do what you love love what you do

What Inspires Me: Company Culture Motivates Me to Do Great Work


By: Amanda Braniecki

Today, everything and everyone has a tagline or motto—a short string of words that clarify and enhance a business mission or personal goal. For me, my personal motto is: Do what you love, love what you do.

The minute something stops being fun or the minute I feel like I am not living up to my fullest potential, I know it’s time for a change and an opportunity for me to discover something new.

That is actually how I found myself in the PR industry. I graduated from Michigan State University with a journalism degree, and soon after I began a career at a small weekly newspaper. I loved my job. My editor was great, and I couldn’t have asked for a better community to cover. But, I was ready for more.

And that is when Identity came into the picture.

I never saw myself in the PR industry, but here I am. And, I am so happy and fortunate to be here. In fact, when I think about how my career started with Identity, I always think back to my interview. At the time, I remember asking the question: What’s your company culture like?

Without hesitation, I was told Identity’s culture was one centered around a work hard, play hard mentality. It was an office where people didn’t compete against one another, but rather pushed one another to be better, reach farther and achieve more. Simply put, it was a company that hired A-team players.

It sounded too good to be true. After all, what company would tell you their culture was anything short of stellar? However, after nearly three years at Identity, I can honestly say that response was spot on—and that’s what inspires me.

Day-in and day-out, I am blown away by my Identity family. It is a privilege to be surrounded by such an excellent group of PR, social and creative experts who are all working together toward the same goal. We share and celebrate our successes together, and when things get overwhelming—which they undoubtedly will from time to time—any one of us will be right there willingly raising our hand to help out. That’s just the Identity way.

I have no doubt in my mind that I would not be where I am today professionally if it were not for the people sitting in the seats around me. It’s true what they say: Great work breeds great work. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t learn something from my colleagues.

Any and all of my professional successes can be attributed in some part to the team I have around me. Whether it’s the new relationships they have created that pave the way for an initiative I am doing or their words of encouragement, they help me tackle whatever is on my to-do list with a renewed drive.

Not everyone can say that, and I am proud I can. So thank you to my Identity family. If I don’t say it enough, you all inspire me and push me to be better and do better—both professionally and personally. And for that, I am grateful.