Team Building (And Bonding) With The Best Team Ever…

It’s no secret that one of the most fulfilling parts of my life is leading this crew of incredibly talented, smart, and creative women. I often feel like we are colleagues and friends instead of me being their boss because I love hanging out with them so much (let’s just say there are a lot of HR violations in the way of conversations during photo shoots or retreats). So last year when we were in Mexico we did a thing that for the record was NOT my idea, but when they got all worked up about getting matching tattoos I was three margaritas in and overwhelmed with love for them – I was NOT going to be the one to say “no”. I waited to see if anyone hesitated and everyone really, really wanted to do it. So with the enthusiasm that only comes with inebriation, we found a tattoo parlor in Todo Santos (outside Cabo) and sat down.

Luckily the EHD logo is really simple, so once we showed it to the tattoo artist (who should have been more skeptical about our inebriation level) we figured that even if someone does eventually leave the company, it’s just a simple circle with some lines in the middle that they can add to. Everyone agreed that regardless of what happens in their career this tattoo would represent a time in their lives, a really special era that meant something monumental to them. I couldn’t disagree.

So like the enneagram 7 that I am (enthusiastic! wanting to be popular!) I was THRILLED with this tattoo, knowing that at least I wouldn’t have any regrets because it’s my own logo. Did I worry they would? Not at the time.

Some of us have a lot of tattoos like Gretchen (which I think looks pretty great with hers). Caitlin also has a ton of awesome ones. And while Marlee wasn’t on the team during our Mexico trip, she has a few tattoos already and was really down to get another since we’ve all bonded so quickly. It seems like once you have a few most people are pretty down to get more.

While others (myself) this was my first one and it hurt! Luckily that 4th margarita kicked in just as any last hesitation of “bad judgment” slipped away. Funny how that works. Inebriation = adios inhibition.

It is quite possibly the best feeling in the world knowing that your team loves you so much that they’d tattoo your logo on their bodies, permanently. I received it as such an honor, truly.

When we got home Brian saw these all, was absolutely shocked, laughed a ton, and made fun of me, naturally. But listen, that guy has so many sentimental tattoos each one representing someone he loves. He has the plane his dad flew in Vietnam, the oak tree from his backyard (for his mom), a bear for Charlie, and a bird for Elliot. He claimed that the moon was for me because our song is Dancing in the Moonlight, but it felt like a copout to me.

So after guilting him a teeny tiny bit (“My team loves me so much they got our logo on their bodies, you can’t even get my initials!”), he surprised me with his new ink. And I was FLOOORED. After 25 years together, it felt enormously loving to see this on his shoulder.

So thank you to the best team and husband for doing this life with me. I hope this isn’t our last tattoo together Read More