Every day when the clock strikes 5:00pm, final emails are sent, laptops are closed shut, and chairs are pushed in as our work day comes to an end. But for some marketers here at Quattro, the end of their 9-5 workday is just the beginning of their 5-9 grind.
You already met a few Q-Balls who brew beer, paint masterpieces, and hit the CrossFit gym – but they’re not the only ones whose days don’t end at 5:00pm.
Meet some more of our own who, after logging off for the day, are just getting started.
Molly Cadden, The Yogi: Project Manager and Local Yoga Aficionado
The first time I did yoga was an accident when I was a freshman in college. I went to the gym, thinking it was a boot camp class, but it ended up being a yoga class. I thought, “Well, I already walked here, I might as well just stay.”
It was a stereotypical yoga class with instrumental music and lit candles. It was weird, but I remember feeling very emotional at the end. I didn’t know why, and none of it made sense. I didn’t go back until a couple years later when I was stressed out from school and I figured I’d give it another try. My roommate and I would try YouTube yoga videos, and I really started to like it. I liked how anyone could do it. I’m not naturally flexible, so I had to work at it. It was a challenge, but you slowly see how much stronger you’re becoming.
About two years ago, my friend was opening a yoga studio in West Chester, called Local Yoga Cafe. I offered to help her get things started. We taught free pop-up classes, did tons of events, and shared everything on Facebook and Instagram. It was a fun project, and I met a ton of people in my community. Now I teach three classes a week.
I think the biggest way to relax is to just stop everything and breathe. That’s how I start my classes. We don’t really see opportunities throughout our day to just slow down and take a breath, but I think yoga gives you that opportunity.
Scott Armstrong Jr., The Wordsmith: Copywriter by Day, Comedian by Night
I started doing stand-up about a year and a half ago. It was something that I had always wanted to try, and I finally made the decision to start writing and performing after going to the Comedy Store during a trip to California in the summer of 2016.
Once I got back from California, I started writing every day for about a week or two. When I had what I thought was a decent five minutes, I decided to try my first open mic in Manayunk. Going up on stage for the first time was pretty nerve-wracking, but once I did it, I was hooked. I started getting up as frequently as possible. I now try to get out at least three times a week.
Like any type of writing, joke writing requires lots of rewriting. I’ll tell a bit on stage, then listen to the audio and see where I can tighten it up, add to it, or (in some cases) drop it altogether. It usually takes several rounds before a bit is where I want it. Copywriting has actually helped me with my joke writing. For both, I try to write as succinctly as possible, making every word count.
Overall, stand-up is just a fun hobby. I’ve made a lot of friends, and have had a lot of fun doing it. I think that everybody needs somewhere to socialize, relax, or have fun outside of the home or office – and an open mic/comedy club is a great place to do that.
Dan Douglass: Creative Director and Color Guard Extraordinaire
I wasn’t very good at sports in high school, so I got involved in color guard instead. I just helped out the first year, and loved it. Eventually I started spinning flags and realized I was pretty good. I’ve been doing it ever since.
In 1991, I founded a color guard group with my friends. At the time, we were living in New York and marching in the New York Gay Pride Parade. We realized we could bring color guard to it. Now, we perform mostly at the Philly and New York Pride marches. We’re the longest continuously performing group in the parades.
In 2011, I started coaching a team of about 10 kids in Camden in a color guard group called Amp. We didn’t have much money, but I knew we could do it well anyway. The first year we won a local championship.
It’s all about working together. When you’re having bad days, you help each other out. There was one time last year when the kids had a really rough week and they didn’t have a great show. I told them, “Sometimes you have to regroup and pull yourself together again.” That’s what they did, and they ended up winning a national championship that year.
Jason Koscho: VP of Creative Services, Passionate Cyclist
I don’t know why, but I’ve always had a passion for bikes. I think they’re a work of art. They’re overly simplified, which I love.
I raced cross-country mountain bikes in high school and throughout college. Now, I do a lot of road biking. It’s easy because I can go outside, get on the road, and just go. There’s less prep time. I don’t have to drive to a mountain or the woods. Biking allows me to think without distractions — I tend to try and loose myself. If I can ride 60 miles a month, that’s a good month.
I just completed my first triathlon this fall. It took about a year of mental training and around three months of physical training where I stuck to a strong, active workout regimen. I didn’t really know what I was doing. I didn’t realize how challenging it was. When I signed up 12 months prior, I thought that I had plenty of time to train. So I just winged it. I quickly realized how bad of a mistake that was. So I sought some help and guidance.
Training made work more enjoyable because I was excited about it, and I think it rubbed off in the office. I tried to go to the gym in the morning, which was painful because it was so early, so I trained after work and on the weekends. I believe in maintaining a good work-life balance, and I think there are both mental and physical elements to doing that.
I love to try new things – I think it’s exciting. When I went into the triathlon, I didn’t know anything about it. I was extremely nervous to do it, and it was very difficult. Once I finished, I loved it! I would definitely do it again.
My advice is to try new things. If you think you can do it, you probably can.
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Now that you know more about our lives outside of work, we want to know about yours! Let us know what keeps you busy after you log off for the day @QuattroPhilly.