20 years in the business
Sometime this month, April 2006, will be 20 years for me in advertising. I’m happy to say I still enjoy this business, the people, the ideas, and yes I even still enjoy moderating focus groups & training moderators.
When people ask, Where Do You Want to Be in Five Years?, I’ve never had any idea or answer. Mostly, I’ve been confused enough with where I was. My 2006 answer: “Somewhere I can’t possibly imagine today”.
My first 6 years in the business I was a sponge at DMB&B NY as a P&G media planner & then Chiat/Day NY as a young account planner. The pay was crap, and the work was fascinating. I liked the strategy of media, and literacy in MRI books proved an asset at C/D. The people I worked for at both shops are still rock stars in their world. There’s no way I could have planned this kind of education & opportunity.
When I moved to FCB San Francisco, then started my own business a year later in ‘92, I wasn’t sure what would happen next. Pitching IBM with Ogilvy in 1994 was a good break, and started a 12+ year relationship. And clients in SF, NY, Seattle, and elsewhere have kept me busy & learning & paying my mortgage. Thank you.
One day, I sat down & asked myself about widgetwonder‘s value proposition: How do I best serve my clients? Why should someone hire me?
Perhaps contrary to my British-infused education, I was tired of the planner’s role as “most clever person in the room”. So I said Yes to Collaboration — work to bring the group together, into alignment around language and ideas. The power of brands are expressed as shared values, not proprietary. Help the team move forward, and experience themselves in new ways. My job is to help create an environment where the group can do its best work. Building & holding a group is a skill, and I’ve been focusing here for the past 10 years.
Mostly, I just follow what I’m most curious about. And I like to solve problems, tell stories, and make a connection. That’s my idea of a plan. Oh, and its ok to freak out all along the way because you don’t know where you’re going. Doesn’t everyone do that anyway?
The best thing about entrepreneurship is that I’ve had the opportunity to invest in my business & myself. With each 5 year period of the past 20 years, my growth & learning have accelerated & have become more interesting.
This diversity of experience drives innovation for my business, and adds value to my clients. Personally, I couldn’t ask for anything better. Check back for an update again in 2026…