There’s a common misconception that work and “life” should remain separate and
are something to be balanced.
At Blue Margin, we don’t think work and life should be in conflict. Why?
Because life permeates every moment, whether we’re at our desks or at home.
If we’re spending a significant chunk of our waking hours working, shouldn’t
we make those hours as fulfilling, fun, and relationship-rich as possible?
Our Culture: More Than Just Business
At Blue Margin, our workplace culture reflects this belief. We don’t think
relationships and fun should be confined to evenings and weekends—they should
be part of the workday itself.
This philosophy has led us to evolve from our early, playful Nerf war days to
more structured, and equally fun, employee-inspired competitions.
March Madness, Golf Tournaments, and Duathlons
Take, for instance, our back-of-the-door basketball tournament. Played under
“PIG” regulations and timed with March Madness, it created an atmosphere of
shared intensity and camaraderie—where every shot (and every miss) became a
collective experience.
Greg Brown, AKA The Flamethrower, shooting his shot early in the March Madness
Tournament he would go on to win.
Building on that momentum, one of our data architects, David Corrigall, saw
another opportunity to strengthen bonds, challenge ourselves, and—most
importantly—have fun together. He organized a month-long putting competition
that brought out the athlete in everyone.
The action on the green was only half the fun. The other half came from the
updates after each showdown. Here’s an excerpt from “The Commissioner” himself
(we believe he has a future in sports commentary):
“Well folks; Ali vs Frazier, Bird vs Magic, and now Josh Wrye vs Greg Brown.
Clash of two titans here at Blue Margin. Some may recall that Greg beat Josh in
the Elite Eight of March Madness. This time, the tables have turned, and Josh
Wrye has emerged as the underdog story of the tournament thus far.
Greg had a chance to become the first-ever two-sport champion in Blue Margin
history, but the golf gods would not let it be this year. Showing extreme
patience on the green, Josh limited his mistakes and shot a birdie on the viz
hole to advance to the Elite Eight.”
Golf Tournament finalists Jon Wrye and Anne Eisenach pose with Commissioner
David Corrigall.
Our team fun doesn’t stop there. It extends to pre-dawn bike rides and trail
runs. We’ve biked in the early hours just to catch a sunrise on the trail—and
enjoyed every mile along the way.
Here we are in the middle of eight miles of biking and four miles of trail
running, all before the day’s first meeting.
The perfect way to start a Friday.
Culture goes beyond weekly team lunches or friendly competitions. It starts
with hiring the right people—those who care equally about delivering great work
and being great teammates. People who want to enjoy life both inside and
outside the office.
How Covid Reminded Us of the Value of Family
The past few years have been a whirlwind for everyone. Covid shifted many of us
from office to home and, for some, back again. As companies navigate what comes
next—whether in-office, remote, or hybrid—culture has become the defining
factor of success.
While the pandemic raised many questions about where we should work,
it clearly reminded us of one thing: the value of family.
We don’t use the term “family” lightly. It’s about belonging. And yes, I
unabashedly refer to our team as a family—because that’s exactly what it feels
like.
As we navigate the evolving landscape of work, let’s remember to value the
laughs, challenges, and shared wins along the way. Because at the end of the
day, it’s not just about where we work, but who we work with.
