more grated cheese. Bake for about 30 minutes at 325. When it starts to brown and bubble, it's done. *You can add any cheese, but don't leave out the gruyere — that is what gives it the best flavor.

What are you thankful for this holiday season?

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 22:47:00 GMT

Thanksgiving is a wonderful opportunity to practice gratitude for all that we’ve been blessed with in the past year. As the year wraps up, we are reminded of all the goodness we have experienced in 2021, particularly as life returns to more familiar patterns, and we are able to meet with our clients and spend time with loved ones in person.

We asked our croux to share what’s on their hearts this Thanksgiving. See what they had to say below!

Stefan

“I am so thankful for this time of year as we intentionally pause to remind ourselves and each other of all our blessings. And of course in roux style, so thankful for the food and the hands that prepare it.”

Shayna

“This year, I'm especially thankful for the health of my family, quality time with loved ones, my wild kids and their uninhibited laughter, and of course, my roux croux who is always quick to offer encouragement or a helping hand.”

Karen

“I am grateful that my extended family is able to gather for our traditional Thanksgiving Day celebration. We will share food, laughs and probably a few tears as we spend the day together eating, watching football and catching up IN PERSON! There is one special young lady that won't be with us on Thanksgiving Day because she has to work (she is a nurse). However, there is still reason to be grateful as she has moved back home to Tennessee and is continuing to pursue her dreams. My heart is so happy!”

Lauren

“I'm beyond grateful for my littlest blessing, Amos, who joined our family in July of this year. He will be four months come Thanksgiving and is growing healthy and strong. It's our first Thanksgiving as a family of three and we're excited for the new traditions and memories we'll share this holiday season. We also feel very thankful for our community—family, friends, small group, co-workers—the people around us who encouraged us through our adoption journey and continue to support us during life with a baby. They say it takes a village, and they're right!”

Lianna

Lianna is out of the office spending time with her loved ones after welcoming a sweet new baby to their family. We know she’s feeling extra grateful for good health and quality time with family this holiday season!

We’re also grateful for you, our creative community, and we wish you a blessed Thanksgiving! Feel free to share your own moments of gratitude in the comments below.

Global Leadership Summit 2021

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 12:41:00 GMT

Recently, our team attended Global Leadership Network's annual summit live in Chicago at Willow Creek Church. The 2-day event features a host of inspiring speakers on the power of leadership and influence.

As a croux, this was our ninth year at the GLN Summit, and we're so grateful for the opportunity to take part in this incredible event. Broadcast live in numerous languages, the summit reaches millions of people in over 123 countries each year.

It has long been a dream of ours to attend the summit in person, and especially after the last year+ of virtual events due to COVID-19, this experience was extra special. Those two days were chock full of knowledge, inspiration and connection, and we returned to Franklin feeling revived.

Over the years, we've also been fortunate to have been joined by various clients at the summit. We continue to be humbled by the shared values and vision between our team and our client community.

You can learn more about Global Leadership Network and its mission of "Inspiring Vision & Igniting Transformation" at globalleadership.org.

Say hello to Lianna

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 17:18:00 GMT

It’s finally time to sit down and learn a little more about our wonderful client relations specialist, Lianna Schroeder.

We asked her to share about her journey to roux (it involves a fun connection!), her love for travel and of course, some pictures of her beautiful growing family.

Keep reading to hear more of Lianna’s story!

Tell us a little about your background prior to roux. How did you get here?

Tell us about your role here and what a day in the life looks like.

I’m a client relations specialist, so my role is really similar to Karen’s .

Essentially, I listen to our clients and tr y to figure out what their pain points are, what they need most, and I strategize together with them and then we implement those strategies with our creative team. It’s really relational, a lot of talking and listening, which I love.

What’s been your memorable moment while at roux?

I was talking to my friend about this the other day. I’ve never worked for a place that truly cares about family. Family is first here, and they mean it. I love how roux cares so well for people, and truly loves people. Even if a client or creative isn’t a good fit, we still try to connect them with someone else so they can be their best. We’re always trying to think of others first.

I have a degree in marketing, but that's because I didn't know what else to do, and I thought it would be useful. So, I've been in marketing jobs that I haven't loved leading up to this point, but now I'm actually able to strategize with clients and work in a place where we have a passion for people and helping them find their voice.

Tell us about your family.

JUST FOR FUN

What’s something your co-workers might not know about you?

Well, they know I love Jesus a lot, but they also don’t know I have a deep love for 90’s rap.

What’s your favorite restaurant in Franklin?

Wild Wasabi. They have sushi rolls that are three times the normal size. There’s no ladylike way to eat them, but they’re so good. I can’t wait to get back there once I’m not pregnant anymore!

Do you have a favorite coffee spot?

I love The Well. They have locations all over Nashville, and they donate a portion of the proceeds from every cup of coffee to help build wells in Africa.

Favorite food?

I can eat breakfast food any time of day.

Do you have a signature recipe?

I love comfort food, and a favorite is shrimp and grits, made with our roux spice blend, Authentic Zydeco Dust!

Keep following along to see what we cook up next in the kitchen!

I was born in Huntington, West Virginia, and I stayed there through college—I got a marketing degree from Marshall University. In 2012, right before my senior year at Marshall, I participated in a mission trip called the World Race where I traveled to 11 countries in 11 months, living out of a backpack on just a few dollars a day.

I never thought I would do something like the World Race, but I remember sitting in my college classes, thinking I wanted to do something that wasn’t about me, to get rid of all of my stuff and focus on serving other people. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. We traveled to the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, China, India, Nepal and the Philippines.

After that experience, I came back to finish my degree, and I just wanted to travel more. I really wanted to move to the Philippines because it was my favorite country from the World Race experience, and so I went back there for a few more months after graduating. I prayed a lot about whether I should stay or not, and I just wasn’t sure what I was going to do. It was either the Philippines or Nashville, and when the Philippines started to fall through, I picked a date and said, ‘On September 7th, I’m moving to Nashville.’ I didn’t have a job or anything lined up, but it all worked out, and I moved in 2014.

During that time, I met my husband, Chuck, and we actually ended up moving away for a while. In 2017, we were living in Crossville, and then in 2018, Chuck got a job offer back in Nashville with JetRight. I was job hunting for a while, but one day Chuck came home and said one of his coworkers’ wives loved her job at a local marketing agency. It turned out to be Jared and Lauren, and the rest was history. I started with roux in January 2019.

Chuck and I got married in 2017, and we had our daughter, Praise, in 2020. I’m actually pregnant right now with our next baby, due in October! Oh, and we also have two cats, Luna and Moxie, who are the same age as Praise.

Before having Praise and before COVID, we used to have all sorts of hobbies. We played volleyball and tennis, and because of my background and Chuck’s job as a pilot, we love to travel. We’re hoping to take Praise and our new little one on some fun trips once this is all over. Hopefully, they’ll be good travelers!

Trying to find a balance between work and motherhood is always challenging, but that’s the nice thing about this job. Our company really means it when they say “family first.” After I had Praise, Stefan said, “Let’s just play it by ear, and ease back into it.” Everyone is really understanding

Honoring Cookeville Rescue Mission’s 45 Years of Service

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 15:38:00 GMT

It’s always a joy when our work can coincide with our spirit for serving impactful causes.

Recently, we had the opportunity to partner with Cookeville Rescue Mission to create a video honoring their 45-year mission of serving those in need through a program of spiritual, physical, material and emotional assistance coupled with education and public awareness.

We were connected to the rescue mission via our client, Averitt, which happens to be headquartered in Cookeville. After hearing their mission and all of the challenges they face, we volunteered to help share their story through video.

We partnered with one of our talented creatives, Justin Baker , to create this video featuring some of the men the rescue mission is working with, as well as the faithful team members who serve them every day.

Their work is so much more than providing a meal and a place to stay overnight. They build relationships with the people they’re serving, take care of their immediate needs and help them thrive both physically and spiritually.

This has been some of the most rewarding marketing work we’ve had the opportunity to be involved in, and we’re so grateful for the work the Cookeville Rescue Mission is doing in the Upper Cumberland area.

We appreciate you taking the time to watch this video and hear more about their mission. If you’re interested in giving of your time or treasure to Cookeville Rescue Mission, you can visit their page, Ways to Help .

Roast Chicken

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 02:15:00 GMT

Make Roux’s roast chicken recipe, a comforting and flavorful dish from the Roux Kitchen collection.

Chicken Wings

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 02:14:00 GMT

Try Roux’s chicken wings recipe, a flavorful favorite for game day, gatherings and casual meals.

Bloody Mary

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 02:13:00 GMT

Make Roux’s Bloody Mary recipe with bold flavor, brunch-ready ingredients and Roux Kitchen inspiration.

Zydeco Dust Salmon

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 02:12:00 GMT

Try Roux’s Zydeco Dust salmon recipe for a flavorful seafood dish with bold seasoning and easy preparation.

Steak Seasoning

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 22:25:00 GMT

We used your Zydeco Dust seasoning on our steak... excellent!

Lemon Broiled Trout

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 21:29:00 GMT

Ingredients

Trout Filets

Lemon

Butter

Garlic

Olive oil

Authentic Zydeco Dust

Directions

Combine olive oil, melted butter, lemon juice and minced garlic to taste. Brush this mixture on the filets and shake Authentic Zydeco Dust on both sides of fish to taste. Place in a cast iron pan or skillet. Set the oven to bake at 350 and put the pan in when preheated. Watch carefully because they won’t take long to cook. Finish with a quick broil to add a little color and crispness to the surface of the fish if you like. You can spoon some of the juices over the fish before serving with a lemon garnish.

Authentic Zydeco Dusted Salmon

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 21:23:00 GMT

Authentic Zydeco Dusted Salmon and broccoli atop cauliflower mash with wilted spinach - yum!

Smoked Zydeco Wings

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 21:20:00 GMT

We seasoned our wings with Authentic Zydeco Dust before placing on the smoker. The spice combined with the smoke was mouth watering. Especially when paired with a fig jam dipping sauce.

Stefan’s Chicken and Andouille Gumbo

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 01:41:00 GMT

Before the quarantine, we all went to Stefan’s house and he made gumbo, of course featuring our spice blend. It was delicious.

Stefan’s Chicken and Andouille Gumbo

Ingredients

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups chopped onion

1 cup chopped green bell pepper

1 cup chopped celery

1-2 lbs andouille and or smoked sausage sliced 3 bay leaves

6 cups chicken stock

1-2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken

Salt/pepper to taste

Joe’s Stuff or Tony Chachere’s Cajun Seasoning to taste Gumbo File to taste

Sliced Okra - optional

1 bunch chopped green onions

1⁄2 cup chopped fresh parsley Cooked white rice, for serving.

In a large heavy pot or a Dutch oven over medium heat, combine the oil and flour. Cook, stirring constantly, unHl the roux is a dark, chocolate brown color, about 20-25 minutes. Add the chopped onions, bell pepper and celery. Cook, stirring until the vegetables are very soft, about 8-10 minutes. Add the sausage and the bay leaves and cook for a few minutes. Add the chicken stock and combine thoroughly. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally for 1 hour.

Coarsely chop the chicken meat into bite-size pieces. Season the chicken with salt and pepper or Cajun seasoning and add the seasoned chicken to the pot and simmer for about a couple hours.

Optional - add okra and simmer until tender but doesn’t lose its color

Stir in the green onions and parsley at the end and serve over hot, steamed white rice.

2021 Super Bowl commercial rundown

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 16:00:00 GMT

As is tradition, the croux enjoyed watching the Super Bowl (congrats Bucs!), sharing classic game day food with friends and family, and assessing this year's commercials.

Some major companies opted not to spend their dollars on commercials this year, and instead made donations to COVID-19 relief funds. Still, others chose to create ads that offered something to smile about, whether funny or heartfelt.

We each shared our favorites below, and we'd love to hear your thoughts. Sound off in the comments!

Lianna

My favorite commercial was the Jeep one. I’m already partial to Jeeps, but their heartwarming message about meeting in the middle and setting aside our differences as a country really resonated. The final screen read, “the ReUnited States of America,” and it gave me chills. I love the message of positivity and coming back together, and while I feel like a lot of brands attempted that, Jeep really said it best.

Lauren

I was laughing so hard at this one. I thought they did a great job at grabbing the viewers’ attention and keeping it funny while still highlighting Alexa's features and how she can make a person's life easier.

Karen

This was my favorite Super Bowl 55 commercial because it poses a very interesting and thought-provoking question.

It’s only worth it if you enjoy it—Michelob Ultra—are you happy because you win, or do you win because you’re happy?

Stefan

My favorite was the Toyota spot about Jessica Long because it was such a great story of love and hope without too much selling. Toyota showed their support and sponsorship with a memorable story.

Thanks for reading! We'd love to hear your takes below.

And don't forget to watch the kitchen for the latest news, tips, and the occasional freebie from our team!

Baked Salmon

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 22:14:00 GMT

The first food I tried the roux spice blend on was baked salmon and asparagus. It was delicious, but I was a bit heavy handed with the dust. Learning…

Egg Salad with Zydeco Dust

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 22:08:00 GMT

During the quarantine, we had to be creative and eat what we had on hand. This egg salad with Zydeco Dust and a parmesan crisp made a satisfying meal.

Roasted cauliflower with Zydeco Dust

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 02:05:00 GMT

Roasted cauliflower with Zydeco Dust is delicious and mom approved!

The 8:08 call: How we use quick, daily check-ins to keep the croux connected

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 20:01:00 GMT

Since the early days of roux, we’ve found success as a team through regular phone calls (and as of 2020, Zoom calls) that help us keep our priorities in line.

We’ve given the calls different nicknames throughout the years—alignments, priority calls, and of course, the 8:08—but the purpose has always been to maintain a rhythm of communication.

In his book, Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't, Verne Harnish concludes that the teams who stay aligned and in rhythm with each other are the strongest.

It’s advice we’ve taken to heart, and the results speak for themselves.

So… what is the 8:08?

We’ve always been a flexible company where no one is required to be in the office at any given time, so finding a way to connect as a team is critical. In 2020, as COVID-19 sent us semi-permanently to our home offices, that became even more important.

We have alignment calls throughout the week, from one-on-one calls between myself and each croux member to check-ins with clients. But every morning at 8:08 a.m., all four of our core team members hop on a conference call and take turns sharing wins, celebrations and priorities for the day.

Depending on how chatty we are, the call lasts somewhere between 10 to 15 minutes. We keep it short and to-the-point, with each team member sharing their one or two priorities and updating everyone on anything critical they might need to know.

Why 8:08?

A daily call could happen at any time, couldn’t it?

We considered an end-of-day call where we would share what we accomplished that day and where our priorities sat going into the next day, but ultimately, it all came down to trust.

We’ve built a strong environment of trust within our core team, and an end-of-day call to see who checked off their to-do’s and who missed a few doesn’t fit that bill.

A morning call makes more sense. It allows everyone to get on the same page before starting their work day, and it affirms the trust that we share.

As far as the specific time? Originally, we knew an off-hour time would be more memorable in the mind, and it moved to 8:08 when I needed an extra 3 minutes to get my kids to the bus stop. Everyone accommodated me, showing their love and how we do life together.

We’ve learned over the years that there’s no magic meeting time—it’s all about making the meeting count.

Interested in more of our thoughts on meetings? Check out an older post, Meetings are amoebas .

Say hello to Stefan

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 21:08:00 GMT

It’s time for another croux feature, and we’re excited to share that this one’s all about our founder, Stefan.

When we sat down to chat, Stefan shared a little of the heart behind roux, how it all got started, and the changes he’s navigated along the way.

And of course, like any post here in the kitchen, we managed to talk a lot about food.

Keep on reading to learn more about Stefan!

How did roux come about?

I moved from my home of South Louisiana to Franklin in 1999 with UPS. I was with them for almost 20 years in sales and marketing, and when I left in 2002, I started a traditional agency with two other guys. In 2013, with two different people, I transitioned and started roux. Karen had been with me at the previous agency, and I happened to meet Lauren when she had just graduated from college.

We had met for coffee because she was trying to find work as a graphic designer, and I ended up saying, “Look, I need to be honest. I’m actually going out on my own, and I’d love your help with a logo.” That’s where it all began.

We wanted to take all the things we liked from the traditional agency model and create a more flexible environment. We’re not all virtual, of course. We have our core team that handles strategy, client relations, and creative direction, but beyond that, the entire world is our creative community. That’s the beauty of this model. When we’re making decisions, creativity, clients, and community are what we always come back to.

Where did the name come from?

Growing up, especially in South Louisiana, all great things started with a roux. You’d come inside from playing as a kid, and you’d smell the roux and just know that something delicious was cooking.

Whether it’s dinner or a startup company, if you start with a roux, it’s going to be good. Lauren found a neat article once about all the different colors of roux. They’re diverse—you can have a blonde roux, a dark roux, a chocolate roux—and that was symbolic of all of us, we’re just a mixture of people.

Tell us about a memorable moment at roux.

One of the most significant memories was when I was talking to clients about going out on my own, and 100% of them said, “We’re with you.” That’s a good feeling. You always hope you’re building a strong relationship, doing great work and building trust, but that was confirmation.

All of this was happening and keeping me up at night in this crazy, strategic way. One day, Karen and I were sitting in her car in the parking lot before a client meeting, and I just spilled my guts and told her, “I want you to come with me.”

We always laugh at the craziness on every anniversary. We had no space, no office, we rented out a 200 square foot closet to hold the server and started the process of transitioning. I think that’s the chuckle God has along with us every time he thinks about it. At the end of the day, this has never been one of those things where I thought, “Oh I wish I had my own agency,” but that’s the way it turned out.

What does a typical day look like for Stefan?

I’m an early riser, and I like to spend time with my morning devotionals getting inspiration for the day. After that, I’ll take time to figure out priorities for the team. We start our day out with the 8:08 call to make sure we’re all aligned, and then we move into client sessions and conference calls.

I really focus on keeping the big projects moving and the little projects turning. There are things we have to knock off the list, but my day is primarily internal communication and prioritization, and then communicating with clients.

I try to look at my week and set my Monday aside for organizing and planning, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for clients, and on Friday, I try to work on myself. It doesn’t always work out that way, but those are my targets.

What are you most proud of when it comes to roux?

Tell us about your family. Who is Stefan at home?

I’ve been married to Lizanne for 13 years, and I couldn’t have done any of this without her. We have two boys, Cade and Cody, who are 11 and 8 years old, and we’re a very active family. We love to be outdoors, playing sports, fishing and hunting—everything is outdoors. We love hosting and cooking, and if something can be grilled, we’ll be outside grilling it.

We also love to travel. I believe travel resets us, our beliefs, our culture, everything. Lizanne and I took our honeymoon in Italy, so that’s probably our favorite place. When I proposed and we started talking about getting married, I could tell she was frustrated by the planning. She said, “I've lived through all the wedding drama (she’d been in 11 weddings prior), I just want to run off to a hill somewhere in Italy and get married.” So we just started planning that. We hope to take the boys back there one day.

Favorite local restaurant?

My go-to is Merridee’s. It’s the first place I visited when I got here.

A favorite food or recipe?

If you’re asking what my last supper would be, it would be my mom’s shrimp stew or my grandmother’s spaghetti. My go-to recipe is probably gumbo. It’s a social experience and such a mix of different things, just like us—different people from different walks of life.

Check out the video below to watch our croux making gumbo for Mardi Gras this year!

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little more about Stefan! Keep watching the kitchen for more fun stories from our team, client news, and the occasional freebie.

We’re a humble bunch at roux. We don’t wave a lot of flags or take credit for much. For us, the beauty is in continuing to grow ourselves, grow our clients, and do great work.

I like the way our team and our creative community are connected and how we do life together. We’ve been through a lot. We’ve lost parents and friends, we’ve seen people get married and have babies. The work will turn out if you have the right people.

The other thing that stands out, and I think this is where other agencies have missed the boat with the worldwide creative community, is they see them as resources and not people. I’ll take fewer, better relationships because when I look back, we shoot photos with someone we’ve known for 15 years, our videographers have been with us since the beginning, and we have a stronger core team and a stronger circle of creatives because of it.

When I look to the future, it’s about growth. I hope we’re still growing as a team and helping our clients. And of course, having some fun—we do like to gather, cook, and eat together. That’s part of our personality, and our clients like that about us.

Join us for a food drive!

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 02:21:00 GMT

The month of November is traditionally a time of gratitude for the blessings we've been given in this life, and while we consider ourselves quite fortunate, we know many are struggling at this time of year. 2020, especially, has been a difficult year for our community, from the tornadoes in March to the ongoing effects of COVID-19.

Through our foundation, Food For Thought, roux is hosting a food drive to benefit those in need this holiday season. We're accepting non-perishable food items which will be sent to GraceWorks (Williamson County) and Joseph's Storehouse (Wilson County) in partnership with Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee .

Send us a direct message or email us at foodforthought@rouxllc.com to coordinate a donation drop-off. If you're local, we'd also be happy to pick up donations from your home or office!

Additionally, all donations to our Food For Thought fund during the month of November will benefit the food drive.

Thank you for partnering with us this month!

3 design elements every project must consider

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 16:36:00 GMT

Design plays a crucial role in business, and as a designer, there are a few key things to keep in mind throughout the creative process.

Many people see the final output of graphic design and think, “That looks cool,” without considering the different phases of the project and why the design made them feel something. There are multiple elements that are essential to the process, but I want to go over the three design elements—color, size, and space—that are fundamental to almost every project I work on, and I’ll share how I use them in my daily walk as a designer.

The psychology of color

I love the process of choosing color because it dictates the entire feel of the brand. Color actually affects people on a psychological level—sounds crazy right? Different colors can affect a person’s mood without them even realizing it.

For example, red is an active color known to induce hunger, which is why you see it used in many fast food logos. Blue, on the other hand, is known for its calming effect which portrays reliability and trust. You’ll notice that many hospitals and insurance companies incorporate the color blue into their brand because they want to imply that feeling of trust. So, when you bring this knowledge into your own process, it’s important to first understand the company’s purpose.

Another important thing to consider when choosing color is to make sure that the colors you’re using (if you’re using more than one) are complementary—they work well together. For example, blue and orange are known to work well together, but not every shade of orange will work with every shade of blue, so you have to use your instinct based on the specific brand.

When you use color intentionally and make an effort to understand its effects, it can create a powerful impact for your clients.

Creating a focal point with size

Size has a few different meanings in design. There are a number of techniques you can use with size, but the main goal is to direct the consumer’s eye and help them navigate your design successfully. Like color, it can be used as a tool to control the way a person instinctively reacts when viewing the product.

Of course, there’s room to bend and stretch the rules when it comes to playing with size. Even though people tend to read from left to right, you can adjust the placement of the elements as long as you can manipulate the way it reads.

One way to do this is by increasing the size of the focal point. People naturally focus on the largest element first because it gives the impression of having the most importance. This is why designers tend to make the header on a body of copy the largest, the actual copy second-largest, and the fine print the smallest.

Sizing is also critical because it can bring balance to a design without making everything boring and symmetrical.

However, size isn’t just limited to the hierarchy of text. It can also come into play with the way you lay out your images, or even a logo design. You want to make it as easy as possible for your audience to know where to look first. This is why elements like size are so useful in the design process and they are almost necessary to control the way people navigate and react to the finished product.

Taking advantage of negative space

“I just need some space…”

When you’re working with a lot of copy, a design can get really cluttered really quickly. Space tends to be one of the toughest elements to implement successfully when working with text-heavy pieces.

White space, sometimes referred to as negative space, may be a foreign term to some and might not seem that significant, but it goes a long way in creating an effective design. It’s always important to have some breathing room within your layout, because if there’s too much to read or look at, there’s a good chance that people will become overwhelmed and won’t take the time to digest it all.

But white space doesn’t only refer to copy layout—it can also be handy in logo design. Using the technique of negative space to create more with less within a logo can be appealing to the eye. Similar to size, space can be a great tool for navigation of the design and helping to create hierarchy. When you give a layout enough breathing room, it creates a much more inviting approach for the consumer.

Implementing these elements and understanding why they’re effective will lead to impactful pieces that get their message across in an inviting way to ultimately enhance the brand. Don’t be afraid to stretch the rules and customize them based on the project. The creative process can be fun for both the client and the designer because nothing is set in stone and the possibilities are endless.

We hope you enjoyed hearing TJ’s perspective on design. Stay tuned to see what we’re cooking up next in the kitchen!

TJ Gulley is a graphic designer who works with our team on a regular basis to create fresh, innovative branding for our clients. We asked him to share a few thoughts on design with our readers.

Diving into the Enneagram with Jeff Helton

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 15:46:00 GMT

At roux, we’ve always been intrigued by different work styles and how they can impact our success and wellbeing. This has included taking the DiSC assessment and discussing our natural vs. adaptive styles, and we recently decided to take a closer look at the Enneagram.

The Enneagram has become a hot topic in the space of personality typing and self-discovery, particularly here in the Nashville area. While the DiSC applies directly to who you are in the workplace and your professional behavior, the Enneagram takes a more holistic approach.

A few of our team members introduced us to the Enneagram a while back after exploring it in their personal lives with spouses and friends. As we began to learn more, it was clear that this was something that could be beneficial to us as a croux.

Understanding each other’s styles, motivations, and mindsets is just as important in the office as it is at home, and we decided to take the first step toward learning more about the Enneagram with our friend, Jeff Helton.

As Jeff says, it’s important to “work on yourself first” before you can be helpful or valuable to your co-workers or clients.

Jeff is an executive coach and life coach specializing in organizational and relational health. He’s local to Franklin, and is an expert on assessments like the MBTI, DiSC and Enneagram, in addition to having 25 years of experience as a pastor. Jeff and his wife, Lora, often speak on topics such as marriage, parenting, and the Enneagram.

Jeff hosted a virtual workshop to introduce us to the basics of the Enneagram and how it can be a powerful tool for both personal and professional relationships. While we wish we could have met in person, going virtual allowed us to include some of our more remote croux members!

Before the workshop, we encouraged our team to take The Enneagram Institute’s official test to determine their number. You can take the official test here .

What is the Enneagram anyway?

The Enneagram is an ancient system of personality typing that assigns individuals a number from 1-9. The word, ‘Enneagram’ is made up of two Latin words meaning “nine lines” or “a nine-sided figure.”

There are numerous ways to characterize each number, but we’ll use the descriptions from The Enneagram Institute below.

1 - The Reformer: The Rational, Idealistic Type: Principled, Purposeful, Self-Controlled, and Perfectionistic
2 - The Helper: The Caring, Interpersonal Type: Demonstrative, Generous, People-Pleasing, and Possessive
3 - T he Achiever: The Success-Oriented, Pragmatic Type: Adaptive, Excelling, Driven, and Image-Conscious
4 - T he Individualist: The Sensitive, Withdrawn Type: Expressive, Dramatic, Self-Absorbed, and Temperamental
5 - The Investigator: The Intense, Cerebral Type: Perceptive, Innovative, Secretive, and Isolated
6 - T he Loyalist : The Committed, Security-Oriented Type: Engaging, Responsible, Anxious, and Suspicious
7 - T he Enthusiast: The Busy, Fun-Loving Type: Spontaneous, Versatile, Distractible, and Scattered
8 - The Challenger: The Powerful, Dominating Type: Self-Confident, Decisive, Willful, and Confrontational
9 - The Peacemaker: The Easygoing, Self-Effacing Type: Receptive, Reassuring, Agreeable, and Complacent

You can view more detailed descriptions by clicking on each of the numbers here .

It’s important to remember that just because a test assigns you a number, that’s not the entire picture. You may find yourself relating to some of the number’s description but not all of it, or you might identify with more than one number.

The Enneagram isn’t about putting you in a box; it’s a tool to help you understand yourself. If you go into it with an open mind, it’s incredible what you can learn. Here at roux, we’ve only just begun to explore the Enneagram. We’ll be working with Jeff again in the future, and in the meantime, he recommended a couple books for those interested in learning more.

The Road Back to You , by Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabile
Jeff recommends this as a starter book for anyone looking to understand the basics of the Enneagram. Ian Cron is a trained psychotherapist and sought-after speaker on the Enneagram, local to Nashville. He has a popular podcast on the Enneagram as well, Typology .
The Wisdom of the Enneagram , by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson
Jeff calls this one “The Enneagram Bible,” and recommends it to anyone looking to take a deep dive on their number or the tool as a whole. Its authors, Riso and Hudson, are the founders of The Enneagram Institute which was created to further research and development on the Enneagram.

Are you familiar with the Enneagram? Tell us your number, or share an insight you’ve gained from the test in the comments below.

The croux shares book recommendations from GLS

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 15:02:00 GMT

A couple weeks ago, we had the opportunity to experience our eighth Global Leadership Summit (GLS). GLS is hosted by the Global Leadership Network, a Christian organization, dedicated to building community and supporting ministry and leadership development.

We feel fortunate to learn from the speakers at GLS every year, and the takeaways are many.

This year, we thought we would each share a book that was mentioned at GLS that we feel inspired to read.

Who knows, maybe we’ll even post our book reviews once we’re finished!

Lauren recommends: Imagine it Forward by Paula Farris.

Author Beth Comstock's interview with Paula Farris began with her saying she's a self-proclaimed introvert who doesn't like change. Well, that got my attention right away.

Comstock talks about getting comfortable with a level of 'maybe' in an uncertain world. She explains how to break through the comfort and challenges we face every day with innovation and creativity.

The importance of committing 10-20 percent of our time to be in discovery mode—walking down the street spotting trend patterns or reading about a new topic like philosophy—helps break us out of that mental comfort zone and react to change differently.

In a year of so much change and uncertainty, I think this book sounds so relevant in fostering our ability to change and adapt.

From the author’s website: “The world will never be slower than it is right now. To thrive, everyone has to make change part of their job. In Imagine It Forward, Beth Comstock shows us how. In this candid and personal book, Beth shares lessons from her thirty-year career as a change maker navigating the space between the established and the unproven. She offers practical advice on finding the courage to defy convention (and company gatekeepers), the resilience to overcome failure and the creativity to reinvent what is possible.”

Karen recommends: Forgiving What You Can't Forget by Lysa TerKeurst

The book I’m most interested in actually hasn’t been published yet, but I’m keeping a close eye on the release date!

Lysa TerKeurst’s presentation at GLS had a profound impact on me. I felt it on more of a personal than professional note, but it all works together to make us better leaders.

From the author's website: “Have you ever felt stuck in a cycle of unresolved pain, playing offenses over and over in your mind? You know you can't go on like this, but you don't know what to do next. Lysa TerKeurst has wrestled through this journey. But in surprising ways, she’s discovered how to let go of bound-up resentment and overcome the resistance to forgiving people who aren’t willing to make things right.”

Stefan and Lianna recommend: Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People by Vanessa Van Edwards

Vanessa Van Edwards’ book, Captivate, was a popular choice—both Stefan and Lianna are recommending it!

From Stefan:

Vanessa's talk at GLS was both enlightening and practical. Her examples of in-person, non-verbal and written communications have opened my eyes up to how I can take my communication style to a deeper level, by being aware and intentional with my words and voice.

From Lianna:

Vanessa's presentation truly was captivating. She talked about how she's a recovering awkward person. She has studied behaviors and speech for years to understand how people perceive friendliness, trustworthiness and power.

The trick is striking a balance between these. Being on the client relations side of things, I was extremely interested to find out if my emails, body language, mannerisms and speech convey what I intend.

She even touches on how to convey being a warm, inviting person via Zoom. (Hint: Use your hands.)

This book seems like a great way to deeper understand how to be an effective communicator with your words and body language.

From the author's website: “As a human behavior investigator, Vanessa Van Edwards studies the hidden forces that drive our behavior patterns in her lab—and she’s cracked the code. In Captivate she shares a wealth of valuable shortcuts, systems and behavior hacks for taking charge of their interactions at work, at home, and in any social situation. These aren’t the people skills you learned in school.”

Books are a powerful tool for education and renewal. We’re excited to dive into these titles and share what we learn with one another.

What have you been reading lately?

Say hello to Karen

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 19:52:00 GMT

The last time we published a croux feature, you got to meet our creative director, Lauren . This time around, we’re getting to know Karen!

Karen works in account strategy here at roux, and because of her extensive background in the transportation and logistics industry, she primarily deals with our clients in that vertical, including Averitt—a client we’ve been fortunate to work with for years now. Karen is also the talent behind much of roux’s own branding and culture.

Karen made the switch from corporate to creative life after meeting Stefan at a previous agency. Now, she jokingly refers to herself as the aunt of the roux croux, and we are incredibly blessed to have her with us.

We asked Karen a few questions about everything from her career path to her favorite homecooked meal—you didn’t think we’d let a blog post slip by without mention of food, did you?

Keep on reading to learn more.

Tell us about your career path. How did you get here?

Back in college, I was one of those people who didn’t declare a major until I got sent a letter from the dean that said I wouldn’t graduate on time if I didn’t. I went with English because it’s where I had the most credits, but I really didn’t have a specific career path back then.

I ended up spending most of my career in the transportation industry, and before I met Stefan, I was leading the marketing department for a global third-party logistics provider. I’d worked with agencies for years, but I was always on the other side of the table.

After six years at that company things began moving in a different direction, not only in leadership but in company culture, and I was miserable. Eventually my position was eliminated, and I needed to find a new job.

I knew I wanted to stay in the transportation industry and in middle Tennessee, and one of my former ad reps asked if I had ever talked to Stefan. At the time Averitt was a client of his, and he needed someone to help with client relations. We scheduled a meeting and ended up running into each other at a local marketing event earlier in the day. We were like, “Aren’t we supposed to be meeting later today…?”

I freelanced for them for 18 months and then took a full-time job. When Stefan left to form roux, he asked me to come along, so I always joke with him that I’m “OG roux.”

What was it like to switch from a corporate setting to an agency?

Typically, someone who’s never worked for an agency before doesn’t get that kind of opportunity right away—to dive right in with such a great client. But I loved the transportation industry, I knew most of the terminology, I understood the business model, and I wasn’t nervous about taking on that side of things.

I was so “corporate America” when I got started though. Walking into the agency, I wore a suit on the first day. I realized the people there didn’t care about that stuff. You don’t have to look a certain way or work in a certain office to get your job done, and at the time it was kind of shocking.

It’s not that I wasn’t around creative people in my previous corporate settings, but it just wasn’t that same kind of creativity where people are coming up with all sorts of off-the-wall stuff. One of the coolest things about roux is this culture that wants to help others. It’s not just about creating success in our little world, it’s about “What can we do for other people?”

What’s it like to be part of the roux croux?

I think of it as a family, and I kind of feel like the cool aunt because of my age and because I do have a lot of experience that I try to impart to some of the younger people. I can share some of the great things about being in a corporate setting so they can understand our clients’ needs, and I also try to help them see why they want to stick with an organization like ours.

It’s personal things, too, like encouraging them to put money in their 401ks while they’re young –even just a little bit–and you’ll see it grow. It’s not that I have this vast knowledge, but I’m just trying to pass along the little bits I do know.

Is there a typical day in the life for Karen, or does every day change?

My role is different from your traditional client services role because I primarily work with Averitt. I usually have this one sole focus, and it’s neat to be able to work on some of the other clients here and there to get in a different head space.

My days consist of keeping projects moving and doing all the back and forth with Averitt. Our relationship is long standing, and we do a lot more than just work with their marketing team. We might be developing something for safety or HR, or we might be working with their drivers directly––there are so many different facets to our relationship.

During normal, non-Covid-19 times, I spend two days a week at Averitt’s corporate headquarters, so I'm there face-to-face with their team in meetings and strategy sessions. We have an office there so we’re kind of part of their team.

What do you love about living in middle Tennessee?

First and foremost, it’s my family. My entire family is here, and I built the house I live in to be close to my parents. It’s home. There are four distinct seasons, and that’s not something you experience everywhere. I love them all, but fall is my absolute favorite. Plus, Nashville is a big enough city to have lots of fun opportunities, but it’s not crazy and overwhelming like some of these larger cities.

What’s your favorite restaurant in Franklin?

I have to say Puckett’s Boathouse (now renamed Americana Taphouse). They recently changed the menu, so I’m not sure what my favorite dish is, but the reason I always wanted to go there was their gumbo—or “fish chili” as Lauren calls it.

Do you have a signature recipe of your own?

I don’t have a specific recipe, but I like to take inspiration from the seasons—that’s where my creativity comes through. Recently, because it’s summer and all the vegetables are starting to come in, I’ve been obsessed with different ways to cook and eat veggies and fruits. I’ve made zucchini soup and tomato soup, and it’s all just vegetables and seasonings.

If I had to pick something I was going to be eating for the rest of time though, it would have to be Stefan’s gumbo .

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little more about Karen! Keep watching the kitchen for more fun stories from our team, client news, and the occasional freebie.

What makes a strong company? Reflections from a freelancer’s perspective

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 18:53:00 GMT

Before beginning my career as a freelancer, I worked in a variety of industries and work environments. After experiencing agencies, corporations, and start-ups, I imagined shifting to a freelance role would feel similar to past roles I’d had.

I was wrong.

I quickly learned that every company operates differently when it comes to values, leadership, communication style, and expectations. Pivoting from client to client isn’t always easy, and learning how a client’s team operates and how I fit within that system is incredibly important for a lasting and successful relationship.

I’m going to share a few takeaways on strong companies that I’ve collected during my time as a freelancer.

Values, leadership, and communication build a foundation for a strong relationship

When I first look at a company that could use my services, their values are an important aspect to consider. If I don’t discover their values from researching their brand online or from our first conversation, I find that somewhat alarming. I want to know why a company is in their business or industry, the services they provide, what triggers their passion, and what they do to help and serve others.

Values in life, as well as business, help to define us and give us purpose. When a company lives out their values every day, it proves to customers, employees and colleagues what that company finds important and why.

Leadership also plays a key role in understanding how a company operates.

Ronald Reagan once said, "The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things."

True leaders prove their strength by selecting talented team members; then they lead that talent to produce excellent results. The companies I’ve most enjoyed working with all have one thing in common: a leader who is respected, appreciated, and valued. Unsurprisingly, that leader shares those same feelings for his or her team members.

Over my past 6+ years of freelancing as a graphic designer, it’s been fascinating to witness how different clients communicate. There is no right communication style – it just depends on how people are wired, what their preferences are, and their personalities.

I have had a relationship with a client in another state for over five years, and I have never spoken to him on the phone or chatted via video call. Still, we have a solid working relationship. On the other hand, some clients prefer to communicate via Skype, while others need to meet in person to discuss simple changes. Still, as long as the goals and objectives of a project are presented clearly, the style of communication doesn’t matter in the long run.

An important part of communication for a project is setting clear expectations. In my experience, this is the primary reason that business relationships fail.

Over the years, I have developed some strategies to combat project hiccups due to lack of communication. One of these involves laying out a questionnaire for first-time clients which allows me to get a better feel for their company, project, and expectations.

During that first project, I'm able to get a feel for how they work. Ultimately, expectations need to be set before a project begins. This takes some practice, but great companies know how to communicate expectations right away.

Ultimately, companies are all different which makes for an interesting and exciting experience for freelancers like myself. No day is the same, and there is always variety in what we do. In my experience, the best companies to work with are the ones who successfully balance the characteristics mentioned above. When handled this way, we can avoid letting common, individual obstacles like egos, laziness, and poor attitudes to fester, and instead, create a healthy environment for everyone on the team as well as outside of the organization.

The companies I have the strongest relationships with and the ones I enjoy working with the most are those that offer trust and respect to me and my craft. This motivates me to help their organization grow, and I become a cheerleader for them. I often find myself trying to help that organization grow in ways that don’t directly benefit me or my career, which is a continuous circle we all want to be part of and what makes us all stronger in the end.

We hope you enjoyed these thoughts on leadership and strong companies from Kyle’s perspective. Stay tuned to see what we’re cooking up next in the kitchen!

Kyle Sorvick is a graphic designer who works with our team on a regular basis to create fresh, innovative branding for our clients. We asked him to share a few thoughts on leadership from the employee (or freelancer) perspective.

10 simple ways to bring peace to your mind and body while social distancing

Thu, 28 May 2020 16:40:00 GMT

Even though I’m often home under normal circumstances, there’s just something about being told to stay home that gets me anxious and itching to leave the apartment all of a sudden. I imagine many of you are feeling the same way during this season of social distancing.

Having to stay home can feel a lot like being trapped. How do we truck along with everything that is going on in the world?

It’s hard to focus on working from home with this sense of fear and uncertainty hanging in the air. I know a handful of people who have been exposed to COVID-19, and some who have even been infected. How do we deal with that fear and anxiety? For me, depression occasionally rears its unwelcome head.

To preface, I’m not a doctor or a therapist, nor am I an expert in proper social distancing procedures. However, I do work from home, attend school online, and share my small apartment with a husband, a black lab, and a German Shepherd. While I’m not an expert, I do have some experience on the topic of staying home for long hours without going completely mad.

Keep reading for my tips, and feel free to leave your own in the comments below.

1. Create a schedule for yourself.

The benefits of structure and a schedule don't end in the classroom or the office.

Treat this extended time at home the same as you would if you were going to work. Make a list of things that need to get done, and keep your mind and hands busy.

2. Get dressed.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to get ready for the day. Whether it's putting on your makeup, doing your hair, or actually wearing pants, you'll feel better if you make an effort.

Staying in your pajamas all day is fun at first, but it slowly begins to hijack your productivity.

3. Make your bed.

I shrugged this suggestion off at first, but I’ve recently learned that making your bed is a game changer. The earth doesn't quake and angels don’t sing, but it is your first opportunity to create order in your day.

With the lack of structure we’re currently facing, even those small instances of order can ease anxiety.

4. Set aside time for work or learning.

You would normally be at work or school for a certain amount of hours per day, why not commit to a block of time for work and productivity? Whether it's time for work, reflection, or learning something new, everyone can find something enriching to do. Write journal entries on what's going on, cozy up with a good book, or get lost in YouTube tutorials.

The whole point is to create structure, and make yourself useful. Time spent being productive can provide peace. Don't get me wrong, it’s important to rest and find renewal as well, but sitting around for days on end with no form of productivity or enrichment can lead to depression or anxiety.

5. Take a nap.

I know it sounds counterintuitive to everything else I just said, but stick with me here. Taking a 30 minute nap can provide a much-needed energy boost in the midst of a day that's dragging on.

While it doesn’t sound that exhausting, being at home 24/7 can be mentally straining. You probably need a few minutes of shut-eye. Set an alarm, and try not to go over an hour.

6. Turn off the TV.

This one is new for me. Last semester, as I was trying to get used to working and attending school from home, I would keep the TV on for background noise. I was accustomed to going to class, going to work, and being around people, and I felt like it helped me not feel so alone.

However, the stimulation in the background wore me out more than I realized. I have so much more energy and stamina to sit and work when the TV is off. I still play music sometimes but the peace and quiet is quickly becoming my best friend.

7. Go for a walk.

Getting out for a walk has been key to staying sane during social distancing. Get outside. Take your dogs with you. Just move your body. Your future self will thank you.

8. Take a refreshing shower or a bath.

When you've hit a dead end with work or chores, you don't feel like going on a walk, you can't concentrate, or maybe you feel a little anxious, take a really hot bath (try adding Epsom salts if you have them).

If you hate baths, take a shower. Whether it’s steaming hot or refreshingly cold, it helps press the reset button.

9. Don’t get stuck on social media.

Do not get stuck on your phone.

The one thing that causes the most anxiety for me is looking at my phone and social media all day long. I’m not saying you can't check it, but don't allow yourself to get stuck there.

If you want to be social, talk to people, and be intentional. Call or video chat with a friend. Reach out and communicate with loved ones. Be intentional.

10. Learn how to do a handstand.

Okay, you don’t have to learn how to do a handstand, but my point is, pick something to learn or conquer physically. I have a weird obsession with wanting to learn how to do handstands, and I get up off of my butt every hour or so to practice. It’s a small, weird thing to get excited about, but it’s great to have little goals like these.

See if you can conquer push-ups, a one-legged squat, walking or running a mile, or doing the splits. It can be anything you want, and there are plenty of YouTube tutorials out there.

This is a hard season for many of us. It can be scary and unsettling, and so many are facing sickness and isolation. Still, the worst thing that we can do during this time is give up or let feelings of hopelessness or uselessness take over. What keeps ringing true for me is the blessing we’ve been given of time to appreciate the outdoors and new activities we may not have tried before.

During this time, I’m thankful for health and a strong, capable body. I’m thankful for my mind and the way it stretches and learns.

Don't let feelings of isolation cloud your ambitions and joy.

Sincerely,

Maggie

P.S. Enjoy these videos for even more encouragement!

Maggie Jennings is our spring intern here at roux. We certainly didn’t expect a pandemic and fully remote experience when we first welcomed her to the team, but she’s been wonderful to work with in all circumstances.

Maggie was born and raised right here in Franklin, and she's currently finishing her degree in graphic design online via the Savannah College of Design. We're so happy to have her as part of the croux during this season.

Creating valuable content: How to send emails that actually get read

Thu, 07 May 2020 21:15:00 GMT

Email as a communication tool is a concept that’s been around since the early 1970s, when it was developed and adapted by the U.S. Department of Defense for inter-organizational messaging. At the time it was, of course, a novel concept, and while its inventors likely knew it was revolutionary technology, they probably couldn’t dream up the email-saturated world of 2020.

Internet and email usage became more widespread in the early 1990s, and today it’s nearly impossible to imagine a functioning world—much less a successful business—without it.

Consumers offer up their email addresses at checkout without batting an eye, whether to chain retailers or hometown boutiques. And it’s not limited to retail either; news media, bloggers, influencers and celebrities collect email addresses in exchange for the latest content, whether it’s recipes, gossip, news, or creative writing.

Soon, inboxes are overflowing with content, and consumers quickly fall victim to email fatigue. Because few people take the time to hit ‘unsubscribe,’ whittling their inboxes down to strictly the messages they’re actually interested in, hundreds of emails go unopened every day.

All of that valuable content—and it’s certainly out there—becomes just another shout to the void.

So what makes email relevant?

If you’re wondering why you would ever bother with email, think again.

Email fatigue doesn’t mean consumers are ignoring every message. It simply means they’re not opening all of them. The true barrier to entry when it comes to an email is its subject line.

Consumers need to be told why they should stop and listen to you. Email is still the most direct and influential entry point to a consumer’s brain—they just have to open up the door.

There are multiple tactics for getting that foot in the door, and if you check your email on a regular basis, you’re probably familiar with them.

WordStream blog writer, Megan Marrs, identified some of the most effective tactics in a recent blog post, The 9 Best Email Subject Line Styles to Increase Your Open Rates . We’ll summarize a few of these strategies below and share more of our thoughts on valuable email messaging.

Getting creative with subject lines

In order to be effective, subject lines must indicate the value of the email. Some of the most straightforward examples of this are simple, no-nonsense subject lines that tell the reader exactly what the email contains. These are most often used for confirmation emails or receipts—messages delivering information with no real marketing or persuasion tactics needed.

As companies move beyond those simple, direct emails, subject lines have to get more creative as well, while still telling readers what they need to know or enticing them to click ‘open.’ Marketers can be clever with humor, personalization, or different punctuation and sentence structure, like asking a question or emphasizing with exclamation points or even emojis. All of these tactics are effective in catching readers’ attention and implying that more excitement lies within.

Sometimes, riskier tactics can pay off with subject lines, such as shocking or controversial statements, one-word subject lines, scarcity language, or mystery. The idea behind these strategies is that people will be unable to resist opening the email to find out what’s inside or what your controversial statement truly meant.

If you choose to use those methods, it’s critical that you think carefully about the message you’re trying to send. Is the shock value of your subject line going to offend or annoy readers, or will it be an appropriate attention-grabber? If you’re drawing readers in with a single, mysterious word or the promise of a ‘last-chance sale,’ will they be satisfied with what the email actually contains?

Finally, a tried-and-true blog headline tactic works just as well with email subject lines—numbers and lists. Consumers see a lot of value in lists; they’re able to tell exactly what the email is offering. Whether it’s “7 household cleaners to keep your family germ-free” or “17 mediation techniques to stay calm during uncertain times,” readers see exactly what you’re providing and can decide if it’s something they need.

Valuable content goes deeper than the subject line

Of course, it doesn’t end with the subject line. Nothing is more frustrating for a consumer than being drawn in by a witty subject line or the promise of exclusive information, only to realize it was all a tease. Your open rate may have momentarily spiked, but you certainly didn’t nurture a repeat customer.

As we said before, email is one of the most direct and influential communication tools we’ve been gifted by technology. It’s our duty to use that tool responsibly and to give more than we receive.

Email-driven revenue is a blessing, particularly in the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic which is keeping customers out of stores and driving them online. As many businesses are surviving solely thanks to e-commerce, it’s critical to go above and beyond for those consumers.

Be thoughtful with your messaging , beginning with the subject line and continuing throughout the entire message. It is not the time for clickbait, nor is it the time for preying on vulnerability, however easy or tempting it might feel.
Provide value. If you’re selling an essential good or service, express gratitude for your customers and a willingness to serve. On the flip side, if your business has suddenly become irrelevant, or at the very least, non-essential, what can you offer to your audience? The answer may come in the form of a physical pivot like sewing masks instead of t-shirts, or it may be a softer switch like sending words of encouragement or ideas for at-home activities instead of your typical newsletter content.
Be authentic. Now more than ever, whatever you’re offering in our emails must align with your brand and your values. As we mentioned in a previous post , inboxes are being inundated with closeout sales, statements on COVID-19, and swift pivots from every corner. If you have to say something, it must be honest, purposeful, and authentic.

Pandemic or not, email is and will continue to be a prime opportunity for your company to engage and connect with its audience. Consider the following questions next time you’re preparing to hit ‘send’:

What is my purpose in sending this email?
Does my purpose align with what my audience needs?

If you can’t answer either of those questions or if the answers conflict, it may be time to rethink your strategy.

Thank you for joining us here in the kitchen. We’d love to see you again soon.

The perils of “pandemic promotion”

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 21:23:00 GMT

I saw a commercial the other day that highlights the tightrope brands are walking right now.

It’s a spot for an automotive brand that will remain unnamed. Over a montage of rosy-hued footage, while gentle music plays in the background, a medley of different voices tells us:

"When we first opened our doors, it didn’t take us long to realize we weren’t in the car business. We were in the people business. We needed to be helpful, respectful, compassionate. To treat people like guests. It’s what we all signed up for. And now when people need this most, we will do what we’ve always done. Take care of people first. The rest will follow."

It was earnest. It was passionate.

And it was jarringly, breathtakingly phony.

Don’t get me wrong. I have no reason to doubt that the company genuinely wants to “take care of people first” at this particular moment in time. The spot directs viewers to a site where they outline the many ways the company is responding to the pandemic – from payment deferrals to community support.

But I’ve been aware of this brand for roughly 30 years and have never – EVER – heard anything remotely like this from them before.

So to tell me that they’re doing it because it’s “what they’ve always done” rings hollow.

And it tarnishes my perception of the brand.

Compare that with this spot for Uber – a company that was created solely on the basis of people NOT staying at home.

The closing slide simply states:

"Stay home for everyone who can’t. Thank you for not riding with Uber."

The differences are striking.

Obviously, there is a rush for brands to acknowledge the current situation. In a recent report from communications firm Edelman, 84% percent of respondents said they want advertising to focus on how brands are helping people cope with pandemic-related life challenges. It’s why we’ve all been bombarded with emails and ads reassuring us of the efforts companies are making.

Some are sincere. Some are misguided. Some are downright ham-fisted.

But the ones that resonate most have one trait in common: they feel honest.

It's always been the case that in order to genuinely connect with consumers, a brand must be true to itself. That’s never been more important than it is right now. Because consumers can sniff out the phonies. And they have long memories.

Brands that are seen as being either tone deaf – or worse, trying to capitalize on the moment – run the risk of alienating consumers who are already stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed.

Those that treat us with respect, understanding, and honesty will earn our loyalty.

Another example. My wife makes the occasional online purchase through Boden, the clothing retailer. A little while back, she received this message:

“It might seem highly inappropriate to show you clothes for which you currently have no need. But we’ve already made the clothes. We’ve already taken the photographs, we’ve already printed the catalogues. It was too late to stop. We hope you don’t find it horribly insensitive.”

That’s what respect for your customer looks like. It’s trusting that they’ll understand. It’s demonstrating “we’re all in this together” in a way that resonates – a way that seems genuine.

That’s doing it right.

Steve Russell is a freelance writer from Nashville, whom we've enjoyed working with over the years. He penned this timely piece on the importance of honesty in promotions and advertising – something we've always felt strongly about, but perhaps now more than ever.

Say hello to Lauren

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 17:34:00 GMT

We’re a small, humble bunch here at roux, and sharing stories about ourselves doesn’t always come naturally. Still, it’s important to get to know the people you’re working with, whether you’re a client or a freelance partner. We’d certainly love to hear more about you!

All that to say, we’re going to start sharing a bit more about our team here in the kitchen, starting with our wonderful creative director, Lauren Weiss.

Lauren has been a creative gal from the start, and she’s always had a bit of the South in her—South Dakota, that is. She comes to us from the small town of Hot Springs, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. If you’ve heard of or been to Mount Rushmore, Hot Springs is about an hour’s drive to the south.

Lauren moved to Tennessee after college in 2013, and after meeting our founder, Stefan, she began freelancing for roux. She says she knew from the start that this was a special place. Now, every day is different for her, from leading projects with our creative network, to going on client photo shoots or collaborating on brainstorming sessions.

As creative director, she’s also in charge of making sure quality and consistency are at the forefront of our clients’ work, and she spends plenty of time designing, too.

We asked Lauren to answer the following questions in her own words. Keep reading to see what she had to say.

Have you always been a creative type?

I’ve been obsessed with creating from the start. As a kid, I went through sketchbook after sketchbook drawing, and I would wake up early to watch craft shows before school (which is saying something, because I’m not a morning person).

My family has always supported my creativity, and they supplied me with any paints or random craft items that I needed. Their encouragement fueled my love for the creative process even more.

How has life prepared you for where you are today?

I’ve had a lot of great role models that have helped to define my path. They’ve taught me how to work hard, be humble and lead with kindness.

I always knew that my path would be a creative one, but I never imagined it manifesting into a creative director role until joining the team at roux. I was just excited to design and learn more about the industry. Now that I’m here, this feels like a natural fit for my strengths and passions.

Any memorable moments you’d like to share from your time at roux?

Stefan has a way of always making Christmas special, and last year, he sent our team on a scavenger hunt all over Main Street Franklin. It involved a shopping spree, giving back to those in need, and saying thanks in a historic church. At the very end of the hunt, we found him at a restaurant for a wonderful dinner all together. We were smiling ear to ear all night!

We love to share meals together at roux. What’s a memorable cooking experience you’ve had?

My grandma would bake Christmas stollen every year during the holidays. She made loaves upon loaves to share with friends and family, and she taught me how to make it a few years ago. She would say there isn’t much of a recipe—it’s more of a feeling. She would say, “A little more, a little more,” or “Okay, now get in there,” and she wouldn’t be satisfied until I was up to my elbows in dough.

I’ve also shared some special cooking experiences with my grandpa. He was a butcher for many years, and we love making homemade German sausage together. It's a special tradition that we look forward to every year. I'll always remember him tasting the raw meat until it reaches the right balance... eek!

Throughout these experiences, I've realized that cooking is a very creative process, and it seems only natural that we'd be inspired by it outside of the kitchen, too

What’s something you’re looking forward to?

I’ve recently decided to visit all 50 states before my 30th birthday. I was inspired by my big sister Caitie who finished the same goal this past year. I only have six states left!

Fun Food Facts about Lauren (What can we say, we love to eat!):

Favorite Franklin Restaurant: Merridees
Go-To Coffee Order: Chai, matcha, or cold brew (depending on the weather)
Favorite Food: Knoephla soup

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a bit about Lauren. She’s an integral part of our team, and we’re blessed to have her with us. Keep watching the kitchen for more fun stories from our team, client news, and the occasional freebie.

Local organizations to support during COVID-19

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 15:37:00 GMT

Many Nashville area residents and businesses are suffering, as the arrival of COVID-19 followed just weeks after two tornadoes devastated the area. Recovery will take time and resources, and our community will need all the support it can get.

The following organizations are doing their part to serve our local community during this difficult time. If you know of other local groups who are helping out, please let us know in the comments. We’ll update this list as we learn more.

GraceWorks Ministries

GraceWorks Ministries is located right here in Franklin, and they have four program areas that make up the acronym FISH— family support , instructional programs , seasonal needs and hunger prevention .

During this time of concern regarding COVID-19, GraceWorks is committed to serving Williamson County residents in need of assistance with food, rent, or utilities. Due to health concerns, their thrift shop and donation center are temporarily closed, but those in need of food can visit them at 104 Southeast Pkwy between 9 a.m. and noon, Monday through Saturday.

If you’re looking to support GraceWorks during this time, volunteering is not currently an option based on CDC recommendations. GraceWorks plans to return to its normal hours on April 6, and they will certainly require volunteers at that time. In the interim, financial donations are greatly appreciated and a safe and simple way to make an impact. For the most up-to-date information on GraceWorks’ offerings, follow them on social media @graceworkstn .

The Nashville Food Project

You’ve heard us talk about them before, and we really can’t say enough about the good NFP is doing in our community.

In addition to serving food and providing groceries (with clean hands and at a distance), NFP has gone out of its way to lift up areas of our community who are suffering and partner with other organizations to spread its impact even further.

As with GraceWorks, NFP has made the difficult decision to suspend volunteer activity for the time being, but financial donations are always appreciated. Follow NFP on social media for the most up-to-date information about donation needs.

Food for Thought featured by Music City Giving podcast

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 19:50:00 GMT

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Joe from the Music City Giving podcast to share about the heart behind our Food for Thought foundation.

Our goal with Food For Thought is to partner with and raise awareness for local nonprofits that are addressing the needs of hungry children in our community.

Thanks again to Music City Giving for the opportunity! You can listen to the podcast below, or via Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or Google Podcasts .

We've cooked up something special for you... again!

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 17:23:00 GMT

We like traditions around here… almost as much as we like trying something new! In keeping with this idea, we decided to cook up another recipe in honor of our south Louisiana roots by making gumbo.

Hope you enjoy watching this video as much as we enjoyed making it.

Happy Mardi Gras from the roux krewe!

Did you miss last year’s video where we made King Cakes?

Take a look below!

Grow, cook, share: The Nashville Food Project makes a healthy impact on our community

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 17:12:00 GMT

Here at roux, food is at the heart of our culture. It’s in our name, of course, and it’s one of our favorite ways to connect as a team. We love preparing meals for one another and spending time together at some of our favorite local restaurants, but we also know that not everyone has enough food to go around.

In Nashville alone, one of every six people is considered food-insecure. It’s a cause that’s heavy on our hearts, and that’s why we first gravitated toward The Nashville Food Project. NFP has a goal of alleviating hunger in the Nashville community, and we were eager to learn more about the work they’re doing.

To get started, we attended their First Taste event, which we strongly recommend if you’re local to Nashville (they have another event coming up on January 8). Their team prepared a wonderful breakfast for us and shared some of the ways they’re working to empower the community and help those in need.

How does the Nashville Food Project work?

Thank you so much for checking in on the kitchen. We enjoy the opportunity to share what’s going on with roux and our community, and we’re thrilled that you stopped by the blog. If you have any comments or just want to say hello, drop us a line below.

NFP operates on a three-fold model of growing, cooking and sharing nutritious food with the community. We got to witness the growing aspect firsthand at our volunteer event this August with Julia Reynolds Thompson, NFP’s Director of Garden Operations.

NFP grows food in the gardens for their kitchens, while also providing land for community growers to plant their own food. It’s incredibly hard work, and witnessing it made us admire what they do so much more.

“In the gardens, we’re providing access to land, resources, and education to community gardeners from around the city, prioritizing folks who are experiencing significant barriers to land access,” said Julia. “We’re also engaging with the larger community through our volunteer program in the garden, hoping to provide a point of re-connection between people, the land and food.”

Beyond the gardens, NFP operates two kitchens with a diverse community of volunteers. In the kitchens, they cook and share 5,000 meals each week. The ingredients they use are grown or donated by members of the community, and NFP also makes the effort to use food that might otherwise be wasted.

According to NFP, 40 percent of food produced in the United States goes to waste.

“We partner with local grocers, farmers, restaurants and markets to recover food that would otherwise go into the landfill,” Julia said.

The partnerships developed with those local businesses and individuals provide an array of ingredients for NFP’s kitchens. Julia emphasizes the generosity of many of their partners, who often share not only their seconds, but some of their best products. This could show up as anything from excess harvest from a backyard garden, to food recovered from events that would have otherwise gone to waste.

Ultimately, NFP works tirelessly to make fresh, healthy meals and snacks available to those in need through a variety of outlets and partners. If you, or someone you know, could benefit from this type of support, you can check out Where to Turn in Nashville, an online resource that includes NFP’s partners. New Paragraph

How can I get involved?

NFP relies on its community of volunteers to accomplish its goals each and every day.

“One of the amazing things about our work is that it couldn’t be done without the huge input of time and commitment from our community,” Julia said.

If you’re local to the Nashville area, there are a variety of ways to directly support this wonderful cause. You can offer up your time in NFP’s gardens, kitchens, or food trucks, helping to fulfill the mission of growing, cooking, and sharing. Learn more about available opportunities here.

If you’re short on time or live farther away, financial donations of any amount have the power to make an impact for NFP and the community it serves.

Grateful & blessed: Thanksgiving reflections

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 16:59:00 GMT

Thanksgiving is a time for reflection, and here at roux, we have much to be thankful for. This year, and every year, we are blessed beyond measure by the projects we get to have a hand in and the relationships we get to build.

From a talented, tight-knit team to an amazing group of clients and partners, one thing is certain—we couldn’t do it alone.

We asked some of our team members to share a few things they’re grateful for, both at home and at work. And of course, as the food lovers we are, we couldn’t resist sharing our favorite Thanksgiving dishes, too.

Keep reading to hear what everyone had to say.

Lauren

Overall, I’m especially thankful for our creative community which continues to amaze me.

They are such a talented bunch that work hard to foster bright, new ideas and think of the “what elses.”

I’m also really thankful for our internal croux who are all huge role models to me. They really don’t know how much I learn from their example. I’m thankful for the opportunity to grow together at conferences like GLS and give together by volunteering in the community. Not every workplace is like that, so I feel blessed.

I’m grateful at home, too. My husband is a complete ham, and he has a way of brightening up my day and giving me those hearty belly laughs. He’s a constant support in life, and I’m so thankful for his sunshine.

Favorite Dish: This is a weird one, but one of my favorite Thanksgiving foods is putting corn on top of my mashed potatoes and eating them together!

Stefan

I’m thankful for roux and all the parts that make it a perfect dish of creativity and culture. I’m thankful for the team and how they show up every day and bring their best for all the right reasons. I’m also thankful for our client relationships and how they trust us with their brands.

I’m grateful for my family and how we love each other in spite of and because of our quirks.

Favorite Dish: The bird! All kinds—domestic and wild, grilled, smoked, roasted, and especially in day-after gumbo with all the leftovers!

Karen

One thing I’m thankful for in my work life is that while we are not established as a Christian company and neither are our clients, I’m surrounded by a wonderful group of strong, Christian people. Many of my client contacts use their office space and white boards to post scriptures or compelling Christian messages. What a blessing it is to live in a country where we can share our faith openly. I am humbled by my wonderful croux and clients who, as my minister says, “have eternity eyes.”

I’m also grateful for my family and that it is my turn to host our gathering this year! Everyone brings a dish and we visit with each other, eat (and eat and eat!), laugh loudly, and watch football—it is a perfect day!

Favorite Dish: I’m not fancy, and my favorite Thanksgiving food is turkey. I LOVE it in any form. My dad used to smoke a turkey each year and use the majority of it to make smoked turkey salad, which is the best. He went to heaven in 2016, and I miss Daddy and the smoked turkey so much now.

Lianna

I am exceptionally grateful to work for a company that invests in people. We’ve had a lot of great opportunities this year to give back through our foundation, Food for Thought, and those have been some of the greatest highlights of my year. From investing in kids through YCAP and helping plant fresh vegetables for the under-served through the Nashville Food Project, it’s been such a joy to partner with organizations that are doing great things in Nashville. roux loves people well, and I am so grateful I get to be a part of that.

On a personal note, I am thankful that we are adding a tiny little one to the roux croux in 2020. This is my first child and our whole team has been incredibly supportive. The roux croux really is something special and I don’t take that for granted.

Favorite Dish: My favorite Thanksgiving food is strawberry pretzel salad. I have no idea why it’s called salad, but I’m here for it.

What are you thankful for this year? We’d love to hear about the many blessings our community has enjoyed—please comment below!

Meetings are like amoebas

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 18:24:00 GMT

Something I love to share with people is my crusade for fewer, better meetings. I truly believe that meetings are like amoebas–they’ll take up as much space as you give them.

Of course, meetings are necessary, and they can be vessels for positive change in an organization. Still, valuable time and energy is wasted in meetings that are inefficient and uninspiring. At roux, we even like to call them sessions, because the word ‘meeting’ can initiate a paralyzing, negative reaction from people.

Statistics show that 11 million meetings are held every day, in the United States alone. The average office worker spends 62 hours per month sitting in meetings, and unfortunately, 37 percent of these are considered unproductive.

How can we work toward changing this unhealthy trend?

Today’s leaders need to make a stronger effort to understand human behavior and psychology. Understanding the tactics that keep people engaged is key to a successful meeting.

Still, no matter how engaging you make your meetings, if they take too much time, you’re in trouble. Scientific research shows that the average person can only pay attention to something for 10 to 18 minutes before losing focus. If run efficiently, a meeting will only take as much time, space, and energy as you allow it to, and your attendees will remain engaged.

Could you streamline your meeting agendas to make them more efficient? Can you eliminate any of the meetings on your schedule right now? Your first step might be taking stock of how many meetings your organization is truly generating.

The free tool, Meeting Stats , connects to your work calendar and generates a report that tells you how many hours you spent in meetings this year, how much money those meetings are costing you, and what percentage of your time is spent on meetings. The data updates weekly, and it also offers interesting stats on meeting attendance, how long your meetings run, and when most of your meetings are held.

Whether you need to better analyze how your time is being spent or find a way to make the most of the meetings you do host, it’s a never-ending journey. We’re never going to be perfect, but we aim to get better every day.

We’d love to hear your take on efficient meetings. Sound off in the comments below, and make sure to keep your eye out for new posts in the kitchen.

Reflections on GLS: Lauren

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 01:32:00 GMT

Thanks for visiting the blog! This week, we’re sharing snapshots from our team as they reflect on our time at the Global Leadership Summit in August. Keep reading to hear from Lauren.

GLS continues to pull in amazing speakers to inspire leaders across the world. Every year their light seems to spread further and to many hard-to-reach places like 74 different correctional facilities, underground churches in undisclosed countries, and remote villages (60 different translations). Each year those numbers grow.

Something I found very impactful this year was the time GLS set aside for reflection. Host, Paula Faris, led moments of quiet meditation between some of the sessions. She prompted us to reflect on the speakers’ content and consider how we might be able to apply their principles to our lives and leadership moving forward.

There were also fantastic musical performances between sessions which served as yet another mental break to help us reset before the next speaker. For example, they had the amazing artist, Kevin Olusola, celloboxing. If you’re new to celloboxing, check this out.

As far as speakers go, some of the points Todd Henry brought up from his book, Herding Tigers, Be the Leader that Creative People Need, resonated deeply with me.

Henry discussed the importance of finding the right balance of inspiration, productivity and health for ourselves, as well as for those we lead. When any one of those elements is lacking, we can quickly lose clarity, direction and trust from our team.

This begins with focusing on ourselves. Although that might sound contradictory to a leader, Henry said, “If you are not inspired, then you cannot inspire.”

We must first focus on the balance within ourselves before we can speak courage and trust into those we lead. This is an ongoing process of self-awareness and intentionality, and it helps us unleash our team to achieve better work. This builds trust and transitions us from leading by control to a healthier creative process.

Since hearing Henry speak at GLS, I started listening to his Herding Tigers podcast which has even more nuggets of wisdom for leading creative teams. I’m excited to dig into this more and spend time reflecting on how I can enhance my own leadership approach.

Additionally, Jia Jang told us about his 100 day mission to find rejection. He purposefully went out every day asking impossible things from strangers, just to hear them say ‘no’ and get used to the feeling of rejection. It ended up surprising him when many people said ‘yes!’, creating several amazing experiences.

Jang spoke about triumphing over our fears and using rejection as an insightful tool for growth. This was a powerful eye-opener for a gal who often seeks approval.

I’m excited to spend more time reflecting on my creative life balance and how I can help unleash other creatives to do their best work. My time at GLS encouraged me to find a healthy flow of feeding my own inspiration and creative passion while encouraging others to do the same.

Reflections on GLS: Karen

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 01:34:00 GMT

Thanks for visiting the blog! This week, we’re sharing snapshots from our team as they reflect on our time at the Global Leadership Summit in August. Keep reading to hear from Karen.

I’ve been able to attend GLS for the last seven years, and I’m so glad we make it a priority here at roux.

This year’s sessions were all incredible, but I have to say, I found Jason Dorsey’s to be the most interesting. He brought in all these comparisons of millennials, baby boomers, Gen X, and Gen Y, and how we can all learn from each other.

Dorsey’s session was full of hilarious, relatable nuggets like, “All you millenials who walk in here with nothing to write with, just look over, find a baby boomer, and ask for a pen because they brought two.”

He also talked about how millennials have grown up with all the technology that baby boomers saw coming into place. Different generations have unique experiences when it comes to technology, and that’s important for us to keep in mind.

One of my other major takeaways was from Chris Voss, who wrote the book, Never Split the Difference. He was a lead hostage negotiator for the FBI for almost 25 years, and his focus was on listening, word choice, and how words can make such a difference when you’re trying to negotiate with people or communicate in general.

One thing Voss pointed out was that it’s much better to say, “That’s right,” rather than “You’re right.” He explained that when you say, “You’re right,” you’re implying that you’re ready for the other person to stop talking. Similarly, he talked about how saying, “I understand,” implies to somebody that you want them to stop talking and move on. You may not mean it that way, but it often has that connotation.

Finally, he talked about how the word ‘why’ can make people uncomfortable, likening it to a situation when a child does something and you say, “Why did you do that?” The question implies that they did something wrong, and it causes them to be fearful. Instead, you should ask, “What makes you want that?” or “What makes you think that?”

It was wonderful hearing how powerful words can really be. They have the power to help you connect with others on an emotional level, rather than just talking at them. This is something we can benefit from remembering in our daily lives, whether at home, at work, or just in passing interactions.

Reflections on GLS: Morgan

Fri, 06 Sep 2019 01:41:00 GMT

Thanks for visiting the blog! This week, we’re sharing snapshots from our team as they reflect on our time at the Global Leadership Summit in August. Keep reading to hear from our intern, Morgan, about her first time at GLS.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from my first time at GLS, but I was immediately impressed by the scale of the event. I had no idea how large it would be, and I feel so grateful to have had this opportunity.

As a perfectionist, Craig Groeschel’s session really spoke to me. I was reminded that perfection is the enemy of progress, and I need to practice “bending the curve,” as Groeschel says.

I also really appreciated Liz Bohannon’s session and her concept of, “Dream small, not big.” Taking that to heart can launch you into creating and taking the baby steps necessary to get where you need to be.

Going forward, I’m eager to try “thinking inside the box” more (another tactic from Groeschel), and not trying to “overcook my time” as a perfectionist. I’m also looking forward to simply enjoying life’s ride of failures and successes. There’s something to learn from every experience, successful or not.

It was also wonderful to hear what people had to say about leadership from a Christian perspective at GLS, and I appreciated how people could come together from different backgrounds and still learn something from the speakers.

Reflections on GLS: Lianna

Thu, 05 Sep 2019 01:43:00 GMT

Thanks for visiting the blog! This week, we’re sharing snapshots from our team as they reflect on our time at the Global Leadership Summit in August. Keep reading to hear from Lianna about her first time at GLS.

This was my first year attending GLS, and I was absolutely blown away by how great the conference was.

The speakers were fantastic, and I was always excited to hear whoever was up next. Each speaker was interesting in their own unique way, but I think I most enjoyed Liz Bohannon, founder of Sseko.

Liz was really funny, and I was inspired by her drive. She encouraged us to “dream small” and just start somewhere, which I thought was a unique way of looking at things.

Craig Groeschel was also a surprising favorite for me. One phrase that stuck out to me from his talk was “bend the curve,” which basically means finding inventive ways to do more with what you already have or with little extra investment.

I think this was something that really resonated with our team, especially when we think about serving our clients. It requires thinking creatively and using our resources to their full potential, to reach and exceed our goals.

Overall, the entire summit was fantastic. I’m very thankful to work with a company that wants to invest in us as leaders. It was an awesome experience, and I can’t wait to attend again in the future.

Reflections on GLS: Stefan

Sat, 31 Aug 2019 01:44:00 GMT

Thanks for visiting the blog! This week, we’re sharing snapshots from our team as they reflect on our time at the Global Leadership Summit earlier this month. Keep reading to hear from Stefan.

As always, it was a blessing to bring together our team and some of our clients to experience the amazing speakers at GLS.

Every year, the speakers seem to come from more diverse backgrounds, which is great for us. It keeps us sharp and continues to give us more perspective.

I’m a big Craig Groeschel fan, so it’s hard not to mention his session as a favorite. His talk really hit me hard. He has all these phrases, like “thinking inside the box,” and “bending the curve,” that work so well to cement important reminders in your brain.

He reminded us that sometimes the best thing you can do, especially if you don’t have a huge budget, is create structure and parameters. This allows you to create an impact while still remaining within the budget for a client. It’s all about what you’re trying to accomplish as a team. With thoughtful parameters, you can often do things creatively and still have the same, if not better, impact without spending a fortune or taking six months to accomplish it.

Another thing I love about GLS is how we’re exposed to new minds each year. For me this year, that was Todd Henry with Accidental Creative. Once we get exposed to these people and their thinking, then we go out and find them. Now I’ve listened to a few of Todd Henry’s podcasts, and he’s opened my mind up to some new thinking.

Finally, as a few others have mentioned, Jason Dorsey was a truly impactful speaker. He has a research company focused on generations, and his talk reminded us that you can’t communicate, market or advertise to people through your own lens. You have to understand your audience while respecting and appreciating how they’re different from you.

Overall, this is one of my favorite events with our team every year. It’s a fantastic opportunity to watch people take a break from the day-to-day, recharge, learn and grow.

What we want people to do is grow, but we also understand that we can’t try to implement every single new thing we’ve learned. If we can implement just one concept from that gathering, it could impact us for a year, and that’s what this is all about.

3 takeaways from my summer Internship with roux

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 01:49:00 GMT

Submitted by our summer graphic design intern, Morgan Pearce. Morgan is a junior at Mississippi State University, studying graphic design. We feel so blessed to have had her as part of our croux this summer!

With this being my first internship, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but once I walked through roux’s doors for the first time, all my anxiety went away.

The people at roux are incredibly friendly, talented and fun to be around, and I am so thankful I had the opportunity to work with them over the summer (if you are thinking about who you should intern for, definitely choose roux, and thank me later.)

Here are just a few of the many reasons I loved my summer internship at roux:

#1: The Environment

The environment at roux is laid back in the best way. Most of the time we do our work at the office while listening to great music, ordering Taziki’s for lunch (we eat at other places occasionally too, I promise), and having great conversations with the team.

The overall feel of the company is welcoming, warm, and homey which I believe is key to a great intern experience.

#2: The Experience

Roux definitely spoils you with all the things you get to and events you get to attend. This is no coffee-fetching internship.

One of the things I found interesting was sitting in on client meetings and getting to see how roux interacts with their clients and how their process works with coming up with helpful solutions and ideas.

It was always cool to see other fields helping with roux, present their work and collaborate with the clients. The team at roux also takes you to photo or video shoots so you can observe how the creatives run through their process and just do their thing. They even took me on a field trip to a printing facility so I could see all the work that goes on behind the scenes when it comes to printing different client materials.

The team at roux has such a big heart for every person they meet whether a client, a coworker, or just a random person walking down the street. They give back to the community whenever they can, and one day they invited me to volunteer at the Nashville Food Project gardens with them.

It was a great experience working on the gardens that will produce food to be distributed throughout the community. It was a lot of manual labor and super hot outside, but it was so rewarding.

#3: The Rewards

As a graphic design intern, I worked with roux’s creative director, Lauren Weiss. I was so surprised by how much she and the rest of the roux team trusted me with their clients and projects.

It made me feel confident, like they knew what I was capable of and wanted to push me to be the best I could be. As a graphic designer, there is a lot you need to know about the software, and I am still in the learning process.

I was so relieved when Lauren made me feel like it wasn’t a big deal that I didn’t know how to do everything with the programs. She happily showed me how to do different things that I needed help with or just things I wanted to know, and I learned so much.

On top of that, you also get paid! This is awesome because most internships don’t pay you for all your time and hard work. It just goes to show how much roux really cares about their interns and trusts in what they can accomplish.

I couldn’t have imagined a better internship. I learned so much, from design and marketing to how a great company is built, and it all starts with the amazing people who run it.

To Stefan, Lauren, Karen, and Lianna, thank you so much for all you do and for this opportunity that I will cherish forever.

Morgan

Preview: Global Leadership Summit 2019

Tue, 06 Aug 2019 01:51:00 GMT

This week, our croux is excited to be attending the 2019 Global Leadership Summit (GLS).

I first attended this event at my church about ten years ago, and since then, we’ve made it a company-wide tradition. In fact, roux has been around for seven years and we haven’t missed GLS once.

GLS is hosted by the Global Leadership Network, a Christian organization dedicated to building community and supporting ministry and leadership development.

This year, the summit runs from August 8-9, and while the main event takes place in Chicago, it’s streamed across the nation at over 500 host sites.

The main benefit is really taking time out and showing our team and our clients that it’s important to continuously learn and grow.

GLS features a wide array of speakers who are able to inspire in all areas, from work to leadership to personal growth.

Our hope is always that each of us grow individually as well. At the end of the day, we want to make sure that we’re not being stagnant and continue to improve ourselves.

This year’s speakers include Craig Groeschel, Bozoma St. John, Bear Grylls, Patrick Lencioni, and many more.*

* For a full list of speakers, visit GLS’ website , and select the “Faculty” tab.

Some speakers are more well known than others, but our team is always eager to learn from new voices. Typically, you get there and within the first few minutes you’re hooked. Our mindset going in is to make sure we’re always open-minded and receptive to new speakers and new ideas.

Here at roux, we deeply value growth, both personally and professionally. Over the years, we’ve been continually encouraged by our experiences at GLS, and it has proved a positive, powerful tool for both our team and our clients.

While we will be available to clients during the conference, response times may be a bit longer than normal. We are blessed to work with clients who understand and appreciate our commitment to growth and development as a team.

Keep an eye on the blog for a recap of our time at GLS in the coming weeks.

YCAP in East Nashville Received Food for Thought Grant

Sat, 30 Mar 2019 02:00:00 GMT

Thanks to you, the kids at YCAP in East Nashville are learning about nutritious foods. They are enrolled in a cool after school and summer program that focuses on nutrition, cooking and gardening. Their curriculum also includes preparing and enjoying foods from countries throughout the world.

We are so excited that the first grant from our Food for Thought foundation was awarded to this great organization. It was terrific to see the new commercial kitchen the students will be learning in and meet some of the kids in the program. One of them wants to become a chef – so this is one huge first step in that direction.

We love food and we care deeply for children. We know that minds cannot tap into their creative potential when tummies are empty. Through your support of roux and Food for Thought you are helping us provide grants to organizations like YCAP that feed children in our community.

We thought you’d like to know where your money is making an impact on young lives. Thanks again and if you feel so moved, we promise to use any and all donations to help more children.

Click here to help today!

Our croux's 7 Favorite Franklin Lunch Spots

Sat, 16 Mar 2019 02:06:00 GMT

2026 Update: Franklin’s food scene continues to evolve! Since this post was originally published, Puckett’s Boat House has closed its doors. While we’re sad to see this local favorite go, there are still plenty of great lunch spots to explore in Franklin, TN!

Original post below:

It’s no secret that good food is one of the quickest ways to our team members’ hearts.

Lucky for us we’re based out of Franklin, Tennessee, a growing community just south of Nashville. With a charming downtown and a beautiful historic district, there are an abundance of dining options to explore.

From cozy coffee houses perfect for afternoons spent working remotely, to historic spaces revived with modern menus and fresh, fast-casual options, Franklin has it all.

Check out our team’s top picks below:

#1. Merridee’s Breadbasket

110 Fourth Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37064

As we compiled this list, Merridee’s was a clear favorite among the croux. Karen, Lauren, and Stefan all mentioned the local bakery that conveniently serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Citing pot roast, curry chicken salad, homemade soups, and a ham and egg breakfast biscuit that sells out quickly, the team appreciates this classic spot for a cozy meal, a sweet treat, or a drink from the espresso bar.

“My first Franklin love. It was the first place I went when I got off the plane to move here in 1999—I fell in love with the place.” – Stefan

#2. Puckett’s Boat House

94 East Main Street, Franklin, TN 37064

The Boat House was mentioned by Lauren and Karen as a go-to for seafood and classic Southern fare.

The restaurant has two bars—one for wine and one for oysters—and their mission is downhome dishes with a seafood spin.

For Lauren, it was the site of her first taste of fish chili (gumbo), a momentous occasion.

#3. O’ Be Joyful (OBJ)

328 Main Street, Franklin, TN 37064

Stefan brought OBJ to our attention, calling it his new favorite and praising the burgers and bourbon (only on a late lunch, of course).

The name itself is enough to create intrigue. O’ Be Joyful or OBJ is a slang term from the Civil War, referring to an intoxicating drink or homemade brew.

#4 Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe

428 Main Street, Franklin, TN 37064

Sure, it’s a chain, but Taziki’s Franklin location is in the heart of downtown and feels just as charming as some of its local counterparts.

Whether you’re looking to pop in for a quick meal or want to take advantage of their delivery service (we do this a lot—it’s remarkably fast!), Taziki’s is a fantastic lunch option.

Shayna says she craved their Greek Lemon Chicken Soup nearly every day during her pregnancy.

“Now when I go, I change it up a lot, but I always order an extra side of Taziki sauce. Always.” – Shayna

#5. McCreary’s Irish Pub

414 Main Street, Franklin, TN 37064

While you might not peg an Irish pub as a hotspot for an American bar favorite like wings, Shayna claims it’s the place to go.

Less surprisingly, their Shepherd’s Pie and Bangers and Mash are the perfect choice if you’re looking for a taste of the Emerald Isle in the heart of Tennessee.

And beyond the traditional Irish fare, McCreary’s offers a wide variety of sandwiches and burgers to satisfy your midday hunger.

#6. Frothy Monkey

125 Fifth Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37064

If the name isn’t enough to draw you in, Lianna says Frothy Monkey’s rosemary honey latte will do the trick.

With four other locations in Tennessee, you could call Frothy a chain. However, we think that would be a disservice to its charm. Think old hardwoods, exposed brick, and a crisp, minimalist color scheme.

Beyond the aesthetic, the coffeehouse serves delicious espresso drinks, as well as carefully crafted breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. Frothy also serves craft beer and wine, with happy hour from 4-6 p.m. on weekdays.

TIP: Frother also offers a wide variety of gluten-free options.

#7. GRAY’S on Main

332 Main Street, Franklin, TN 37064

GRAY’S on Main marries the best of historic Franklin architecture with stunning Southern flavor. The building itself dates back to 1876 and served as Gray Drug Co. for nearly a century.

The restaurant, restored and reimagined in 2013, brings three stories together with dining on the first level, music and a bar on the second floor, and an elegant supper club on the top floor.

The menu varies widely featuring creative sandwiches and salads, perfect for a weekday lunch.

Lianna recommends the Burrata and Honey Roasted Delicata Squash Salad.

Whether you’re local to Franklin or happen to be passing through, we’d love to hear your take on the city’s dining! Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

We've cooked up something special for you

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 03:12:00 GMT

Greetings friends!

As you probably know by now, we’re always looking for an excuse to learn something new. If we can do it with friends and family, even better!

In honor of our south Louisiana roots, roux recently teamed up with one of our favorite neighborhood bakeries to try our hand at making King Cake.

Hope you enjoy this slice of life as much as we enjoyed making it.

Happy Mardi Gras from the roux krewe!

roux's Review of SB LIII

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 03:17:00 GMT

So, the Patriot’s won another big game – shout out to the Rams for making it a close game (even though it was a bit of a yawner). The halftime show was met with mixed reviews – one thing is clear – Adam Levine is a big fan of ink.

As is our custom, the roux croux watched the game and the commercials to select our favorites. Please see our list below in no particular order.

Jason Bateman is fabulous as he narrates the different “floors” on the Hyundai ad . It also has a very clear message of going up!
If only we could change things with the spoken word like the guy in the Mercedes A-Class Thanks Ludacris, Wile E. Coyote and whoever created this fun ad!
Another favorite was the Amazon Alexa So clever and entertaining while poking fun at themselves (because they really are putting her in everything!).
Pepsi owned being known as second choice. It also doesn’t hurt that they nabbed Steve Carrell for this entertaining commercial.

So, football is over for the season. We will wait in earnest for a new season to begin and look forward to new entertaining commercials in big game #54. Wonder who will be in the game then?

A Photographer’s Tips for Successful Photo Shoots

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 03:24:00 GMT

There is so much more involved in a successful photo shoot than just showing up to take pictures. I’ve learned this by working alongside Reed Brown of Reed Brown Photography the past several years. Reed partners with roux on many projects and has become a trusted professional and friend. He understands the importance of intentional planning and preparation for every project.

(1) Plan ahead.

Spend time thinking about what you need to bring and what environment you will be shooting in. Things like umbrellas, a dry pair of shoes and a generator can save the day.

(2) Time of day.

On any outdoor shoot and some indoor shoots, the time of day is critical. That hour around sunrise or sunset is the best light of the day. I prefer sunset because the grass isn’t wet and you aren’t setting up in the dark.

(3) Charge your batteries.

Before any given shoot day, I charge 8 to 10 batteries in different devices – phone, iPad, cameras, power supplies, wireless transmitters laptops etc.

(4) Know your gear.

Make sure you are comfortable with the operation of all your equipment and the results they can achieve. Knowing your camera, lenses and lighting equipment lets you focus on getting creative and fine tuning your results instead of struggling with menus and settings.

(5) Over-deliver.

Always shoot as many different set ups as possible. You never know what image the client will like so give them as many options as you can.

Do People Love to Follow You?

Sat, 17 Nov 2018 03:29:00 GMT

The roux team attended the Global Leadership Summit in August (it is an annual “must” for us and we highly recommend). We’ve been tasked to write about the presentation that was most influential to us. Choosing just one has proven to be a difficult task since all the speakers had such powerful messages.

At the top of my list Craig Groeschel speaking on the topic of “How to be a leader that people love to follow.” He quickly pointed out that there is a difference between “being a leader that people love to follow” and “being a leader that people love.”

Below are highlights from his presentation. roux and I take no credit for this information as it was all directly taken from the conference.

When the leader gets better; everyone gets better. People want leadership; they want to know “where are you taking me?” And people also have emotional needs; they process “how are you treating me?”

The #1 reason people leave companies is that they don’t feel valued. People never forget how you made them feel (even if they eventually forget what you said).

Great leaders make people feel valued, inspired and empowered. To make people feel this way, leaders need 4 things:

A heart to care – Let people know that you notice them and that they matter to you. The best leaders help their people see their importance.
Passion to inspire -Your passion can elevate a job to a calling. So can the passion of your teammates. Leaders should be generous with inspiration.
Willingness to empower -Delegating tasks creates followers. Delegating authority creates leaders. The better leader you become the fewer decisions you make.
Courage to be transparent -As a leader, you have to always be real; you don’t have to always be right.

One of Craig’s final shares was the following. Wow! Definitely something to think about…

If you don’t trust your team to make decisions you are either too controlling or you have the wrong people. And guess what?

This is your problem to solve…

Keeping up with the Kardashians

Tue, 18 Sep 2018 02:32:00 GMT

Have you ever been faced with a choice that it actually seems impossible to choose? No, really. Like the only option is not deciding because that’s how much you can’t decide! That is where I am right now. And that is because I’m supposed to choose just one speaker who impacted me on our recent experience at the 2018 Global Leadership Summit and: I. Just. Can’t! So, I’m going to cheat.

I won’t write about how inspired I was just by listening to how Angela Ahrendts starts her mornings each day (with coffee and a podcast by the way – I love tangible life tips like that and, well, coffee is involved so count me in). I won’t mention how Juliette Funt’s stories and video clips made me laugh harder than I have in recent memory or how, speaking of tangible advice, she is just spilling with actual, useful tools that make it impossible to NOT be inspired by her. I won’t recall how Danny Meyer’s passion and accessible hospitality wisdom made me grateful to have worked in a service industry and reminded me why I love it. And I definitely won’t even hint at how Danielle Strickland’s talk on equality made me shake with excitement, righteous anger, and down-right inspiration by the end. Nope. I’m so glad I resisted that temptation to talk about more than one speaker… ��

But who I will mention, briefly now since I may have strayed from the rules a bit, is Simon Sinek, as his talk has stayed with me the longest and clearer than any other I heard during our two-day experience. The Infinite Game was his title and, long story short, it essentially posed the question to us…to me…what kind of life are you living? “Finite games have known players, fixed rules and agreed-upon objectives. Infinite games have known and unknown players, changeable rules and the objective is to perpetrate the game.” He went on about how your only competitor is actually yourself. And, for me, in a world that looks so different than the way I grew up, and I am only 33, where it seems like social media and hashtags and Kickstarter campaigns and Pinterest and this never-ending cycle of comparison, out doing each other and keeping up with the Kardashians, if you will, it was quite refreshing to be reminded that none of that is the point. Are you the best version YOU can be? Regardless of how Sally or Joe (or Khloe or Kim) are doing?

He told a story about speaking at two different summits: one for Microsoft and one for Apple. I bet you can guess, as I did, on his point here. Essentially his recollection was Microsoft’s focus was how to beat their competitor…. Apple’s objective was how to create the best products to meet their primary goal which was helping educators and students. Phew. That will preach! And yes, he spoke about how being driven to be better, even by some worthy competition, can be good. But our focus? Absolutely not.

I stay home with my 2-year-old son full time.

* Insert shameless plug here. Any stay at home parent reading this who is interested in freelancing for roux and doesn’t think it is an option to do both things – trust me: it is! And you should totally do it. End tangent. *

But I am painfully aware of the mommy blogging, mommy shaming, mommy hating on other hard working momminess of our generation and I don’t want any part of it. This talk by Simon was good for my business side, but it was great for my wanting to leave a lasting legacy for my family side. Leaving a forever impact on this world. Enabling the people around me to love working with me, spending time with me, and maybe even wanting to learn from me. I don’t want to focus on short term, non-consequential things that steal my focus from the infinite game of living the best life I can.

And I know I am not doing justice to all that was shared. The stories I heard and the eloquence with which he spoke…even his main points, which I wrote down, I think he would even argue are not the point though. More important than anything, he left me with the feeling of “I want to do better…be better…for me.” A feeling I won’t soon forget. And I truly couldn’t have asked for anything more.

Watch this video to hear more from Simon Sinek on ‘The Infinite Game’.

Girl's Weekend

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 02:35:00 GMT

As Lauren mentioned in an earlier post, Stefan gave us all a generous amount of Christmas cash to be used on an experience. The only stipulations were that 1) all the money was utilized and 2) we write a blog post about what we did.

My experience was a wonderful weekend with three amazing women – my best friend since seventh grade, her sister and her niece. Well, sure, I’ve been on girl’s trips before and I’ve traveled often with this same group. We did some things to make this trip special.

My friend’s niece, who is a nurse, worked a double shift so she could go with us, we booked a house instead of a hotel so we could really kick back, relax and enjoy each other, and I vowed to unplug from work. As rewarding as my position at roux is, let’s face it – we all need to recharge. It’s good for the brain and the soul.

One first for me on this trip was a walking “ghost tour” complete with stories of sightings and hauntings all over the small town we visited. The tales were told with great energy and were quite thought provoking.

A first for all of us was a visit to a lavender farm. To say that the gift shop smelled amazing does not even come close. We learned about varieties of lavender, the best places to plant lavender and about how long the plants will live (5 years). We all bought plants to put in our own yards and gardens and we bought all manner of lavender scented products. Wow – did the car smell fantastic on the way home!

We did eight wine tastings (don’t judge us) and bought lots of our new favorite wines. This will continue the experience for all of us as we enjoy the wines ourselves and give to others as gifts. We also purchased glassware, pottery, jewelry, wine racks, t-shirts and hats.

We painted pottery. It was fun to do together and the folks who ran the shop were nice enough to prioritize our pottery so we could get it before we left for home. While none of the pieces are perfect (a few are close), they will provide us smiles throughout the year as we see them and remember our fun weekend.

Oh, and we ate. We ate lots; and it was all fantastic. The people who waited on us were all super nice and a few of them were wealth’s of information about their city and their menus and were not shy about making recommendations on what to do and what to order. We all appreciated that tremendously. We shared appetizers, ate off of each other’s plates and passed delicious drinks around for table tastings – just like the family that we are.

While at our house away from home which was absolutely perfect for us we talked, tried to help solve each other’s problems and dilemmas, enjoyed the wonderful views, painted fingernails, enjoyed being away from our everyday routines, shed just a few tears, laughed almost constantly, and as you probably imagined, drank a bit of wine. It was just the adventure we all needed.

I’ve included a photo taken at one of the vineyards we visited. It was huge, so the photo doesn’t capture the size although it does provide a glimpse into the beauty. If you’d like to learn more about the town we visited, please go to http://dahlonega.org/

Sunny Side Up

Wed, 08 Aug 2018 02:39:00 GMT

What’s the first thing you do when you hit a bump in the proverbial road? Do you beat yourself up, feel regretful or down? Or do you try to look at the up side? Life is always going to have bumps. How we deal with them makes all the difference.

I look forward to our team’s sessions here at roux. Reviews have become an essential function that keep us balanced, on task, and in sync with each other and our clients. But, even the best teams hit bumps from time to time. How do we deal with them?

We start with gratitude and acknowledge everything we’re doing well. Then we make a list of what we want to keep. If it’s client-related, we discuss what the client likes or doesn’t like. We take an honest look at whatever is tripping us up and decide if we need to tweak it, refine it, or drop it completely.

Regardless of the outcome, we make it a priority to recognize what’s working. When there are struggles within a team, it’s often easy to lose gratitude for each person’s talents and all the good they bring to the table.

By focusing on the good, we’ve noticed something along the way. We discovered that acknowledging our genuine gratitude for each other spills over into our relationships with our clients and helps us serve them better. They feel it, too, and it makes our trust deeper and our bond stronger.

The next time you’re met with a challenge, I encourage you to start with the sunny side by acknowledging all the good work your team is doing, sharing gratitude for each other, and recommitting to serve your clients with a grateful heart and mind.

Have you and your team adopted similar habits? I’d love to hear about it!

Free Summer Wallpaper

Thu, 12 Jul 2018 03:05:00 GMT

Summer is in full swing and we hope you are enjoying it! Lauren Weiss designed come cool summer wallpapers featuring yummy fruits and refreshing popsicles that you can download for the season. Enjoy!

The Wall That Heals

Thu, 07 Jun 2018 03:10:00 GMT

We recently had the opportunity to create a video of The Wall That Heals, which is a traveling replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. The entire process of bringing The Wall into a community, to constructing it to seeing people experience it was tremendously impressive and emotional.

Info from The Wall That Heals website:

Bringing The Wall home to communities throughout our country allows the souls enshrined on the Memorial to exist once more among family and friends in the peace and comfort of familiar surroundings. The traveling exhibit provides thousands of veterans who have been unable to cope with the prospect of facing The Wall to find the strength and courage to do so within their own communities, thus allowing the healing process to begin.

The Wall That Heals exhibit features a three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Visitors experience The Wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a key feature of the design of The Wall in D.C.

The Wall That Heals is erected in a chevron-shape and visitors can do name rubbings of individual service member’s names on The Wall. The replica is constructed of Avonite, a synthetic granite, and its 140 numbered panels are supported by an aluminum frame. Machine engraving of the more than 58,000 names along with modern LED lighting provide readability of The Wall day and night.

A few details on communities The Wall is displayed:

In order to get The Wall to a specific place, the community must make many commitments, including providing 100’s of volunteers. Cookeville is the only stop this year in TN due to the commitment of Cookeville and the Putnam county community, including corporate sponsors like our client, Averitt. The stop underscores the Chamber’s “Patriotic Putnam” campaign and Averitt’s commitment to hiring 1,200 veterans by 2020.

It typically takes 6 hours to assemble The Wall. Thanks to the help of the Tennessee Tech football team and coaching staff, the build in Cookeville was completed in a little more than 4 hours.

We interviewed several volunteers, many of whom were veterans. The information below is from Josh Pack, US Navy.

“The Wall is about honoring people who sacrificed all in the Vietnam War and is also the first step to recognize all Vietnam vets and welcome them home. The Wall is not only for those who died; it shows appreciation for all. For me the entire experience was very emotional and inspiring.”

Josh volunteered during the entire event and has many touching stories. A particularly compelling one is that he helped a woman who had never been able to travel to DC to see the wall there locate a photo and name of a Vietnam vet. She and Josh both became emotional as she explained this vet was her dad – a man she had never met as she was born after he left for Vietnam. She said it was like she met him for the first time in that moment.

So if you get a chance to experience the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall or The Wall That Heals, take advantage of it. The travel schedule for 2018 is linked here.

Build Your Life Around What Matters Most

Thu, 31 May 2018 03:17:00 GMT

Summer has not officially started, but the weather is hot and humid, the kids are out of school, and I have vacation on the brain. So much so, that I was thinking about the question that always seems to plague me right before leaving town: Do I commit to work during my travels or do I completely disconnect?

The article below, by author and businesswoman Arianna Huffington, explores this topic and provides some great suggestions. It also gets me thinking about how email has sadly morphed from a productivity tool to a technology that keeps us from being our most productive and creative selves.

The New Auto-Response Movement to End Always-on Culture

Let’s choose to be mindful of how we manage email – both ones we send and receive. Tell us, how do you take control of the technology in your life?

Lots of Doing

Wed, 16 May 2018 03:26:00 GMT

I recently began taking pottery classes at a local shop down my street. It’s been a very fun, messy adventure that I’ve been doing as part of the roux ‘go look’ challenge (I speak a little about that challenge

here

). The pots don’t always come out how I anticipated but I love the creative process and how it allows us to learn new things and grow skills over time.

GLS 2018 Coming Soon!

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 16:59:00 GMT

The Global Leadership Summit (GLS) is scheduled for August 9-10, 2018 and we at roux are looking forward to our annual retreat. Held in Chicago, IL and broadcast all over the world in approximately 600 satellite locations, GLS shows leaders of all types of organizations how to apply Christian principles in business situations. This year they expect nearly 450,000 people to participate.

It is so important to us at roux that we close up shop (checking in with clients on anything pressing) and spend two days together learning, comparing notes and gathering all kinds of new ideas to try, blogs to follow, videos to watch, and books to read. We’ve hosted clients at the summit and always encourage them to either go with us to the host location Church of the City in Franklin, TN or to attend at another site of their choosing.

Last year I was very moved by the message from Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook. I also read her book, Option B, which is the true story of keeping her life, her family and her company going and thriving after the sudden death of her husband. This year I can’t wait to hear what Denzel Washington and Simon Sinek among many other gifted professionals have to share with us.

The onsite session in Chicago is sold out but there is plenty availability in the satellite locations. Please plan to join us in Franklin or participate at a location convenient to you.

How Secure Is Your Data?

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 17:06:00 GMT

Did you know that most data breaches are opportunistic rather than targeted? I certainly didn’t until I attended a technology conference and learned so much during a session on the topic of cyber security. I am sharing some of the things I learned but all credit goes to the SMC3 conference and the panelists.

Cyber security is:

People
Processes
Technology

It is NOT just technology! Many companies think it is just technology and do not know what to do or how to respond when a breach occurs.

In the event of a breach or hack:

You needed to have a back up regimen in place
You need cyber security liability coverage
You need to know if you have a recent back up or can rebuild from other sources
Implement your disaster recovery plan – preparation is key
Concise PR plan
No panic
Do not hesitate to contact law enforcement (this does not mean all breach details are then a matter of public record)

You need to determine what information is proprietary/confidential to your company and make sure it is up to date, accurate and protected. Determining what data to protect is very important.

A bit about breaches:

Average dwell time is 270 days – the person/organization has been in your system for 9 months before the breach is discovered.
The vast majority of breaches are opportunistic rather than targeted.
Breaches can happen through vendors/partners who have access to your data so you need to make sure they are following the data protection protocol that you have in place.

Policy vs. practice

You MUST be doing what you think you are doing! Does your practice match your policy? If it doesn’t and that’s discovered after a breach your insurance will not pay or if they discover during an investigation after they pay they will sue you and get their money back.

Good people are nice and want to be helpful. That is not always a good thing. Two quick examples:

An employee allowed access to the company’s server room because the person had a plausible reason to enter even though the company policy is to not allow people into areas with sensitive data at all.
A badly brown spray-painted truck (meant to look similar to a UPS vehicle) was allowed into a warehouse dock area with no questions asked.

Effective cyber security is essential in today’s online world. How we protect our own data, customer data and partner data will likely continue to become more complex. First things first, as we like to say at roux, what data of ours and yours needs to be protected?

Let Your Heart Crack Wide Open

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 18:08:00 GMT

When I was visiting NYC this past weekend, I went to a yoga class with a dear friend of mine. As we prepared our mats and settled in for the experience, we both waited anticipating what this experience would have in store. My mind was anxiously thinking about my rusty my downward facing dog pose and trying to remember if I put on deodorant. Regardless of those racing thoughts, I decided to just do my best and live presently in the moment.

Soon after our sweet instructor, Petra, welcomed us and began easing us into the session. Habitually all my nerves slipped away and my mind went to my yoga happy place of self awareness and meditation. Petra challenged us to push further and explore new sequences beyond our comfort-zones. This wasn’t without its new challenges. I was a little wobbly at times and built up a good sweat, but overall was proud of what I accomplished.

As our practice came to an end, Petra challenged us to crack our hearts wide open like an egg and let all our love and goodness spread out and sink into all that’s around us. While a little gross to visualize… that’s how I want to open my heart every day. Whether it is during the workday, at the grocery store or with a neighbor, I want to have that love-giving attitude which spreads and encourages all those around me.

This past January, Stefan challenged us to go try a new experience and get out of our comfort zones. He encouraged us that these new experiences help us understand more about the world, each other and in turn create better work. I believe these lessons are similar as we push past our known boundaries and let more love and creativity in which in turn, lets more out!

As we get swept up in the daily grind of emails and tasks, let us practice the art of cracking our hearts open to love others, especially in those busy, challenging parts of the day. I look forward to carrying these lessons with me as I strive to create meaningful work and spread goodness as I go. Please join me as I practice opening my heart more and searching for new experiences to grow from. If you’re not sure where to start, click here to visit Sarah’s previous post on meditation and share your thoughts with us below.

Wanna Add 8-15 Years to Your Life?

Mon, 05 Feb 2018 18:16:00 GMT

From the moment we are born, we begin to die. I personally have never been afraid of death, and yet I’ve always been interested in keeping my body healthy so that while I am on this earth, I can live life to the fullest. Up until recently, my focus has primarily been physical health…and then last year happened.

2017 was rough for me for various reasons. As the year progressed, I found myself growing increasingly frustrated and agitated. I’ve never been one to turn away from conflict in a “fight or flight” situation and yet, every situation was beginning to feel like a decision of whether to fight or flee.

By October, I’d hit rock-bottom and desperately started exploring any possible way I could get out of my rut. About that same time, I caught up with a friend who was raving about a course she had taken earlier that year and insisted I take it as well. While I was supportive of her journey, I was hesitant to follow suit because, well….the class was expensive and…let’s just say my friend is a marketer’s dream. The course…MEDITATION.

My first thought was, “you want me to take some hippy-dippy course in mediation? I am not a Buddhist monk.” Still, by this point, I was ready to try anything. I paid my deposit to secure my spot in the next available workshop and booked a flight to New York. What I experienced was what I believe will prove to be nothing short of life-changing.

The science of meditation is awe-inspiring and the learnings are growing at a rapid pace. Researchers have found that meditation actually lengthens our telomeres – an essential part of human cells that affect how we age. A daily meditation practice is said to be able to add 8-15 years to your life!

I completed my mediation training two weeks ago and have been diligent in my practice – two 20-minutes sessions per day. It’s a commitment. And it’s hard. Some days my mind is racing. Other times, I enter a state of pure relaxation. In the short time I’ve practiced, I’ve noticed a vast improvement in my mood, energy, length and quality of sleep, and creative thinking. It’s not easy – but nothing truly worth it ever is, is it?

I look forward to sharing my progress with you as I observe the positive impact of my meditative journey. Until then, check out this 6-minute YouTube video from my teacher, Emily Fletcher, Founder of Ziva Meditation in NYC:

roux’s Review of SB LII

Mon, 05 Feb 2018 18:12:00 GMT

As many of us eased into our new found roles as Philadelphia Eagles fans, the roux team was eager to cheer on our team and decide on the best 2018 Super Bowl commercials. The game did not disappoint as our (new) favorite team took the victory in an exciting and hard-fought match.

Dirty Dancing An NFL ad featuring Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. is a perfect mix of awkwardness and hilariousness proving no one puts OBJ in a corner.
Lionel won’t say it! An Ameritrade ad features Lionel Richie and two guys desperately trying to get him to say “All Night Long.” It’s short and sweet and you get to hear part of the hit song at the end.
Budweiser Water We are given an inside look at switching from canning beer to canning water to provide emergency relief. It will be interesting to see if the public perception is positive or if people think it was too self-serving.
Rocket Mortgage keeps it simple This one features Keegan-Michael Key and Big Sean and the discussion about the dating app is hysterical.
Thanking First Responders Verizon uses what we believe to be recorded conversations of people helped by and thanking first responders. It’s a cool ad but we wonder about perception same as the Budweiser Water commercial.

Rosemary + Cranberry Spread

Fri, 12 Jan 2018 18:23:00 GMT

This tasty holiday spread is great for a pre-dinner appetizer or party snack.

Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 tsp garlic powder
4 tablespoons dried sweetened cranberries
2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
fresh cracked pepper & salt

First, soften the cream cheese by stirring at room temperature in a bowl.

Then fold in all ingredients until well combined.

Serve in your favorite holiday bowl with crackers or baguette! Enjoy!

Contributed from Lauren’s kitchen

Lady Fingers

Fri, 12 Jan 2018 18:21:00 GMT

I decided to share my grandmother’s cookie recipe that I remember her always baking around Christmas.

Ingredients

1 lb margarine
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 tablespoons water
6 cups sifted flour
2 cups pecans

Mix ingredients: add flour slowly until a hard dough is formed. Roll the dough out into a tube “about the length of your finger” and pinch into small pieces. Press onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for ~ 20 minutes. Let cool, then roll in powdered sugar. Makes three 12” pans of cookies.

Contributed by Stefan Speligene from Grandma Mary Spelgiene’s cookbook

Favorite Holiday Recipes

Fri, 12 Jan 2018 18:18:00 GMT

Our team loves to cook… especially together! During the holidays the roux team gathered some of our favorite go-to recipes. Check out these yummy dishes, which are great all year round, in the posts below.

Holiday Apple Salad

Tue, 05 Dec 2017 18:31:00 GMT

Salad

3 medium thinly sliced apples – I like a mixture of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith
Juice of 1/2 lemon to coat the apples
12 ounces salad greens (whatever you like or have on hand)
1 cup pecan halves, toasted or candied (optional)
3/4 cup dried cranberries
4 ounces crumbled blue cheese

1/2 cup light vegetable oil OR extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup unsweetened apple juice or apple cider
2 to 3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Amazing Coconut Pie

Tue, 05 Dec 2017 18:29:00 GMT

At my family’s holiday gatherings, food was always “semi-homemade”. Here’s an easy recipe for a crowd-pleasing dessert that doesn’t require hours in the kitchen.

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

2. While oven is heating, blend the following ingredients in a blender until smooth:

2 cups milk

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup Bisquick mix
4 eggs
1/4 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3. Fold in 1+ cup shredded coconut

4. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until the center is done.

Contributed from Sarah’s kitchen

Three Lessons I Learned From Dolly Parton

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 18:34:00 GMT

Dolly Parton is the most honored female country performer of all time. A little list of achievements (from Wikipedia) follows:

She has won nine Grammy Awards (nominated for 47), received two Academy Award nominations, ten Country Music Association Awards, seven Academy of Country Music Awards, three American Music Awards, and is one of only seven female artists to win the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year Award.

As a fellow native Tennessean, I’ve always admired her style and laid back attitude. There are a multitude of lessons Dolly Parton has taught through her life. I’ve focused on three.

1) Your current environment/situation does not dictate your future

Dolly was certainly not born into fame and fortune. She was one of 12 children living in rural East Tennessee and as she puts it, she grew up “dirt poor.” But that didn’t stop her from finding a way to share her talent with the world. Dolly started her “career” at a young age, like many singers do, in church. She rose above her situation to become famous and wealthy.

2) Be generous

Dolly has long been known for her philanthropy. Through her Dollywood Foundation she has raised funds primarily for literacy. Her Imagination Library currently services 1M children per month. Recently she “helped” the residents of the Smoky Mountain area devastated by fires. Every family who lost their house received $1,000 each month and when they picked up their final checks were surprised and I expect delighted to find them in the amount of $5,000.

3) “Fix up” if you are going out (and maybe even if you are staying in)

Dolly is 71 years old and I believe you’ll agree with me that she is beautiful. And not beautiful for her age – pretty much beautiful for any age. She always dresses and accessorizes perfectly. Her hair (sometimes wigs) and makeup are flawless. Even though her personal life is mostly kept private (her husband of 51 years has rarely been photographed or seen in public with her), I imagine her looking great around the house as well. Dolly admits to, without shame, numerous plastic surgeries and when asked about future plastic surgeries, she famously said: “If I see something sagging, bagging or dragging, I’ll get it nipped, tucked or sucked.”

You go girl!

What lessons has Dolly taught you?

A Productivity Challenge

Tue, 24 Oct 2017 05:00:00 GMT

I recently attended an online webinar by Michael Hyatt where he outlined the sins of productivity. This topic piqued my interest not only because I am all about getting stuff done (work smarter, not harder!) but I am also part of a worldwide workforce where employees are expected to be available 24/7, ready to drop everything to focus on whatever was just put on their plate.

Living in reactive-mode leaves us unable to focus on the real work that needs to be done. Work that grows the business. Work that takes focused planning, thought, creativity. Work that’s not urgent, but important. Here are my favorite takeaways:

End work on time tonight – no matter what.
Kill distractions the next time you’re working on a project.
Take a machete to your task list.
Stop to impose order on one unruly space or system this week. (Clean up that desk!)
Block out 4 hours of unresponsive time this week.

Will you join in the challenge to implement at least one of these tips this week? As you do, take note of how it affects your productivity and share your observations in the comments below!

roux Crew Promises

Thu, 05 Oct 2017 05:00:00 GMT

When you join our crew, you aren’t just another freelancer. You’re part of a handpicked, trusted group of specialists who value great work as much as we do. Whether you team up with us once a year or every other day, we’ll treat you like one of our own. Of course, in return, we ask that you make us a few promises too.

To learn more about our roux promises and how to get involved with our creative team, visit our Team page.

Autumn Free Wallpapers

Fri, 22 Sep 2017 05:00:00 GMT

*Click above to open the desktop wallpaper in a new page. Once the image appears in your browser, right click and choose “Use Image as Desktop Picture”.

*Click above to open the phone wallpaper. Once the image appears in your browser, tap and hold until ‘Save Image’ appears. Once you have saved the image to your phone, go to your photos app, select image and “Use as Wallpaper”.

Many of us have been anxiously awaiting the beloved autumn season. The cooler temperatures, falling leaves, and pumpkin spice recipes are hints of the fun holidays ahead. They alone are enough to make me giddy for fall . . . That’s why these new wallpapers from Reed Brown Photography are swoon-worthy.

We’re thrilled to host Reed Brown as our wallpaper contributor this month. Reed is no stranger to the roux community and has been helping us capture images for many seasons now. he does a range of photography such as real estate, transportation vehicles, charter jets, and portraiture. We have a whole lot of gratitude for him and his family (shout out to Alex and Cameron!) who help us strategize photo sessions to get the best results.

Is it just me, or can you smell this fresh apple pie? Please share what you’re looking forward to this fall.

Lauren's Summer Favorites

Thu, 31 Aug 2017 05:00:00 GMT

We all have our go-tos – the items that we throw into the shopping cart without blinking an eye.How often do we really think about where that product came from or who made it? I’ve been working to become more intentional with my favorites products lately by finding things that are made by local businesses or by companies that care about the environment and their associates. While it can be a bit challenging, I’ve found that I can almost always find a great product without having to compromise on the quality.

Magnolia Journal: https://magnoliamarket.com/journal/
Yogi Bedtime team: https://www.yogiproducts.com/teas/rest-relax-teas/bedtime/
Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Castile Soap: https://www.drbronner.com/
Olive Sinclair Chocolate: https://www.oliveandsinclair.com/
Baxter & Bailey dog treats: http://www.baxterbaileycompany.com/index.aspx
Siggi’s skyr: http://siggisdairy.com/

My list might not always be perfect but it’s the intentional mindset that I strive for. What are your favorites? And how do those companies bring goodness to the world?

Creative Collaboration

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 05:00:00 GMT

What are the only “fruits” of labor that never spoil – ever ? Honey has been found in ancient Egyptian tombs still edible. Wow – if we knew our work would live on like that how much harder would we work?

Honey production begins with creative collaboration. This collaboration doesn’t start with traditional brainstorming – which by the way rarely results in unique ideas or creativity at the highest level. This collaboration utilizes each team members’ roles and strengths and will always be better – especially when these team members are willing to be challenged by other perspectives which will bring about deeper work and stronger ideas.

My bees do this everyday by sticking to their knitting while supporting the greater good of the hive. The queen, drones and worker bees each have strengths and by leveraging their multiple communication channels they progress the hive closer to the goal of promotion of the species and production of sweet honey.

Such a fascinating community of experts with an amazing work ethic and yummy results deserve future blog posts…stay tuned.

Submitted by Stefan Speligene

Beat the Heat with a Sweet Treat!

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 05:00:00 GMT

I don’t know about you, but the heat and humidity are making me crave crisp fall weather and the delicious apples that come with it! I had drafted a blog post focused on building margin into our daily schedules, but I think I’ll save that for another time. Sharing a favorite family summer recipe seemed more appropriate (and fun)!

I was introduced to Snickers Apple Salad at a family reunion years ago in Wisconsin. I FLIPPED for it and to this day it’s my favorite picnic potluck dish! Don’t be turned off by the “salad” in the recipe’s title – it’s more of a dessert. Trust me, you’ll be the hit of the party if you bring this along!

SNICKERS APPLE SALAD

Ingredients

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar (can be halved too, if you find it too sweet!)
1 (12-ounce) container Cool Whip, thawed
6 Snickers candy bars (I like Snickers, so I always add more)
4 -6 combination of granny smith and red delicious apples
A drizzle of caramel ice cream topping for pretty presentation (optional)

 Directions

Mix cream cheese and powdered sugar until thoroughly blended. Fold in Cool Whip.
Cut Snickers into bite size chunks and add to cream cheese mixture.
Chop the apples into chunks and stir.
Chill 1 hour before serving. (Don’t make this too far in advance or you will get a runny salad.)
If you want, you can drizzle caramel ice cream topping on it right before serving!

The Making of the New Site

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 05:00:00 GMT

“I strive for two things in design: simplicity and clarity. Great design is born of those two things.” – Lindon Leader

With ol’ Lindon’s words running through my mind, my overall goal for the new roux website was for it to be a breath of fresh air. My main goal ties in with my desire for roux to have a site that reflects who they are as a company, and I feel that this mission was accomplished. I used a clean, sophisticated style so that users didn’t feel overwhelmed with graphics and information. I craved a steady balance. The overall experience needed to be effortless so that visitors felt comfortable and confident with every click of the mouse.

Upon accepting this project, I quickly realized that I was both excited and terrified by the task at hand. As a recent college graduate, this was my first “real” project with a “real” firm, an incredible firm at that, so I knew that I had to give it my all and then some. With that being said, my biggest challenge throughout this entire project was myself. I was very nervous when I was asked to code this site, but I pushed through (with the croux’s encouragement) because I knew that it would be a great learning opportunity and portfolio piece. Boy, was it ever!

So, with a lot of patience (that I didn’t know I had) I pulled through! I had an absolute blast working with WordPress and re-familiarizing myself with the program as well as working with the entire team to make this site roux’s new home. The icons that I made from scratch are my favorite elements of the site. I put a lot of love and care into making them look like a package deal that fit roux, and I am truly proud of how they turned out. I am so happy to have worked on this project, and the satisfaction from the site’s completion is a gift that just keeps on giving.

Free Summer Wallpapers

Mon, 26 Jun 2017 05:00:00 GMT

*Click above to open the desktop wallpaper in a new page. Once the image appears in your browser, right click to save or choose “Use Image as Desktop Picture”.

Our team is excited for a fun Summer full of new projects and adventures. To help us celebrate the fun activities ahead, creative friend Kyle Sorvick has designed these sunny wallpaper downloads. Kyle has been a part of the roux family for several seasons now and has collaborated on some great projects with us.

His wallpapers are getting us excited for several summer things: smores, grilling .. the beach! Download these wallpapers to celebrate the sunny season and tell us what fun activities you’re looking forward to.

Things I Learned from Working with My Cat

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 05:00:00 GMT

Roux shares lighthearted lessons from working with a cat, including focus, flexibility and the realities of creative work.

Doing More and Getting Less Done

Fri, 19 May 2017 05:00:00 GMT

We live in a culture that praises those who can juggle multiple tasks simultaneously. This highly-regarded skill; however, may not be as impressive as once thought. In fact, research shows that by doing more, we may actually be doing less. The case for monotasking is making a comeback, as the New York Times reports in the following article: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/01/fashion/monotasking-drop-everything-and-read-this-story.html?_r=0

It’s a habit I have to rehearse daily. As the saying goes, “practice makes perfect” and sharpening this skill can ultimately lead to better work AND can actually make work more fun!

What are your experiences with monotasking? Please leave a comment.

Surrounded by Creativity

Fri, 19 May 2017 05:00:00 GMT

Sometimes when I am driving in crazy traffic out of frustration I say I am surrounded by idiots. But then I realize that everyone is just trying to get somewhere just like I am and I try to think of the other drivers, as my sister does, as her “friends.”

One day while not in rush hour traffic, I began thinking about how many creative people are in my life. Of course, working at a marketing and communication agency lends itself to being connected to the creative community. But what I started noticing was extraordinary.

I work directly with a person who instead of just writing a blog post, creates a beautiful and visually interesting infographic to go with it. While taking a Zumba class at my favorite studio I marvel at the creativity and skill it takes to choreograph a class and lead an entire room of people in the same direction even if the group is not familiar with the moves or the songs. I look over to a new friend who’s dancing away, smiling and having a great time and remember he’s a published author and an in demand motivational speaker.

My cousin’s wife runs her own business making everything from baby bibs to pet beds (my kitty’s bed is adorable). She posts photos of fabrics she’s purchased and promises new products made from them overnight. Continuing to look at my family, my father and aunt are both entrepreneurs, starting and successfully operating several unique businesses. Two of my uncles are extremely talented woodworkers and I have many cherished works of art in my house from them (actually just from one of them but I’m still your buddy, Uncle David!).

The list of creative people I am surrounded by could go on and on (and may become another kitchen post). Who surrounds you? If you stop and think about it, you might just be surprised or maybe even astonished.

Leading B'Yond Example

Fri, 07 Apr 2017 05:00:00 GMT

“The reality is that the only way change comes is when you lead by example”

– Anne Wojcicki

I used to think that leading by example was good enough until I had kids. Then I realized that showing and sharing the reasons behind the example helped my boys understand and helped me to be a more effective influence.

As leaders, we often leverage position and control instead of example and influence. That may have been effective in the past but more people in the workplace (and children) want to understand the reasons.

So anticipating a child’s question about why we do it that way and sharing the reason on the front end will better prepare us to explain and not control the coaching opportunity.

I like to call it Leading B’Yond Example and even though it’s more difficult and time consuming our impact will be clearer and last longer.

Free Spring Wallpaper

Tue, 21 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT

It’s Spring and we are celebrating with another free wallpaper download! This season’s artwork was created by our design intern, Christy Layton, who is joining us from O’More College of Design this semester. Christy is our resident Irish dancer who loves merging hand-lettering and photography into her designs. These blooms are making me want to work in my own garden . . . How will you be celebrating Spring this week? Please share below and let us know if you’re enjoying these free wallpapers.

Desktop Wallpaper

Click above to open the desktop wallpaper in a new page. Once the image appears in your browser, right click and choose “Use Image as Desktop Picture”.

Phone Wallpaper

Click above to open the phone wallpaper. Once the image appears in your browser, tap and hold until ‘Save Image’ appears. Once you have saved the image to your phone, go to your photos app, select image and “Use as Wallpaper”.

Do You Like What You Do?

Mon, 06 Mar 2017 06:00:00 GMT

I read an article in The New York Times recently that stuck out to me. It was about the importance of liking what you do and the negative emotional and financial implications that arise when you don’t. Perhaps the subject matter hit a little too close to home. Let me provide some context: When I decided to move back to Nashville after a 6-year stint in New York City, I was burnt out on a career filled with corporate ladder climbing and yes, a lot of success by anyone’s standards. I had a great title. I was making more money than I’d ever made. I was living the dream in the big city! If I’m honest, I was also unhappy.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/13/jobs/in-choosing-a-job-focus-on-the-fun.html?emc=eta1

Moving back to Nashville to work for roux has been a rewarding experience. One full of fun. A happy one. And for that, I’m grateful.

Can you relate to this article? Please leave us a comment.

The Lunch Struggle

Thu, 23 Feb 2017 06:00:00 GMT

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Valentine Greetings to Share

Tue, 14 Feb 2017 06:00:00 GMT

Our very own Lauren Weiss designed three awesome Valentine messages just in time for the big day. We encourage you to download and send to your spouse/significant other and your friends.

Happy heart day from the roux croux!

Glory Days

Fri, 10 Feb 2017 06:00:00 GMT

On my way to a client site this morning I heard Bruce Springsteen’s Glory Days. This started a thought process beginning with those one or two people we all know who seemingly live in the past and only speak about the “glory days.” Most of us have left those days behind and moved on so we can’t relate to (or sometimes even remember) the memories so precious to our friends.

Following this thought led me to the question – why aren’t all of our days glory days? Shouldn’t we look for the positive, celebrate our blessings and fit happiness into each day?

Sometimes people are said to have “peaked in “ fill in the blank – high school, college, age of 18. I don’t believe that is true of any of us. As mentioned in a previous post, we all have opportunities to continue to learn and grow. We shouldn’t place people in categories and we shouldn’t limit our capacity to evolve our minds and lives.

How are you going to create your glory days? For some of us it may just be a new mind set – waking up grateful to be alive and looking forward to the experiences of each day. The glory days.

Our Picks for SBLI Commercials

Tue, 07 Feb 2017 06:00:00 GMT

The roux croux has chosen our favorite and least favorite Super Bowl ads from SBLI. We’d love to get your feedback. What were your favorites – and which ones made you just shake your head?

Favorites:

Our top pick must go to our wonderful client, Averitt. This ad only ran in the middle-TN area so if you like it please share it to help them get more reach: https://vimeo.com/202819746
Turkish airlines – Morgan Freeman because it stars Morgan Freeman and makes us want to fly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_gv6fRejLM
NFL – Inside these lines because it transcends football (and that is not easy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvKBdrx4quA
Bai Commercial featuring Christopher Walkin and Justin Timberlake – we loved its simplicity and the fact that Walken was reciting old nsync lyrics. Priceless. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Di1kqa6fiE
Air BnB Commercial – we loved its message of inclusion, especially considering the current political climate – very tastefully done. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qUTYHnLz2g
Mercedes – Nostalgic and entertaining. Perfect fit for the audience. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEM-9n9m310
When Nothing Stops Your Dreams, Budweiser https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZaQQvfIfPQ
It’s hard to be an eco warrior – Kia Niro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dQ9a5EFZeI

Least favorites:

Go Daddy – the internet wants you. Classic Go Daddy – tasteless, over the top (but we do like the cute animals). https://youtu.be/-YmnnwFQbpk
Febreeze – halftime bathroom break. Some things are better left unexplored. https://youtu.be/7gLjYrEDoxw
Pistachios – A little over the top from an imagery standpoint – why not focus on the healthy benefit and not the struggle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoVSVESiUI0
Frozen burger ad – Wendys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2scfjkK9O-Y
No need for extreme measures – Sprint https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3udHeeiRqGI

 The roux croux had mixed ratings on:

Square Space – John Malkovich https://youtu.be/OwbofxeW8TA
You gotta love a man that cleans. -Mr.Clean https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-eBV6C2SH0

Learning Has Been and Always Will Be Free

Fri, 27 Jan 2017 06:00:00 GMT

Whether it’s listening to someone tell a story or an old-fashioned library book or a search on the internet or even asking Siri or Alexa a curious question – opportunities to learn are widely available to all of us. I couldn’t resist sharing this picture from Mt Pleasant, TN – a small town south of Franklin that still believes everyone should have the opportunity to learn and grow and share. Big props to Malcolm Gladwell – Blink made the cut on this little free library – available to anyone who sees it and reaches for it. At roux we love to learn, grow and share and be around people who subscribe to that same mantra because then we can continue to learn from each other and that always seems to raise the entire ship.

Social Media Strategy - The $25 Amazon Gift Card

Sun, 15 Jan 2017 06:00:00 GMT

In a previous post we promised to explain why a $25 Amazon gift card will derail your social media strategy and fragment your audience.

Bloggers and social media experts must provide great relevant content and be able to engage an audience. A real key is that the audience must all be interested, nay passionate, about the same topics.

So whether you blog about hair care products or extreme rock climbing, your audience should all want more, more, more from you about that. Most bloggers and social media experts want to expand their audience. However, you must make sure you expand with people with the same passions.

Here’s where the $25 Amazon card comes in. You decide that on your Facebook page focusing on hair care products you want to expand your audience. You ask people to like your page and share with their friends to get more likes, offering a $25 Amazon card as an incentive.

Guess what happens? You add lots of likes to your page – what you wanted. However, you added people who simply wanted the Amazon card and who are not necessarily passionate about hair card products. Result – a fragmented audience not all dialed into your specific content.

Think about the results had you offered something your current audience and people like them would love and want. And only they would love and want. You’d still add likes and you’d have people that would stick with you.

So know your audience, figure out what they and only they would like and offer that as an incentive. And save the Amazon card for your nephew for his birthday.

Goal Setting

Wed, 04 Jan 2017 06:00:00 GMT

Happy New Year! Can you believe it’s 2017? It’s the perfect time for us to reflect on 2016 and set goals for the coming months. The reality is, this year will go by in a flash. So how do we ensure that, come next January, we aren’t looking back on 2017 and asking ourselves, “what in the heck did I actually accomplish this year?”

Statistics show that only 3 people out of 100 write down their goals and that 92% of New Years goals fail by January 15th. Yikes. I’d like to think I can hang in there past that measly 2 week mark, but the truth is, unless I am intentional about goal setting, I am just as likely as the next person to fall short. So, every year, I set one goal for each of the most important areas of my life. I call these areas The Six Fs: Faith, Family, Friends, Fitness, Finance and Fun (how’s THAT for catchy?). I make sure each of these six goals are SMART, meaning that they are specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable and time-bound.

Setting SMART goals allows me to then break down each goal into smaller tasks – providing mile markers to then track my progress weekly, monthly and quarterly. This process isn’t for everyone, but it certainly makes me think twice before curling up on the sofa and binging on favorite Netflix show…most days, anyway!

Free Winter Wallpaper

Wed, 21 Dec 2016 06:00:00 GMT

The weather is finally getting colder (some days) and the Holidays are almost here. It is officially Winter! As part of the new roux tradition, we asked creative Madison Coil to design our free winter desktop and phone wallpaper. We are loving this illustrative theme that she has hand-drawn and designed for you all. It has been fun partnering with our creative community to make these wallpapers. Have you enjoyed downloading and using on your devices? Please share the love with your friends and leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

Desktop Wallpaper

Click above to open the desktop wallpaper in a new page. Once the image appears in your browser, right click and choose “Use Image as Desktop Picture”.

Phone Wallpaper

Professional Blogger

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 06:00:00 GMT

roux recently attended a blogging and social media conference. We were there primarily to learn for our own blog and social media presences and also to gather information to share with our corporate clients. We were fascinated however by the tips and information shared by professional bloggers – that is – people who blog for a living – and how they monetize their sites. To do this, you must be really good. And not just good at writing. You have to either already have an engaged audience or know how to get and keep one.

One professional blogger, who among many other blogs has one on natural hair, said she does not make money on the natural hair blog. But she hasn’t purchased any hair care products in over 3 years because brands send her free products to try and then write about. Pretty sweet!

If getting paid in shampoo and straightener doesn’t do it for you don’t despair. Companies are happy to compensate you for likes and engagement with real money. According to the experts, as a professional blogger you can get paid to write about a brand. You can get paid a lot more if you can bring people to an event. roux is not in the business of professional blogging but we find it very interesting. How could we or our clients benefit from great bloggers? Look for a post soon on blogging and social media including the reason a $25 Amazon gift card will derail your strategy and fragment your audience.

Carrot Pudding

Fri, 18 Nov 2016 06:00:00 GMT

Contributed by Sarah Goschy

2 cups canned sliced carrots, drained
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder

Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Pour contents into a 3-quart greased casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Mini Pumpkin Pies

Fri, 18 Nov 2016 06:00:00 GMT

Contributed by Lauren Weiss

1 can of pumpkin (15oz)
2 eggs
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp of salt
1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
2 store bought pie crust

Preheat oven to 400F. Combine pumpkin, eggs, milk, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Using a jar, cut pie crust intro small circles. Ideally you need a 3-4 inch circle. Spray muffin pan and place the circles into each spot, forming a mini crust. Add pie filing into each mini crust and fill nearly to the brim. Using a festive cookie-cutter, cut out cute patterns from the rest of the pie dough and place on top of the pie filings. Bake for 30 minutes until lightly golden.

Fall Recipes

Fri, 18 Nov 2016 06:00:00 GMT

We wanted to share a few of our favorite recipes with you this season. Some are pretty unique and others are tried and true. We hope you enjoy them and leave us a comment or two. Happy holiday season!

Green Bean Casserole

Fri, 18 Nov 2016 06:00:00 GMT

Contributed by Lauren Weiss

2 cans of cream of mushroom soup
1 cup milk
2 tsp of soy sauce
1/4 tsp black pepper
8 cups of cooked green beans
2 cup of French’s fried onions

Preheat oven to 350F. Mix soup, milk, soy sauce, black pepper, green beans and 1 1/3 cup of friend onions. Spread evenly into a casserole dish. Bake for 25 minutes or until hot. Stir. Top with remaining friend onions and place back in over for 5 more minutes.

Russian Tea

Fri, 18 Nov 2016 06:00:00 GMT

This recipe certainly did not originate with me but the delicious flavor of this hot beverage, usually called Russian Tea, is a favorite of mine around the holidays. I may modify this season with artificially sweetened drink mixes to keep the calories lower. Below is the full sugar recipe. Jars of this mix make great gifts as well.

1 cup instant tea
2 cups orange-flavored drink mix (e.g. Tang)
1 (3 ounce) package powdered lemonade mix
3/4 cup sugar (or to taste)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

In a large bowl, combine instant tea, orange drink mix, lemonade powder, sugar, cinnamon and cloves. Mix thoroughly. Store in a sealed jar. To use, mix 3 to 4 tablespoons of mix with 1 cup hot water. Adjust to taste.

Improve Your Trade Show Presence

Thu, 03 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Thank you for joining us on the blog today! We’d love to hear what your company has been doing recently to improve your trade show appearance. Please leave your thoughts or questions in the comment section below.

roux Truths

Fri, 21 Oct 2016 05:00:00 GMT

At roux, we are always growing, ever evolving and constantly seeking new ways to become better. No matter how much we embrace change, some things will always remain the same. We like to call them roux truths.

We believe in purposeful creativity.

We don’t limit creativity to a department, a timeframe or even specific people. Creativity is at the center of everything we do—whether that means coming up with a unique strategy to make a client even more successful, approaching a logistical challenge from an innovative angle, or seeking out fresh ways to push ourselves to keep learning and growing. Along with this open-minded thinking comes serious responsibility. Because we don’t just create art for art’s sake. We create it for our clients’ sake. Every idea, every design, every single word is backed by solid rationale, proven processes and a company-wide dedication to doing great work for even greater reasons.

We believe our community is bigger than us.

We’re a tight-knit team who reaches beyond our walls and continues to grow every day. After all, when you give someone your time, they become part of your community too. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned it’s that you can never have too many connections. That’s why we believe the best way to do business (and life) is with open hands and a helpful heart.From working with area nonprofits to help feed neighbors in need, to mentoring up-and-coming professionals, to simply sharing insights with fellow entrepreneurs who are starting up their own local businesses, we believe in taking care of our own—no matter where or how many they may be.

We choose clients we believe in.

We’re big on long-term relationships, which is why we don’t take our partnerships lightly. It’s also why we’re deliberate about getting to know our clients and every aspect of their businesses. Besides leading to smart, super-effective work on individual projects, this whole-picture approach helps us make sure every move we make ties into the greater good of the company.It also gives us a sense of ownership in our clients, which often leads to extra insights and thinking on a much larger and more powerful scale. Obviously, this approach only works with clients we respect and trust, and who feel the same about us. Because the best way to do great work is with people you love working with.

roux Truths Introduction

Tue, 18 Oct 2016 05:00:00 GMT

As we entered into our third year of being roux, we wanted to tell the story of who we are and what folks can expect when working with us. What we didn’t want was a stuffy vision statement to hang on our walls and ignore for the next 20 years. So we brainstormed on a few occasions about what makes us who we are and what is most important to us as a team. We came up with lots of things that we’re passionate about and they all seemed to line up under three categories – creativity, community and clients. We’ve written them as succinctly as possible and will “share with the world” in an upcoming post. We hope you will leave a comment and let us know if we are on track with our roux truths.

Free Fall Wallpaper

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 05:00:00 GMT

We’re all very excited that our beloved fall is here. It’s time to buy your pumpkins, hang your wreaths and download a new wallpaper for your phone and desktop. To help you celebrate, we asked our freelancer TJ Gully to design a free phone and desktop wallpaper to get you in the fall spirit. TJ has been designing with roux for close to 2 years and has collaborated with us on many projects. We love his modern, clean design style and hope that you enjoy his fall inspired designs. Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below and don’t forget to share with your family and friends!

Desktop Wallpaper

Click above to open the desktop wallpaper in a new page. Once the image appears in your browser, right click and choose “Use Image as Desktop Picture”.

Phone Wallpaper

Can Do or Will Do?

Fri, 09 Sep 2016 05:00:00 GMT

These statements are barely different but their meanings are worlds apart. They are separated by confidence, initiative and follow through.

There is a big difference in how these statements feel to a client or customer. One confirms that you are capable but leaves the client wondering if you’re going to. They hope so.

The other exudes confidence and strength reassuring them that you will handle the task at hand. This phrase also promotes follow through and accountability. When you deliver as promised, that can create a deposit of trust and credibility into the client relationship.

Wouldn’t it be a better experience to hear the sweet sounds of assurance that someone will do something you need and leave a memorable experience in your mind instead of knowing that they can but wonder if they will?

Try putting this in practice with your clients, friends, spouse – either in the spoken word or digital communications and watch how you will feel more accomplished when you deliver on your promises.

It may surprise people when you say that you will do something – it’s proven that to state such a positive outcome publicly will increase the chances of success by 72%. People will be surprised and delighted. Then they will expect it more often. That will result in all of us getting better at serving each other.

The Lenses of Leadership

Mon, 29 Aug 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Why are some teams successful and others doomed to fail? Throughout my career, I have experienced the thrill of being part of teams that felt so in sync nothing felt impossible. I’ve also been a member of teams where corporate culture was crushing and employee morale so low that it squashed any chance for success. When I consider what drives success versus failure, the finger always points back to the leader.

So, how do we lead a team where all members are rowing in the same direction? At this year’s Global Leadership Summit, Bill Hybels, its founder, shared the 4 lenses of a successful leader.

The first is PASSION. Is your passion a lifelong dream you’ve been pursuing? Or does it stem from enormous frustration? It doesn’t matter – as long as you identify it. Once identified, it’s crucial that you feed it! Read articles written by other passion-leaders. Go to places that stir your soul. Surround yourself with passion-filled people. The love for what you do will be obvious to your team and their passions will be ignited as a result.

The second lens is PEOPLE. Team members are not just bodies you hired in order to meet company objectives. Focus on hiring and retaining team members who share your core values. Remember that you have the ability to change their lives by loving, leading and stewarding them to greatness.

Third is PERFORMANCE. Everyone likes to know how they’re doing. Set goals for your team and allow them the freedom to determine how they are going to track and measure their success. Remember that goals are in constant need of readjustment. Communicate feedback constantly celebrate success!

The fourth and last lens is LEGACY. What will people remember of you when you’re gone? I’ve never wanted someone to stand up at my funeral and say, “she was a really hard worker”. Man was not created to be a slave to his vocation. Let’s lead our teams by example and be leaders who place importance on all areas of life.

What lenses are you looking through? Are they cloudy? Scratched? Rose-colored? Perhaps it’s time to clean them off or put a new pair on. When it comes to leadership, in business and life, blurry vision just isn’t gonna cut it.

The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni

Fri, 19 Aug 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Are you humble, hungry and smart? If so you may be the ideal team player. In his newest how to business book, Patrick Lencioni takes readers through the story of a small company with lots of potential (two huge new construction projects) and challenges (the CEO has left and the teams are not completely cohesive).

The leadership team begins a journey to create a “jackass free” company and quickly discovers that they need to figure out what makes an ideal team player to avoid hiring or keeping jackasses. That’s when they formulate the three essential virtues of humble, hungry and smart. The definitions of these virtues are:

Humble.

Humble people lack excessive ego or concerns about status. They are quick to point out the contributions of others and slow to seek attention for their own. They share credit, emphasize team over self and define success collectively rather than individually.

Hungry

Hungry people are always looking for more – more things to do, more to learn, and more responsibility to take on. They almost never have to be pushed by a manager to work harder because they are self-motivated and diligent. They are constantly thinking about the next step and the next opportunity.

Smart

Smart team players have common sense about people. They tend to know what is happening in group situations and how to deal with others in the most effective way. They have good judgment and intuition around the subtleties of group dynamics and the impact of their words and actions.

It is important to note that ideal doesn’t mean perfect. We can all work on these three virtues. Lencioni’s book is thought provoking and lends itself to honest introspection.

While an ideal team player will have a combination of the three virtues, the percentages of each can shift over time (and due to circumstances) and may need to become focus areas. The important first step is to evaluate the virtues of individuals currently on the team. Also, actively focusing on the desired virtues during the hiring process can lead to making the right decisions for your company.

Are you humble, hungry and smart? What about your teammates?

Marinated Cucumber, Onion, and Tomato Salad

Tue, 16 Aug 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Ready In: 2 Hours and 15 Minutes

Ingredients:

3/4 cup water
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup sugar (can be reduced)
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon fresh, coarsely ground black pepper
3 cucumbers, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick
3 tomatoes, cut into wedges
1 onion, sliced and separated into rings

Directions:

Whisk water, vinegar, oil, sugar, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl until smooth; add cucumbers, tomatoes, and onion and stir to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 2 hours

Thanks for the Ride, roux

Thu, 07 Jul 2016 05:00:00 GMT

I never cared much for the bus ride to school when I was growing up. Maybe that was because we were the first ones on and the last ones off every day, and at least ten hours of my week was spent sitting on that thing.

But by the time I got to high school, my perspective changed a little thanks to a kid named Chris Arno. Chris was a few years older than me, and on occasion he would ride our bus home in the afternoons. He was probably one of the friendliest and nicest guys in the entire school who never played favorites when picking a seat on our crowded bus.

When we’d get to his stop, he’d always be the last one in his group to get off, and without fail, he’d look back and tell our driver, “Thanks for the ride, Sherri!”

Chris did this every time he rode, and every time, it caught me off-guard. Who thanks the bus driver for driving the bus? It was as funny as it was thoughtful.

It was Chris’ gratitude that made me think differently about my attitude toward our daily rides to school and back. Maybe these long, bumpy rides were more than just something I had to endure while getting an education; perhaps they were a privilege I was blessed to have.

I know the good folks at roux weren’t obligated to hire me in any way, but late last fall, I found myself between jobs and they offered me a ride. Just like the bus growing up, roux pulled up, let me on, and took me exactly where I needed to go. Now, as changes on the home front have affected my schedule, I can see my stop coming up. It’s time for me to get off, but like Chris, I want to be sure to thank my driver.

Thank you, roux, for being there right when I needed you. You were not only right on time, but you were welcoming in every way. Thank you for the contribution you allowed me to make to the wonderful work you do, even if only on a very small scale. As you and your passengers travel on to more exciting places, I will be thinking of you and feeling grateful for the privilege of my season with you.

Thanks for the ride, roux!

Tips for an Impactful Infographic

Fri, 27 May 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Thanks for stopping by to learn some helpful tips on creating impactful infographics. This post was written and designed by creative Lauren Weiss. Please share your thoughts and questions in the comments section below.

Trust is a Must

Mon, 16 May 2016 05:00:00 GMT

There’s nothing like a good book. We at roux are constantly buying and sharing good books that have helped us to grow in some way. One of our favorites is David H. Maister’s The Trusted Advisor. This book does a great job of packaging insights and advice on earning strong relationships in business, or in other words, becoming a trusted advisor.

Trust is important for so many reasons. When you have trust in a relationship, it opens the door to candid conversations. When you’re trusted, you are more likely to be sought for advice and forgiven when you make mistakes. This is just the tip of the iceberg, but you get the picture.

For our team to be successful developing, or as Maister says “earning,” trust in every relationship is a must. This is something that takes time and involves a process that has its ups and downs. The keys are not to skip any steps in the process and, much like in our personal lives, stay committed to the relationship.

Once the trust level is reached with someone, the magic happens. The foundation necessary for great work is attained, and the results are win-win. Here in this esteemed place is where success, excellence and fulfillment thrive. The door is opened, and the red carpet is rolled out for endless possibilities.

Just as reaching the trusted advisor standing didn’t happen on its own, maintaining it won’t happen effortlessly either. We don’t recommend using the auto-pilot feature by any means. If you can maintain your altitude together, you are sure to see some pretty amazing views and arrive at a destination that is well worth the journey.

Life as a Freelance Graphic Designer

Fri, 29 Apr 2016 05:00:00 GMT

During my time working as a freelance designer, I have experienced the ups and downs that come with the territory. Designing is what I am best at so I try to give 100% every day. Being optimistic is definitely an asset that has helped me with this since, just like any job, it has its times of doubt and frustration.

When I think of “freelance,” the first word that comes to mind is, “discipline.” Because freelancers are technically their own employers, discipline is key. For me, I get the flexibility to work from home while doing what I love for an amazing agency. Sounds great, huh? While working from home sounds like a dream, it takes a lot of discipline to be productive without being distracted by the TV, roommates, etc. If you are able to remain disciplined and get your work done from home, then it can be very rewarding.

Being self-employed also means having the resolve to pay your own taxes. In my experience this takes the most discipline because you have to put tax money aside instead of having it taken out of your paycheck automatically. Also a freelancer’s paycheck isn’t consistent. This can be tricky to plan for, but an upside is the ability to make good money when you have a lot of projects to complete. All of this has taught me a lot about money and saving which I know will benefit me in the future.

Overall, I have loved working as a freelance designer. Having a job that allows me to think creatively and earn money doing what I love to do has been awesome. Whether I’m graphic designing, web designing or video editing. I have also found I am much more productive and creative when I’m excited about a project and keep a positive attitude. I have been blessed to work for and alongside some great people in the process. Working with people who value your work and understand your goals has made for a rewarding career experience. My plan is to continue making the most of it.

Working Together Separately

Mon, 28 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT

There is a passage in the Bible where the church is likened to the human body, where every member is like a body part having a specific role and function. Each needs to do his or her part and work together for the entire body to function as a whole. This same concept can be applied to the workplace, where every person or group plays a specific role.

To accomplish the greater goal, everyone must first acknowledge and understand their specific role and then maximum their potential in it. No role is unimportant and playing to your strengths is equally key as working as a team. Working and collaborating together is not only essential but requires trust to be done most effectively.

As we play to our strengths here at roux, we appreciate the other body parts that either helps us keep moving or we help to keep functioning in some way. One of those parts is speaker and author John Mattone, whom we’ve greatly enjoyed working with. His culture and leadership expertise has helped thousands over the years, including us at roux. We are proud to be part of a larger team that helped launch John’s latest book and cause – Cultural Transformation. If you haven’t yet heard of him, we’d like to introduce you with a peek at one of his recent blog posts about role models:

Are You a Role Model?

MARCH 11, 2016 BY JOHN MATTONE

At its simplest, a role model is a person others look up to as someone they want to be like. It’s someone who makes you think, “I want to be like them when I grow up,” even if you already are grown up. A good role model, whether at home, school, workplace, or playing field, demonstrates the right way to view and meet challenges, and is willing to guide others through new experiences and introduce them to people who can help them achieve their goals…Read more

Grandma's Holiday Noodles

Mon, 21 Dec 2015 06:00:00 GMT

Ingredients:

1 bag of Polish Kluski noodles
6 – 14.5 oz cans of chicken broth
Celery leaves
1/2 stick of margarine

Directions:

Combine everything in a large saucepan and cook on medium heat. Let noodles simmer slowly until soft. Reduce heat and remove celery leaves before serving.

Cocoa Kahlua Cake

Mon, 21 Dec 2015 06:00:00 GMT

Ingredients:

1 package devil’s food cake mix
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 eggs
1 cup cold coffee
1/3 cup Kahlua
½ cup vegetable oil
Kahlua frosting (below)

Preheat oven to 350.
In a large bowl combine cake mix, cinnamon, eggs, coffee, Kahlua and oil.
Blend on low speed until moistened then at medium speed for 2 minutes.
Pour batter into two greased and lightly floured 8-inch cake pans.*
Bake at 350 for about 35 minutes or until cake is done.
Cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack and cool completely.
Fill and frost with Kahlua frosting.
Sprinkle top and sides with cocoa, cinnamon or grated chocolate.
*You can also make it in one Bundt cake pan and just add 10 mins or so to the cook time.

1 (16 oz.) carton of creamy chocolate frosting
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons Kahlua
Combine all ingredients and beat to blend.

Buffalo Chickpea Dip

Mon, 21 Dec 2015 06:00:00 GMT

It’s a yummy meatless crowd pleaser �� Adapted/ modified from Post Punk Kitchen.

Bluegrass Girl Kentucky Bourbon Butter Cake

Mon, 21 Dec 2015 06:00:00 GMT

by Shelley Byington and Kellie Fenley

Equipment: one pinwheel Bundt cake pan (10 cup capacity) liberally greased with butter or cooking oil

Ingredients:

3 cups cake flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
½ cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
4 eggs, at room temperature
¼ cup Bourbon whiskey
1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

 Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.

In a medium bowl, sift together first three ingredients. Add kosher salt and mix well. Set aside.

In the bowl of a freestanding electric mixer with paddle attachment, cream 1 cup butter, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar and ½ cup brown sugar on medium-high speed until fluffy.

Turn down the mixer to low and add 4 eggs.

Whisk together ¼ cup bourbon and 1 cup buttermilk together in a liquid measuring cup. Set aside.

While the mixer still on low, add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the bourbon and buttermilk mixture. Begin and end with flour.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and use a rubber spatula to spread it out evenly.

Bake in preheated oven for 40 – 45 minutes.

When the cake is ready remove from oven and let rest on a cooling rack. Make the glaze immediately.

6 tablespoons unsalted butter
¾ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup Bourbon whiskey

Combine 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, ¾ cup sugar and ¼ cup bourbon in a small saucepan over low heat just until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves, whisking to combine. Use Immediately.

When the cake is fresh from the oven and cooling on the rack, leave it in the pan and poke holes all over the exposed top with a wooden skewer.

Pour ¾ of the prepared glaze slowly over the cake. Use a spatula to spread the glaze around the cake top, making sure that the glaze seeps in the holes.

Allow the cake to cool for 30 minutes then flip out of the pan to a serving plate.

Brush the top with the remaining glaze. If the glaze has thickened, rewarm it over low heat then use immediately

Andes Mint Cookies

Mon, 21 Dec 2015 06:00:00 GMT

Ingredients:

½ c unsalted butter at room temperature
¾ c light brown sugar
½ c sugar
1 large egg
1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla
¾ tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 ¼ c flour
2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 c chopped Andes mints

Preheat 350 degrees
Cream together butter, sugar on medium speed
Add the egg, then egg yolk, mixing for 1 minute
Mix in vanilla extract
In separate bowl, whisk together baking soda, baking powder, salt, flour and cocoa powder
Add ½ of the dry ingredients and mix on low
Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix on low
By hand, fold in the Andes mints
Drop by rounded tablespoons onto baking sheets
Bake 10-12 minutes

Redfish Courtbouillon – Pronounced "Kubeon"

Mon, 21 Dec 2015 06:00:00 GMT

Ingredients:

2 pounds redfish, filets
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup flour
1 cup onion, diced
1 cup celery, diced
1 cup bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup garlic, minced
1 (16-ounce) can diced tomatoes in liquid
2 quarts water
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup green onions, sliced
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
1 tsp salt
black pepper
Cajun Seasoning to taste
3 lemon slices

Slice the fish filets into 1 1/2-inch thick pieces
In a 7-quart cast iron Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat
Add flour and, using a wire whisk, stir until dark brown roux is achieved
Add onions, celery, bell pepper and garlic
Sauté 3-5 minutes or until vegetables are wilted
Add tomatoes and blend well into the roux mixture
Add water or fish stock and Worcestershire
Bring to a rolling boil, reduce to simmer and cook for 30 minutes, adding water or stock as necessary to retain volume and consistency
Add green onions and parsley
Season to taste using salt and pepper
Add the fish filets and lemon slices, being careful not to break the fish as they simmer in the stock
Cook 5-10 minutes
When fish is done, adjust seasonings if necessary
Serve the rich sauce over bowls of steamed white rice.

Caprese Salad Skewers

Mon, 21 Dec 2015 06:00:00 GMT

Ingredients:

A container of small fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegini or bocconcini)
Tomatoes (Grape or Cherry)
Fresh basil
Marinade
Balsamic vinegar
Small skewers, large toothpicks or rosemary sprigs

Marinade mozzarella in:

½ cup olive oil
½ Tbsp lemon juice
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
½ Tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped
½ Tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
½ Tbsp fresh oregano, finely chopped
½ tsp red pepper flakes
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp salt

Directions:

Marinate mozzarella for a couple of hours minimum or overnight.

Assemble cheese, tomato and basil on a skewer.

Drizzle with balsamic vinegar

** Short on time — Purchase marinated mozzarella balls or marinade in our favorite Italian salad dressing.

Cranberry Apple Casserole

Mon, 21 Dec 2015 06:00:00 GMT

Ingredients:

3 cups of cooking apples; cored and sliced (leave peel on)
2 cups of fresh cranberries
3/4 cup of regular sugar
1 stick of melted butter
1 cup of oatmeal
1/3 cup of flour
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1/2 cup of walnuts or pecans

Butter a 9×13 glass pan
Mix apples and cranberries and place in pan
Cover with regular sugar
Mix together the remaining ingredients and place on top
Bake at 325 for one hour

Christmas Memories

Fri, 11 Dec 2015 06:00:00 GMT

At this time of year many of us become nostalgic, remembering special Christmas memories, traditions or simply “the good old days.” For others this time of year is not quite so bright, perhaps due to the death of a loved one around the holidays, being alone (or just feeling alone), having to navigate tricky family relationships or a host of other reasons.

The one thing I remember most about Christmas as a child was the inability to sleep on Christmas Eve – I was always so excited. Even as a grown up (in terms of age anyway), I find it difficult to sleep soundly on the night before Christmas. It is a welcome bit of annual insomnia, reminding me of a happy childhood filled with joyful Christmas celebrations.

My favorite current Christmas tradition is a two-day affair. On Christmas Eve, everyone in my immediate family goes to my sister’s house for a non-traditional meal (think spaghetti) and then to a candlelight service. The next morning we all meet at my mom and dad’s house for a full day of eating (my favorite is the smoked turkey salad), opening presents, and visiting with each other and additional family members who occasionally drop in.

What are your Christmas memories and favorite traditions? We’d love to hear them. And if your memories are not of the “wonderful” variety we hope that by writing them here you may in some way leave them behind.

Merry Christmas and peace to all.

Living Up to the Name.

Mon, 07 Dec 2015 06:00:00 GMT

Working as a freelancer can be a bit of a mixed bag. Yes, the freedom is wonderful. And all the clichés are indeed true. (Working a 10 hour day in pajamas and slippers is hard to do in most office settings.) But with freedom comes ambiguity; over when (or if) the phone will ring…over when a check will arrive…etc. With the exception of a very few lucky individuals, the real world of the freelancer exists somewhere between idealism (“I’ll only work with the kind of clients I want!”) and pragmatism (“What’s that? You say the internet costs money?”). Which creates a dangerous middle ground for any creative. Perhaps even more so for a writer. (No offense to my art director, designer, and illustrator friends!) Because while they can direct from afar, it’s harder for a client to make changes directly to a Photoshop or InDesign file than it is to a Word document. It’s just the nature of the beast. (Once you hear the phrase “I made a few changes and sent it along,” you know you’re in trouble.) The simple truth is, there are agencies that give lip service to the idea of respecting the work, and there are those that practice it on a daily basis. When dealing with the former, it’s easy to take on the attitude of “no attachment to outcome.” Of just doing the job. Billing the hours. Punching the clock.

And that’s the death knell of creativity.

The sweet spot for any creative is to find an opportunity that lets you work on interesting projects, with talented people, in an environment that nurtures both the people and the process.

And that’s precisely what make roux so wonderfully unique.

The team at roux (and that’s exactly what they are, a team) doesn’t just talk the talk of mutual respect and inclusiveness, they live it – as part of their very culture. It shows up in every interaction, in every exchange. Whether with clients or creatives, or in their endless (and inspiring) work in the community. At roux, the work is respected, and the people are appreciated. Which, in turn, helps make each of them stronger. In every role and at every level, there’s a shared sense of purpose. Of commitment. Of an almost familial community. And of fun. Which is far less common in our business than you might think. As someone with a deep appreciation for both the written word AND gastronomical delights, I find the name “roux” to be particularly fitting. Not only does it conjure images of a warm, rich foundation on which to build endless possibilities…it also speaks to a slightly “nutty” flavor. And both of those descriptions do a nice job of capturing the essence of an agency with which I’m quite proud – and happy – to work.

Grit

Thu, 05 Nov 2015 06:00:00 GMT

Grit can mean different things to many of us, and even though being a Southerner I really like the ones we cook, today I am referring to how we persevere in our life and our work. Nothing great comes easy, and typically nothing easy is worthwhile.

Many speakers such as Bill Hybels, Kevin Elko, John Maxwell, and John Mattone are all talking grit these days, and I want to add a little spin on it and include grit with character. When things get tough, many people look for the easy road, and sometimes that’s not the best path for building a person’s character or the business’ reputation. I believe we all grow from adversity and gain resiliency as we go through these experiences and not around them.

We all have examples in our life and hopefully we can share these with others and help them learn and grow as well. I love being around those with this “integritty” because it’s a spirit you can’t help but admire and adopt. At roux we are grateful to have clients who are of high moral character and make the tough decisions everyday – they are who we align with and model everyday — personally and professionally.

roux's Open-Table Culture

Sun, 16 Aug 2015 05:00:00 GMT

I love the round table at roux. Large yet inviting, it’s just the right mix of brawn and beauty. But what I admire most about this well-placed anchor are the people who gather around it.

Unlike many traditional agencies which typically have carefully defined boxes (and departments) for creative, strategy, production, etc., roux champions the act of bringing everyone to the table. Here, all are welcome and in fact expected to contribute to and from every angle.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying 15 people should be involved throughout each step of every process. At some point you have to let the core team run with a project. In fact, I’m a firm believer in giving individuals alone time to focus on what they do best. However, for the first brainstorming session or two, there’s a lot to be said for setting aside job titles and simply thinking out loud together.

When you encourage people to look at a project as a whole before they hone in on their areas of expertise, something big happens: Creative thinkers become more strategic and vice versa. Flashes of brilliances pop up from places that might otherwise have gotten overlooked, and the work itself becomes stronger, smarter and often more efficient.

After 15 years as a copywriter/creative, I know this broader viewpoint sets me up to work at my best. Yes, I’m a writer, but with this approach, I’m not just thinking about coming up with a clever headline. I’m also considering the overall strategic direction the client/company wants to take, and how my messaging can further support that. Or, I might find myself pondering the production of a piece and how we can make a bigger impression without killing the budget.

I’m using my copywriter role as an example, but at roux this type of thinking happens all around the table. And, because anyone can contribute to making the work better, people often step outside their specialties to do so. In fact, one of my favorite roux projects started with headlines written by a designer.

Don’t take my words for it though. Stop by roux sometime and see for yourself.

(Just don’t be surprised if you get asked to pull up a seat and join the conversation.)

Anticipating the Global Leadership Summit

Mon, 03 Aug 2015 05:00:00 GMT

The roux croux is heading to The Global Leadership Summit Thursday and Friday (August 6-7, 2015). Bill Hybels and his team have a fantastic group of speakers lined up for the event.

Of the many great speakers on the agenda, I am most anticipating Brene’ Brown. She is the author of several books, but I always fall back the first one I read — The Gifts of Imperfection. What really caused me to purchase that book was the subtitle — Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You are. It seared right to the center of my sweet southern girl heart.

It’s been five years since the book was released, but I have returned to it when I need a refill of the message. I normally do a New Years Eve retreat to prep my head and heart for the New Year. Each year I take several books, and this one always makes the trip.

The book covers ten guideposts containing themes like Self-Compassion, Gratitude, Trusting Faith and Meaningful Work. One guidepost is Cultivating Creativity . This title strikes fear in someone that still needs to turn in her third grade cotton ball lamb art project.

This is what Brene’ Brown had to say to me:

“I’m not very creative” doesn’t work. There’s no such thing as creative people and non-creative people. There are only people who use their creativity and people who don’t. Unused creativity doesn’t just disappear. It lives within us until it’s expressed, neglected to death, or suffocated by resentment and fear.

She goes on to say it does not matter what you do, but you need to do something- “cook, write, draw, doodle, paint, scrapbook, take pictures, collage, knit, rebuild an engine, dance, decorate, act, sing”. Don’t worry if you are good at it, just find something you enjoy or want to try.

Her books are available online and in stores everywhere. My favorite is Nashville’s independent bookstore Parnassus Books.

Realities of a roux Intern

Thu, 16 Jul 2015 05:00:00 GMT

As a summer intern at roux, I am excited to be able to share a little bit about this great opportunity. To give a little bit of background, I am an undergraduate marketing major soon to be going into my senior year of college at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The opportunity was presented to me through Karen Hall, whom I had previously met, and a couple times she said to me “If you ever want to do an internship, let me know!” So, when I finished my sophomore year of college and realized I needed to start getting exposure to “the real world,” I decided to take her up on that offer.

Of course, the media and the movies make being an intern seem like such exciting and satisfying work. They give the impression that, as an intern, you’ll be overwhelmingly busy getting people coffee, sorting mail, or running errands all while making a world-changing impact by thinking outside of the box and pushing the boundaries of social norms. However, as usual, movie and media depictions of reality are far from realistic, and when it comes to a smaller business internship, the movies are even more misleading.

However, even knowing the misconceptions that are formed because of media and movies, I still managed to form an unrealistic idea in my head of what my internship would look like. I imagined myself in the cookie cutter office setting with a specific job title and tasks to do each day. I expected it to be more like a college classroom setting – with someone teaching me how to do the work and then having assignments to complete. I know, to those of you who have ever had an internship or a “real job” that seems naïve to expect, but that was what I was used to – who could blame me?

To say the least, the first week of the internship was very disorienting for me because of those expectations. I learned very quickly that, as an intern, day to day tasks will never be quite consistent, which was a big adjustment for me since I have a relatively strong type A personality. However, I also learned that the environment of roux is more like that of a family than a business. In my first few days and weeks, they not only greeted me with big smiles and lots of encouragement but also answered my many questions gladly rather than leaving me to figure out the answers on my own. Furthermore, they even gave me a personality test before I officially started in order to find out with whom and how I could work best – it also revealed some tendencies, needs, preferred environments, and effective strategies for my perfectionist personality. Needless to say, I could have never expected the team at roux to be as involved, gracious, and accepting as they were.

In my time so far with roux, the biggest takeaway I have discovered is to always be observant. As a twenty-one year old, I am well aware that my generation is becoming more and more dependent socially on technology and social media, and while those things are important in an evolving business world, the foundation of business begins with communication. As a person who is not naturally socially skilled, being observant of my coworkers and their interactions with each other and clients is an invaluable aspect of any internship experience. Learning small talk and neutral jokes, how to give off a pleasant vibe, and keeping up with important events in order to not look ignorant can be complete game changers. Such skills are becoming a dying art in my generation, which is why I believe it is the most important skill to observe as an intern at an agency built on communication.

To conclude, it would take countless words to explain my time with roux and all of the things I am learning from interning with these wonderful people. They reworked and exceeded my expectations while showing me more love and acceptance than I could have anticipated, which I believe is part of the reason that roux is so good at what they do, and I could not feel more blessed to be a part of this team.