This week I launched social media marketing for Cardinal. Even before the LinkedIn launch there had been some great feedback and a few questions about the logo and the name. I want to acknowledge my friend and former classmate from Daniel Webster College, Lee Zerrilla. Lee had been dabbling in graphic design along with photography for some time, and when I needed a logo, it felt right to ask someone I know and trust and who had a skillset that I simply did not. The existing Cardinal logo was the first iteration that Lee developed. I think there were only a couple small text edits for the full logo, but the Cardinal always stayed the same.
OK, but Why Cardinal Consulting? Great question – the burning question lately.
I have known for a long time that I wanted to start my own business to help others and build community. The idea came pre-COVID-19, but I could never land on a name. I wanted to page homage to people in my life utilizing part or all of their name, or utilizing my last name in part of the title, but nothing ever stuck.
In comes the Cardinal, quite literally.
My grandfather (Mother’s dad) passed away from liver cancer when I was 12. He was an artist, in particular a painter. He was also a great whistler and lover of birds, the Cardinal to be exact. His favorite bird, and the favorite bird of my grandmother too. After his passing my mom and aunt were on the phone together, and (as I remember the story) one mentioned “my Cardinal just arrived to the feeder”. In a bit of disbelief the other said – that’s funny, mine did too. They had Cardinals at their feeder at the same time, every day. A sign, I believe, that my grandfather, if not just the memory of him was still with us. Over the years whenever we would see a Cardinal we’d always talk about “bap”. As I moved from place to place as an adult, the one constant was a Cardinal – whether at a feeder or in the yard, or sometimes just singing from the top of a tree, he sounded just like the whistle of my grandfather, or was it the other way around?
Other family members and friends have passed away since then, and there always seems to be a Cardinal involved to invoke their memory along the way. So now, when I see the bright red plumage or hear that song, I have a flood of memories of family, of friends, of great times together and most importantly of the influence all of those human beings have had on me. So instead of paying homage to a name or a particular person, it made complete sense when launching this consulting business, to go deeper than a name, and put the Cardinal front and center as a way to remember many people and things and as guide for how to live, how to act and how to lead – always remembering the past and building on the future.
The word Cardinal, outside of the bird definition also has significance when it comes to working with and building businesses. You’ll see it right on the home page of my website and the definition itself was the first social post earlier this week that we launched to further define what we’re all about. Oh and by the way, I say “we” a lot, when I refer to the business. “We” does not mean I have a huge team of people working for me. “We” pays further respect to everyone who has influenced, taught and guided me through the years. I wouldn’t be here, nor would Cardinal Consulting, if it weren’t for those who came before.
We” are pleased that you read this far, and look forward to working with you to build strong business and strong community in New Hampshire and across the country.
Nathan
