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Fortress Featured | January 2022 – August 2022

CEO and Founder, Joel Mathew, is often featured in publications like Forbes and Inc., where he shares valuable advice for leaders and entrepreneurs. Below are his most recent contributions.

 

 

Employees Getting Stressed? Here’s How To Support Their Mental Health

 

Forbes

 

“I’ve learned how to sense burnout coming with a few of our employees who put in a ton of hours, and my approach to alleviate it is the same: give them help and push them on the fact that they don’t have to take on everything themselves. This could mean they tackle part of a project and then hand it off instead of handling it all.”

 

Read More>>>

 

 

Nine Steps To Take If Your Company Rebrand Doesn’t Get A Positive Response

 

Forbes

 

“Stay the course and focus on the areas that you excel in. Change is hard on many, and some things take time to grow on people. By continuing to operate with excellence and take care of your clients in ways your competition can’t, you’ll make a name for yourself no matter what you’re called.”

 

Read More>>>

 

 

Hiring An Executive Assistant? Eight Must-Have Traits To Look For

 

Forbes

 

“If you hire someone just to take orders and fulfill them, you’ll have to hold their hand for everything you need. Finding someone who is creative in problem-solving and in the way they approach problems will yield a much better result that requires less time on your end. You want someone who will give you what you asked for, but also come up with new ways to look at things that you may not be initially thinking about.”

 

Read More>>>

 

 

8 Limiting Beliefs That May Be Holding Your Business Back

 

Inc.

 

“Stop looking sideways and keep focused forward. Focus on how far you’ve come and what your own goals are. Growth takes maturity and time, and it’s different for everyone.”

 

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10 Entrepreneurs Share The Most Important Early Business Decisions They Made

 

Forbes

 

“The saying is that culture eats strategy for breakfast, and our focus on building the right culture at Fortress paid off and continues to pay off. When you’re a company of one in the beginning, your culture is less internal and more external. What do you stand by? How do you operate with your clients? Do you do what you say you’re going to do? Building a foundation around core values and culture first prepared me for our first hire in year three at Fortress and the hundreds of employees and strategic partners I’ve hired over the years. When I left corporate America, I had a clear view on what I didn’t want our culture to be, so it felt easy and natural to build something better: a culture where others are treated how I would want to be treated, like family.”

 

Read More>>>

 

 

Nine Effective Ways To Showcase Your Personality On LinkedIn

 

Forbes

 

“I find the most interesting and engaging candidates have hobbies and interests outside of the typical things you’d expect for the position they are applying for. It’s easy for the programmer to talk about all the classes and certifications and boot camps they’ve done, but what about them being into music? How does that apply? For example, I’ve found that college athletes who apply with us are typically driven and competitive. I’ve found that musicians are typically detailed. I’ve found that people who volunteer at nonprofits show great empathy and patience in dealing with clients and other issues. The nontraditional interests, hobbies and skills help show who you are and can also signal better job performance.”

 

Read More>>>

 

 

Nine Common Business Plan Mistakes To Avoid As A New Entrepreneur

 

Forbes

 

“Many entrepreneurs think they need a highly detailed, professional business plan before they can start their business. I would say that most of the business owners I know didn’t sit down and formalize a plan before they launched. They just got after it and met a need in their market, learned lessons from the wins and the losses and refined their offering and operation each day. There are enough mental roadblocks that people obsess over and let stop them from ever starting, and the business plan shouldn’t be one of them. That being said, it is good to have a business plan developed at some point in the business, which can be updated over time as the business grows. Chances are that the plan you start with will need to adapt and grow just like your business does.”

 

Read More>>>

In the world of branding, a slogan is akin to a thesis, establishing values and rearranging perceptions with every word. Think about the brands you love; chances are, they have connected with you through their written words. A great slogan is a condensed mission statement, reminding the consumer that they and the brand share the same attitude towards the world; that they and the brand are friends, willing to do right by one another. In this blog, we are going to discuss the significance of slogans, provide insight on what to do and what not to do when crafting a slogan, and reference case studies of brands that Fortress has helped discover slogans and taglines for through our Branding and Corporate Identity Services

 

The Best Slogans in the World

 

We all know these slogans, but do we know what makes them so memorable? Let’s start with Nike’s “Just Do It.” This slogan is brilliant for a few reasons; it is extremely brief at only three words and eight letters; it is motivational and fits with their brand philosophy of pushing one’s physical limits and being prepared for adventure; and lastly it is works as as a subliminal message that helps users make their decision to buy from Nike. Debating on getting that new pair of running shoes? “Just Do It.” Enough said.

 

Next up, Apple. Their iconic slogan, “Think Different,” encapsulates the very essence of their brand philosophy. It’s not just a call to buy their products; it’s an invitation to embrace innovation and individuality. In just two words, they’ve managed to capture the spirit of those who dare to challenge the status quo and break new ground. 

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SENIOR Designer

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      SENIOR designer

      Full Job Description

      Fortress is a fast-growing digital marketing and branding agency headquartered in Chicago that has worked with clients ranging from global corporations like Nike, Jordan, All-State, Acura, athletes, and celebrities like Kevin Hart, Steph Curry, prestigious universities, startups, and everyone in between. We believe in putting family first, being team players, staying humble, and being obsessed with our clients’ success. We provide a unique and energetic culture that fosters creativity and camaraderie.

      We’re currently seeking a full-time Senior Designer to join the team and work out of our Chicago, IL office. The right person for this position sees the bigger picture while remaining passionate about the details.

      You’re knowledgeable and skilled in Web, Branding, large-scale marketing campaigns, and more. You’re a jack of all trades in creative software, but you also have a passion for design beyond the screen. You understand that great design is in the nuance—that subtle cultural references should be woven into the things you create and every project should be approached with the end-user at the center of it. You love working on a team with diverse perspectives and you’re willing to learn from as well as build up those around you. At the core, you’re a problem solver with a knack for making things look good.

      WHAT YOU’LL DO

      • Contribute to various projects in web, brand identity, and print across multiple industries
      • Collaborate and ideate with the design and marketing teams, while also giving and receiving feedback on designs
      • Create presentations and asset kits to be delivered to team members, clients, and partners
      • Present your creatives to clients with the ability to back up your ideas, while also being open to new ideas and critiques

      WHAT YOU’LL BRING

      • 3-5 years of experience working in design and digital marketing
      • A strong portfolio with a diverse array of work and a strong foundation in basic design principles (typography, layout, color, UX/UI)
      • Problem-solving and storytelling abilities
      • Multi-tasking and prioritization skills
      • Experience working in Adobe CC and Figma
      • 3D, Animation, Video Editing, and Photography is a plus
      • A collaborative mindset
      • A good sense of your own design and visual style
      • Attention to detail
      • A passion for growth and a never-ending curiosity

      Job Type: Full-time

      Benefits:

      • 401(k)
      • 401(k) matching
      • Dental insurance
      • Flexible schedule
      • Health insurance
      • Paid time off
      • Professional development assistance
      • Vision insurance

      Schedule:

      • 8-hour shift
      • Monday to Friday
      • Weekend availability

      Supplemental Pay:

      • Bonus pay
      • Commission pay

      Ability to commute/relocate:

      • Chicago, IL 60642: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

      Experience:

      • Graphic design: 6 years (Required)
      • Web design: 4 years (Required)

      SENIOR DIGITAL STRATEGIST

      Apply by filling out the form and someone will be in touch with you.

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        WE ARE WHAT MAKES FORTRESS DIFFERENT.

        Someone from our team will reach out to you about your project soon.