07 September, 2014

Lunch turns 5

A letter from our Founder.

When I started Lunch in 2009, I did it at a time when most normal people would have just stayed in their job. It was at a time where there was a recession, and probably the last thing on most people's minds was trying to invent a new model. I've never been a person who had it easy. Personally, I've had my share of challenges and struggles, work was always something that provided stability for me. Until, well, it didn't. I realized I couldn't handle not being able to have an opinion, i was tired to waiting to make things, and even more tired of the politics that often prevented great things from just happening. So, when the cards were stacked against me, I jumped out of the plane. I took out a line of credit on my house, and quit my six figure agency job, because well, I thought there might be another way to do it, that would be more fulfilling for me as a human being. I call myself a business hippy, and I am. I've been accused of being a lot of things in my life and my career but the one thing I knew was that I had to get out there and prove to myself that by being honest, transparent and driven we could do something really special. I felt life was too short to work with assholes and I knew there was a better way. I went back to the times when I'd had the most fun just creating things, whether it be digital, branded content, broadcast, anything really. I felt the best things I'd made and been a part of were the things where everyone on the project was engaged and wanted to be there. What if, I thought, we could do that with every single piece of business we worked on, what if we could take the people who had very clearly chosen their path in life and connect them together to create mutually beneficial opportunities and work. Simple right? Well, it should be. I wanted making things to be like ordering lunch, just like being at a restaurant, I didn't think our clients should have to worry about if we had the ingredients to make what they wanted. That was my job, find the ingredients and make something amazing. I have been incredibly lucky to be surrounded by some of the most talented and driven people on the planet, who aren't just incredibly good at what they do, but they are also incredible human beings who I am honored I get to work with every day. 

We've done some incredible things in the last 5 years (now 5.5 as it's taken me almost 6 months to find enough free time to write this) and have worked on some incredibly inspiring and utterly humbling projects. From the digital for adidas global relaunch with Sid Lee to being a part of TakeThisLollipop with Jason Zada, to shooting with COMMON for CIS last year with Errol Morris, to an utterly mindblowing opportunity to collaborate online with one of my idol's Paul Reubens, to producing a pilot with Nathan Jurevicius for Nickelodeon and collaborating with the one and only Kid Koala. I am humbled by the people who know what we're going, and by the people who have called me their mentor. I wake up every day excited about what will happen next and I am even more excited about who we will meet along the way. I wouldn't have been able to do any of it without the incredible network I work with every day. I thank them most of all for their unwavering trust, support, confidence and love. Without the network of people that makes up what is held within the magical lunch bag that is our offering, I wouldn't be able to get much done. We form like Voltron and I am blessed to have met them and have the priveledge of calling them colleagues, friends and family. 

Thank you to all of our clients along the way,  Thank you. Thank you for trusting in something different, thank you for your insight, trust and ability to think about things differently. I can't wait to see where we will go together and your objectives and feedback make us better at what we do. 

I also want to thank everyone who pointed their finger in my face along the way, whether directly or indirectly, because you reiterated what was most important of all, Integrity. Not everyone in business is meant to work together but sometimes we're meant to learn something together and I have been blessed that coming out of the gate in Toronto it wasn't the most loving welcome. That was okay, because it reminded me to do what i've done my whole career (and life) keep my head down, and focus on our dreams and not to ever spend any time worrying about what anyone else is doing, because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. All that matters is what you're trying to do, and perhaps it is Kathleen Hanna who says it best, "You don't have to agree with me, but you should have to get out of my way". 

Here's to the next 5 years being as incredibly magical as the first. 

Thank you. All of you. 

Fearlessly,

Amy

 

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5, amy miranda, five, lunch