We at Flynn Wright love to be involved in the community and support other local businesses. Given our love of food, this is frequently done by organizing group lunches at favorite local restaurants. What can I say – we’re our own Food Network. We recently expanded the definition of “restaurant” and picked a beautiful almost-fall day to visit “The Taco Truck,” also known as Villanueva to the rest of the population.

Taco trucks
Around here, they are vehicles of legend. Often appearing questionable to the unfamiliar eye, they provide some of the best lunches (and stories) to the FW staff. To the best of our knowledge, nearly a dozen taco trucks serve the Greater Des Moines area, each carrying its own unique take on the traditional street taco. Villanueva is no different, offering several meat options from steak and pork to tongue and sausage, served up in your choice of taco, burrito, quesadilla… you get the picture. What they lack in menu diversity they make up for in quality – the food is great. Top it off with a mandarin Jarritos and you’ve got a tasty lunch.

The other advantage is the al fresco dining. Who doesn’t want a break from the four walls of the office to enjoy a little sunshine? Since their two picnic tables offer limited seating, I recommend bringing your own chair just to be on the safe side. Choosing between your car and the ground leaves something to be desired in the seating department.


Check back next week as we continue our tour of mobile eating establishments at the Burger Barge

Victim: Stephanie Grangaard
Method: Balloontopia

Our original goal was to do 500 balloons. After realizing they were $16 for 100 balloons we changed our minds and decided on 200. Good thing too. I think we were all border-line passing out.

This post, in some respect, is going to be the most egotistical post ever. But it's a blog and in its very nature carries some ego, right? Be honest. But for the record, I am only trying to exploit my ego to prove a point. And in order to do that I need to wade through it.

So here it goes.

Google me. Seriously, Google my name "Derek Pine." The second link below my Twitter account is a link to Flynn Wright. Which means, you already are! Googling me, that is. While recently looking through some site statistics for the last quarter, we discovered that my name is the 7th most Googled phrase that leads to the site flynnwright.com.

Head begins growing… I'm thinking, that's freaking awesome! People are visiting us online purely on the basis of my name. And they are spending a significant amount of time on the site -- visiting a pretty significant amount of pages.

Head still growing… I should feel downright proud, eh?! And I am.

Epiphany… Holy crap, I am representing a company and creating a significant amount of buzz. 

Head shrinking… What the buzz am I saying?

Back to normal sized cranium… Here's the point. Do you create buzz? Do you realize the effects of your buzz? It's no mistake that I have purposely done things to position my "Google face." But I also know that it comes with a price. To some extent, I represent myself and my employer with everything I do. And as a result I am purposely aware of what I say and do online. I work to create buzz that is of value regardless of the ridiculous bio on my Flynn Wright culture page that my Googled name links too.

How about you and/or your business? Are you creating buzz? Are you aware of it? Do you like it? Are you shaping it? Take some time to Google your name or business name. If you don't like what you see, start taking steps to shape it. If you need help shaping it… you know who to call.

Creator: Susan H
To wrap up 30 Days of Creativity we are going to sign off with an Ode to Flynn Wright. Why? Because we're celebrating 26 years of business. And we think that's a pretty big deal.

It started many years ago
with a vision and a dream.
To be the greatest agency
Des Moines has ever seen.

From Ingersoll, to Riverpoint,
to right across the street.
Flynn Wright keeps on growing strong,
and this is no small feat.

We owe it all to Pete Flynn Sr.
and to Celia Wright
for their devotion and hard work
every day and night.

And don’t forget the other Flynns
who helped the business grow.
To them, we want to make it clear
the gratitude we owe.

Shout it from the rooftops
every hour of every day,
our hearts are with the agency
and we’re all here to stay.

So, here’s to Flynn Wright’s family
and what it has become.
We’re anxious for the future
and the many years to come.

HAPPY 26TH ANNIVERSARY!