Insights from Nebo

The last year has been a heavy one, to say the least. And while we’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we’re still in need of something to make our days a little brighter. That’s where the little things come in. 

We’ve got a lot of little things to celebrate here at Nebo — good food, great people, homemade margs, and of course, puppies, kittens and babies. Here’s what’s been keeping us going this month as we continue working apart.

On the surface, the history of Juneteenth appears to be a simple one: On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers made it to Galveston, Texas to deliver the proclamation that all slaves were to be freed, and a year later freedmen celebrated Jubilee Day to commemorate the day they became free. 

But like with most of Black history in America, it’s a more complex story than that. The freedom former slaves celebrated came full two and a half years later than it should have — two and half years after the Emancipation Proclamation stated slaves “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” 

Working at an agency, you learn many things — how to work quickly and efficiently, how to survive on coffee and (free) snacks, how to adapt to changing priorities. I could keep going, but you get the gist. More specifically, the best project managers become proficient in knowing how their team and their client operate in order to drive a project forward successfully. 

At the same time, it’s also our job as project managers to learn that what a client asks for or wants isn’t always what they need. A vital part of the job is deciphering this, picking up on certain clues to ensure that what is delivered will help them reach their ultimate goal, whatever it may be. 

Coming Out Again & Again

I have always fit in. I was popular in high school. Vice President of my sorority in college. I had friends who mostly identified as straight. Early on in my career, I spent happy hours laughing with my coworkers about bad dates with boys. I had a Patrick Swayze poster on my childhood bedroom wall (though to this day, I argue he is a man for all sexual preferences). I blended in while also marching to the beat of my own drum. I have never lived by the status quo, but also never truly wanted to stand out that much in that way. 

It wasn’t until my early 20s that I came out to close friends and family. Overall, it was a wonderfully positive experience. There were a few people who recommended that I don’t tell anyone at work. If it was a “phase” or I “changed my mind,” I wouldn’t want to be labeled something I wasn’t. In the late ’90s and early aughts, there was no term for “gender fluidity” in the lexicon. No gray line to blur gender and sexual expression. You were either gay, straight or a “confused” bisexual.  

We are all living in quite a different world than we were a year ago, there’s no denying that. With the changes that came from the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing pajamas to work, strategizing where to buy toilet paper, and baking one too many banana breads became the norm. There also came a major shift in everyone’s favorite four-letter word: work.  

Similar to other companies and businesses that were able, Nebo shifted to a work-from-home environment effective Monday, March 16, 2020. We have maintained this policy to this day. With this shift, we have become ever reliant on our other favorite four-letter word: Zoom. 

Since 1949, May has been Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States. It’s a good time to break down stigmas, advocate for proper mental healthcare and, most importantly, take the time to check in with yourself. And this year, that’s true more than ever.