I've been thinking a lot about the Slow Food Snail of Approval. Do you have this in your area? I hadn't heard of it before we moved to Jacksonville, but it's a certification that many restaurants proudly display that shows their commitment to:

• Sourcing local or sustainably
• Creating a positive environmental impact
• Offering cultural diversity in food
• Being actively involved in the community
• Providing significant support for staff
• Holding inclusive business values

I was joking with a friend that I wanted Basis to have a Slow Food Snail of Approval sign on my studio door, mostly as a reminder to myself that good things take time.

It's okay to be slower with replies and design. Slow work is often the most thoughtful and most creative work.

But after reading on the actual mission of Slow Food, I think there is a lot that can truly be applied to any small business. Collaborating with culturally diverse teammates, providing exceptionally helpful support to my team and clients, being involved in the community, and actively holding myself accountable to inclusive business values — wow, that is what it's all about right there.

I printed a little snail and taped it on my computer as a reminder that these values take priority above all... even if doing the work at a slower pace is the natural outcome of that prioritization.