I know brainstorm sessions can prove to be extremely valuable. Why? Because we hear it often in our work at Farland Group — whether in a customer advisory board meeting, or in a working group session in between board meetings.

Explaining to family and friends what my job entails around customer advisory board work is complicated. When people ask about what I do, I find myself using long-winded sentences that sometimes trail off into the sunset as I provide every little detail. Because what we do at Farland Group involves many different puzzle pieces.

Have you ever thought about starting a customer advisory board? Where would you even begin? Who do you contact for help? And what is the benefit of establishing a board in the first place?

During our annual Farland Group kickoff meeting, our President, Jane Hiscock, had asked us (and I’m paraphrasing here) — share a goal you achieved and the steps you took to get there.

A couple of years ago, I ventured out on Black Friday to find uncrowded stores, likely due to technology and the shift in the way consumers buy products. And last year on Thanksgiving night, I decided to switch it up a bit and opted to shop online.

I recently wrote an article on how the millennial generation (my generation) devours new technologies and is focused on getting tasks accomplished in a fast, agile way.

During a recent meeting I attended, we discussed how this evolution of technology, or digitization, affects the workforce — specifically how millennials are driving culture change and the difference in millennials from past generations.

We live in an era where technology is full-steam ahead and constantly changing. We hear this from our clients throughout our work at Farland Group — that companies are in a game of cat-and-mouse to keep up with one another. Technology is the reason it’s so easy to open my email first thing in the morning and send that quick note to the assistant I’ve been chasing for two weeks.

At Farland Group, we hear the term “differentiated customer experience” frequently during our calls with clients. Businesses are constantly looking for ways to “wow” their customers and give them a compelling reason to revisit their store, click on their website or make a purchase.

Until recently, I hadn’t thought about how stepping out of my “comfort zone” in my career would benefit me — after all, who really wants to be uncomfortable while they’re working?