I’m Allan Kalish. I decided to call on my lifetime of Ad Agency experience to share some laughs, some stupid mistakes and some useful tips for people who are courageous enough to be in the agency business today. I’m not looking for fame or fortune, just some memories of the “goods” and “bads” of my career. If you work for an agency or the marketing department of a company that advertises, you might get a few chuckles or even a few tips if you decide to read further.
Whatever you decide, please respond if you have the time and inclination. I can take punishment so don’t worry about my feelings or my ego. Both are battered but unbroken.
About me. I should have been a third baseman for the Phillies. There was only one reason I wasn’t. Simply put, I just wasn’t good enough. Good field, no hit. I also should have been invited to write guest columns for Ad Age or even The New York Times. Same restriction. Wasn’t good enough. Sad but true?
Not necessarily. After a successful flight with CBS as a sales manager, a small Ad Agency enticed me to join them for a decent salary and a piece of the action. After a couple of acquisitions and a merger, I became the president of the third largest agency in Philadelphia. (Before you get too impressed, we probably would have been the 303rd agency in New York.)
The merger was a professional success and a personal catastrophe. My new partner and I were oil and water. We tried to be symbiotic but no dice. If you wanted his opinion about a major decision, no need to talk to him. Just get my opinion and do the opposite. And vice versa. Bad scene.
So I left and took the most valuable asset I brought to the merger, Howard Rice. He was and is a creative genius and a much lauded teacher at Temple University. He and I formed Kalish & Rice, had a healthy business relationship and remain good friends.
After sixteen years, sold the agency to a growing national shop. Accounts included the area’s largest bank, the largest convenience store chain in the northeast, several national accounts, the largest utility in this area, several major market publications and many others. Good stuff.
Along the way, I was president of the Philadelphia Ad Club and was honored as its Person of the Year later on. Howard Rice and I enjoyed the spirit of teamwork at our agency. We took pride in the fact that we supported dozens (Dozens!) of non-profit organization by providing free advice and creativity. More good stuff.
After the sale, I did what many people do when they’re out of a job. I became a consultant. Have grown out of that and helped start a marketing project management software company that’s enjoying great success. Yes, I have a partner and friend. Guess what? Don’t tell him I said this, but he’s a genius. I’ve used my knowledge combined with his intellect to create ad agency software that reflects the problems I experienced during my time in the advertising world.
As promised, here are two tips. The “stupids” will come in later blogs.
(1) If you’re a small or medium sized agency with regional clients, follow the classified ads on line and in trade publications. They’re good indicators about what organizations are expanding, what kind of employee is in demand. Most CEOs or owners will talk to you if you have some ideas about heir search.
(2) If you ever have partner, try to find one who is smarter than you and with whom you have similar standards of right and wrong. Think about that, too, if you’re considering marriage.
Allan Kalish is co-founder and Chairman of Workzone, a provider of web-based project management software and collaboration tools for ad agencies, marketing departments and any organization needing to manage projects more effectively.
