2026: The Year of Inspiration

We are entering 2026 inspired by where we are as a company.

This might seem typical or expected in the new year, but when you are running a business that is busy and growing, it is very easy to get lost in the weeds of the day-to-day. So after the Christmas break, we restarted our computers and took a moment to soak in that feeling of inspiration and hope.

Scriptorium just passed its 17^th birthday on January 5^th. For the first half of those years, it operated more like a freelance business where we hired subcontractors as needed. It was good and built our knowledge and our network in the community.

In 2018, we took bigger steps that shifted us from a freelance mindset to an entrepreneurial one. We merged with another freelance business. We started to hire employees instead of contractors, and we developed a more systematic approach to internal administration and client project management.

At the beginning of 2026, our team and our systems have created a strong foundation, and we are managing more clients and more projects than ever before.

The last few years, our words of the year have focused on the practical side of growing the business: effectiveness, cohesion, and sustainability. These words helped us hone our systems and our tools so we can do more and continue to do it well.

But this year, we wanted to celebrate the things that inspire us as we look forward to what comes next.

Inspired by Our Growth

In some ways, the freelance approach to our business was easier. We just had to rely on ourselves and do the work. But with a team of people, there is a richness of experience and capacity that we would never have attained on our own. Each person we’ve hired has come with their own strengths and interests. And while we are all doing the same work, individually, we focus on what we do and like best. We continue to thrive as technical writers and business communicators. We’ve also added two bilingual writers, so we can work in English and Spanish, and most recently, we’ve added a graphic designer to the team. We’ve been finding our groove as a team, moving forward with our complementary skills.

Inspired by Our Clients

Book Yourself Solid introduced us to the concept of red rope clients. A red rope client is a client who has shared values and enthusiasm for the work.

Over the years, we have realized that these red ropers come in many shapes and sizes. There is no particular industry or project type; it is about relationships and collaboration. Together, we can be a well-oiled machine. We balance our different expertise and teach one another as we create customized, accurate content that is standardized and professional.

Looking at our roster of clients, some long-term and some new, we feel fortunate to have so many red ropers. Our strong start this January is not just about the volume of work but the quality of clients and their projects. We are excited about what we can accomplish together.

Inspired by Our Team

Although we have an entirely remote team, we have built a system and culture that lets us stay connected every day. This did not happen by accident. It took some experimentation and our team’s willingness to participate. Our “watercooler” chat has evolved from sharing work stories and grammar jokes to including updates on life outside of work, and the transformation from our first in-person meet-up is incredible. Last month, we did a team photoshoot to capture our growing team with new photos; we had fun together. This gives us confidence that we have the right people on our team.

Staying Inspired All Year

We’re not going to feel inspired all day, every day. So, we’ve thought about ways to keep us inspired throughout the year.

Instead of sharing lessons learned or professional development updates, we’re taking turns to Tell Us Something Good at our team meetings to celebrate the wins and learn more about what excites each of us.

As managers, we are going to continue having Blue Sky Days. We spend a lot of time focused on practical planning, client management, and looking for new projects, but our “Blue Sky Days” are for stepping back to look at the big picture. These days help us remember and sometimes reassess our goals. They most often involve turning off our laptops to walk, talk, dream  – and, yes, sometimes vent  – out loud. Then, with thoughtful strategy and planning, we are inspired to make these dreams a reality.

Looking for inspiration with your organization's technical writing or business communication projects? Contact Scriptorium, and our team will help move your projects into the right direction.

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