Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you:
Summer Teal Simpson, Brand Strategist and Copywriter at Focus Lab, LLC
Your current job:
Define brand strategy for clients and help the design team to adhere to intentional design throughout the branding process. Define brand voice, messaging, and tone for clients. Craft all internal and external copy needs for Focus Lab. Craft copy for clients. Client naming. Tagline exploration.
In which city are you located?
Savannah, GA, USA
A word to define what kind of worker you are:
Dedicated, creative, passionate, collaborative
What tools are essential to your life (app, software, etc..)
Google docs, my MacBook Pro, Google Chrome, Basecamp, HipChat, Harvest App, Asana
What does your office space look like?
Our office is open, airy, and enjoys natural sunlight. We have great views of historic, downtown Savannah. We are a modern space housed in an historic building. The space was built to maximize comfort, creativity, collaboration, and versatility.
What kind of music do you listen when you are working?
modern Brooklyn Indie rock, 80s, 90s, old school funk and soul, or classical like Chopin
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your work?
I start the day by checking emails. This helps to wake me up. We have a team Stand-up meeting in the mornings, which helps us all get on the same page as far as work flow. Mondays and Tuesdays are dedicated to client meetings, while Fridays are dedicated to polishing deliverables. So each day is organized a little differently.
What tips would you give to improve productivity?
Checklists are a lifesaver, as are post-it notes (for me). We use Asana as a valuable project management tool.
You’re better than your colleagues to:
Copyedit. Wordsmith.
What is the best advice anyone has given you?
A college professor once advised me to use my full name in professional correspondence; it’s more memorable. That was pretty stellar advice. But I learn every day from my boss, Bill, to think positive and to be confident in my work. He leads by example.
What is your best tip for saving time?
Focus. Don’t try to do multiple things at once. It slows you down.
What is your routine start and end of the day?
I start with a tall glass of water, then fresh juice followed by coffee. This helps wake up my body and then my brain. I also take fish oil vitamin supplements, which help to sharpen my mind. I walk to work to get my blood flowing. Throughout the day, I drink a lot of water and get up and move around. Staring at a computer screen too long is dangerous for productivity.
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget can you not you go without?
A pen and notepad
facebook.com/SummerTealSimpson