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All along, my agency business partner had what I wanted.
Older and significantly more sober now, I marvel at how my perspective regarding the early years of our advertising has changed. The dessert plate in my recovered life has the crumbs of humble pie. Looking back, I am grateful to the guidance of a higher power, the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, and the love from those around me — especially my wife and business partner, Nancy.
When Nancy and I launched our advertising agency in the early ’80s, it became a vehicle that amplified my grandiosity while also financially enabling my escalating substance abuse. I’m lucky she stayed with me. My ego prevented me from considering her viewpoint on virtually any issue. I was the one who had grand ambitions and a worldly outlook.
Nancy managed the agency’s finances — a task I arrogantly deemed beneath me. She was content with our steady success and made prudent financial decisions for our future, including saving for our two sons’ education. I was more focused on grander visions of being big and then bigger. After a few pops, I was quick to ridicule her for being small-minded. I was the creative genius; she was simply riding on my coattails. I wasn’t shy about reminding her.
