Lessons Learned At UBB

Tracy is the Event Planning and Cleanups Intern. She loves to water ski and wants someone to teach her how to surf. Email her with questions, comments, and complaints at tracy@unitedbyblue.com

Over the course of this summer, I have learned many new things.  I have witnessed firsthand the challenges of running a startup company.  I have seen how products are designed.  I have listened to conversations about marketing strategies.  I have learned the severity of ocean issues.  The following are some examples of the obviously most important things I learned from my time at UBB.

1. How to make a homemade fruit-fly catcher (Problem-solving at its finest)

Sometime during the miserable heat-wave of a few weeks ago, the office was invaded by fruit flies.  For no particular reason, they took a special liking to me.  You can ask Leslie-I spent a solid two days screaming at them and swatting them away from my desk.  Eventually, I was fed up enough that I did what I do with most of my problems in life: I Googled a solution.  After reading numerous at-home remedies, I put some honey and dishwashing soap in a solo cup and made a paper funnel to lure the flies in.  My trap ended up being more or a fruit-fly hangout location than an elimination technique, but at least they were no longer bugging me. 

 2. Philadelphia storm drains are the worst places on earth

One afternoon, we cleaned 48 lbs of trash (mostly recyclables) from a storm drain a block down from us in about twenty minutes. It was disgusting.

3. I can say UBB’s mission statement in under  10 seconds

Call the office and ask if you don’t believe me.   This talent has developed after months of explaining what UBB is to my family, friends, nice strangers who ask what I’m doing this summer, managers of businesses we’re requesting donations from, or leaders of organizations that we’re looking to partner with.  I think I can even say it all in one breath.

4. Co-workers are real people too

After spending lunch hours walking to Reading Terminal Market, a day scouting out illegal dump sites, a bunch of days picking up trash, and a summer sitting in an office with them I have come to this conclusion.  The people I’ve met at UBB are all driven, passionate, talented, and often entertaining people.