Dear Tongal Family,
I debated writing this note for a few days, as I’m sure all of you, like me, have been overwhelmed with updates from every corporation you have had any interaction with in any facet of your entire adult life.
But I realized, in a way, that right now it’s important — and feels good — just to hear from people. So here we are.
First – I hope you’re all healthy, both mentally and physically. It’s a challenging and strange time. We all have loved ones we’re concerned about and we’re taking extreme measures to protect them by whatever means we can. We’re also all busy adapting to a new and different way of work, school, thought and life for the foreseeable future.
Personally, now that the initial shock and interruption of it all has worn off, I’ve become grateful for the time to spend and connect with my wife and two daughters. It’s funny, I’ve often wished for this gift of time, but didn’t realize it was going to get wrapped up in such an unexpected (and freaky) package. We’ve been reading, slow cooking, listening to old music, warding off stress with ‘Iceman’ Wim Hof’s breathing exercises... We even introduced the kids to The Goonies and Rocky III (movies I loved when I was their age) and we were really excited to see they loved them, too. These connections are keeping us smiling, calm and resilient through each wave of news that makes it feel like we’re living in the lost John Carpenter film.
Second – I’m happy to say that Tongal has been able to conduct business as (almost) usual through all of this. We were built for virtual work and are fueled by the value that is created when you connect talent and businesses that are physically removed from one another. I am grateful for my team and the Tongal community that continue to make this possible.
I’ve had some time to reflect on the last few years and think a lot about the future, including how to make sure we’re going to support all of you through this and whatever else the world throws at us.
For our community, we've put together a list of resources for freelancers in light of COVID-19 (please don't stop reading now...). We also have additional support and educational resources on the way, including live-streamed skills workshops with some of our incredible creators around the world. For our clients, we're committed to producing and delivering content in a way that keeps everyone safe and helps businesses through this cycle. We're here to support you and available as a resource to brainstorm what's next.
Third – Tongal’s mission has always been to support artists and creators around the globe with opportunities, and they deserve all of our support right now. I believe that the most important thing we can do as a community is take stock of the change and challenges we’re facing and then proceed with joy: go on a hike, call an old friend, stream a yoga class, reprioritize your life. Order some extra soap from Dr. Bronner’s, some beans from Rancho Gordo, tune in for Neil Young’s fireside session. Launch a project on Tongal… support small businesses and creators everywhere. Listen. Smile. I’m trying, and I hope you are too.
Last – let’s all be thankful for the people risking their own well-being and working through this to keep us all healthy, fed, educated, and safe.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns through this. You can always reach me at james@tongal.com.
Best,
James DeJulio
Co-Founder & CEO
PS - Here’s the rainbow we woke up to on St. Patrick's Day in LA...
