Image credit: everything possible/Shutterstock.com Starting a business is the dream of many. The vision of creating an environment where unrestrained creativity, innovation, and personal opportunity abounds is too much for hundreds of thousands of dreamers to resist each year. It is estimated that by 2020, 27 million Americans will leave the workforce every year to pursue the dream of self-employment. While a vast majority of new businesses survive the first year, the longer-range outlook is a bit more sobering. On average, nearly half of all businesses will fail to survive their fifth-year anniversary and 30% will survive 10 years. These statistics routinely fail to staunch the inherent optimism of budding entrepreneurs. April 2019 marks the 10^th anniversary of Junction Creative Solutions (Junction). An explosive combination of passion and grit, Junction has grown to serve more than 325 brands since its launch and has become an award-winning strategic agency committed to creating high-impact solutions for SMB’s and Fortune 500 companies. While rankings and recognition are important in this highly-competitive industry, Junction’s persistent focus is on delivering superior performance. The Junction team is passionate about driving exceptional results for clients. An unrelenting pride in our work has resulted in Junction being recognized as a top design firm with industry awards on the shelf. “It feels like just yesterday we had reached the 7-year mark! As we achieve this 10-year anniversary, I reflect on the path that we have taken to arrive at this milestone,” commented Julie Gareleck, founder, CEO and Managing Partner of Junction. “The path to success isn’t a straight line. We’ve navigated and thrived in what was considered the worst economic climate, adapted to changes in technology, and tirelessly worked to deliver a positive impact to our clients.” It is imperative to remain passionate about the work and to implement the lessons learned along the way to ensure future growth for any organization. “Regardless of the circumstance, I continue to learn from the challenges and triumphs. We are a better organization today as a result of those lessons.” When asked about the growing team at Junction, Gareleck feels very fortunate to have amazing individuals and team players on her team. “I am humbled by the efforts of the Junction team for without them, this business would not operate. As a CEO, I strive to surround myself with individuals who drive greater value in the areas that I am the weakest. Their unwavering dedication to our clients and this business are what propels this business forward,” says Gareleck. “I also have gratitude for our clients who have trusted us with their business and initiatives. It’s rewarding to see that our work has impacted more than 325 companies, each with unique needs that give us the opportunity to drive value.” The challenges for businesses in this competitive and disruptive environment are unrelenting. As Junction’s portfolio continues to expand, the breadth of our expertise managing and executing multi-faceted, integrated strategies and solutions expands. For those organizations that continue to innovate and focus their efforts on building a long-term, customer-centric culture, the future can promise to be bright for decades to come. To learn more about what is happening across industry, visit our notebook to reference thought leadership that Junction’s team has been publishing for the last decade!