Or, The Entrance To A Beginning?
Four years prior to my McCann swansong (in 1999) my son, Gregg, and three of his friends (Will Morrison, Griffin Stenger and John Gellos) came to me with their plan to start a new breed of marketing communications company for the emerging digital, flat world. The Concept Farm: built on big, organic, creative ideas, and fueled by the power of the internet and new media. The credo: “Fresh Ideas Harvested Daily.”
Shortly thereafter, Blake Olsen and Ray Mendez joined as partners to round out the partnership team. I believed in them and their vision, and provided the seed money (no pun intended) to pursue their dreams never realizing that their brilliantly simple vision of a Farm would grow into my new source of inspiration and nourishment. The Concept Farm became the portal that turned my exit from a “had to” career into the entrance to the “want to” work I had longed for.
Lesson 3.
No matter how long you’ve been at it, you always need inspiration and mentors. It can come from anywhere and anyone at anytime. Keep your vision turned on and tuned in so you don’t miss it.
Life And Liberation In The Barnyard
When I arrived, The Concept Farm was in its fourth year, growing and ready for its next stage of development. The Farmers were on a roll and the last thing they needed was for me to be a disruption in rhythm and momentum of the company. I was almost twice their age, so we had to find the right balance.
They all are great at running the business and servicing the clients. Collectively they generate an amazing depth and breadth of effective creative work, day in and day out. We identified two distinctly different things I could offer: experience (been there, done that lessons, advice, and gravitas when they needed it) and long term planning vision fueled by my passion and energy to try new things, take risks, and help make a difference. The perfect yin to their collectively brilliant yang.
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