On Building Something... And Gratitude
When I reflect on my career, many of my fondest memories involve the times I got to be part of building something new. From giving press tours of a construction site in Newark that would later become Prudential Center and being in the building the day MLB Network went on the air, to literally painting and hammering nails as we scrambled to get the MLB Fan Cave ready for its first Opening Day, some of the most fun and exhilarating experiences of my career were as part of a team creating something from scratch. The entrepreneurial spirit is infectious, camaraderie creates lifelong friendships, and the sense of gratification when you see all your hard work come to fruition is unparalleled.
Amid all the challenges of this year, I’ve been thinking a lot about those experiences as I approach Thanksgiving, the holiday season and the end of my first full year as a freelance consultant. As I’ve written about before, taking the step of formally hanging my own shingle was a frightening leap that I didn’t take lightly, especially during the pandemic and with a baby on the way. Those earlier experiences all happened while I was employed full-time by major companies and involved zero personal risk aside from a relative lack of sleep. By contrast, this new venture was -- and remains -- teeming with risk, with no one but myself to blame if it didn’t work. But I’m happy to report that so far, the reward has been more than worth that risk.
The reward has been having more control over what projects I choose to take on, including start-ups and non-profits that typically can’t afford big agencies. The reward has been the ability to say no to work involving companies and individuals that don’t share my values. The reward has been getting to work with people I genuinely like, who value and appreciate my counsel. Most importantly, the reward has been the flexibility to work from home and be present for every minute of my daughter’s first six months (and counting).
While the nature of my work means I can’t talk about some of my clients and projects, I’m happy to share a few highlights of the rewarding work I’ve been fortunate to support this year, including:
The tremendous marketing, creative and social teams at MTV Entertainment Group continue to fire on all cylinders, evolving with the ever-changing media landscape and creating some of the most entertaining content in the world, while using their massive platform to highlight critically important issues such as mental health and take bold stances on social justice issues. I’ve been proud to help shine a light on this meaningful work while getting some of the key players behind the scenes at all levels of the company the recognition they deserve for their great work.
Just Women’s Sports is disrupting two industries at once -- a sports industry that has for far too long ignored and dismissed women’s sports, and a media industry that too often clings to outdated models and has been slow to adapt to the desires and consumption habits of younger generations. Haley Rosen and her amazing team are building something real and sustainable, and the industry is taking notice. It’s been awesome to be along for the ride and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish next year.
It’s been fun to help put 777 Partners on the map in the sports industry, as they have quickly grown into one of the key players investing in international sports teams, content and distribution while doing so thoughtfully and ethically. In just the latest bit of evidence that no two days are the same in this line of work, in September I suddenly found myself coordinating a press conference on the other side of the world and interacting with media from a dozen countries in five different languages as we announced 777 Partners’ acquisition of Genoa CFC, Italy’s oldest soccer club.
This year I also had the wonderful opportunity to support the Leo Baeck Institute, which celebrated 1700 years of Jewish history in German-speaking lands with its year-long Shared History Project. This initiative accomplished virtually what could never be done in person, by bringing together dozens of historical artifacts from its own collection as well as institutions and archives across the globe. I was thrilled to play a role in bringing more attention to this meaningful project.
In addition, I’ve continued to do occasional work for The Gold Foundation, which champions humanism in healthcare. The pandemic has shined a new spotlight on the importance of their work, as the relationship and trust between doctor and patient has never been more critical than it has been these past 18 months.
Lastly, having control of how I use my time has also enabled me to donate my time to causes I feel passionately about. Earlier this year, I was proud to provide strategic counsel and support to the Center for Educational Equity at Columbia University’s Teachers College and its DemocracyReadyNY coalition, which is devoted to ensuring all New York students are adequately prepared for civic participation, including media literacy education.
With so many challenges facing the world, gratitude often feels misplaced. But I have so much to be thankful for, personally and professionally, and this is the time of year that literally calls for it. Here’s to building something new.