Last week, in a rare show of actual muscle strength, Flint Interactive developers and project managers overcame a sizable non-digital obstacle while returning to the Duluth office from a staff retreat.
Our digital team had just spent two nights at Turning Point Retreat Center south of Hibbing, Minn., where they discussed ways we’ve streamlined and improved our development process for Interactive projects. They also bonded and ate lots of Cool Ranch Doritos and waffles (Flint Group has a thing for waffles).
Unbeknownst to the group, a large aspen tree had blown over in a storm, severing the only return route for three carloads of Interactive staffers.
Okay, saying the ‘only’ return route might be a bit of a stretch – but it was the only route that didn’t require turning around and driving AT LEAST a mile out of the way, so that option was ruled out very early.
This tree presented the team with a real analog obstacle (Get it – Ana-log? Oh boy …)
Project manager Heather Seeley conducts the initial project download meeting with developer Michael Swanson.
“We tried to Google, ‘highway tree removal,’ but only one of us had a decent connection – and it wasn’t even 4G,” said developer Jenny Barthen. “Desperate times call for desperate measures: This was going to require using our [pasty, white] arms and legs.”
In a rare role reversal, developer Jenny Barthen (left) directs project managers Colie Paulson (right) and Heather Seeley (right background).
Designer/developer Ben Luoma remarked, “It was a study in applied physics. Even extremely, extremely weak forces – like gravity or developer muscles – if applied appropriately and in tandem, can yield surprising results.”
Michael adjusts his spectacles for maximum project visibility.
Heather Seeley supervised the entire operation. “I was pleased with the outcome; but, sometimes you are your own worst client, you know? I think it’d be worthwhile to have a five-part meeting series to discuss how we might have done things differently.”
“I think I hurt myself,” Michael said. “I haven’t done this much manual labor since I carried my TRS-80 out of my mom’s basement.
Several team members remarked that it did feel nice to perspire – something many hadn’t experienced in years.
This obstacle, while unfortunate, gave the team additional opportunity to bond. In fact, some have a sneaky suspicion it was planned from the inside – a test of the group’s collaborative abilities.
“The Interactive team is a very tight group, one where you not only have strong talent, but also great friends.” said Ben. “For a self-dubbed “bunch of introverts” it’s a really fun and boisterous group.”