Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Pryce: are you inspired?

I was inspired. And, I totally agree that the economics of starting a company is dramatically different than it was 20 years ago. For me, that was a few companies ago. Thanks for the inspiration, Edward. .-= John Winsor´s last blog ..Of Crows And Prehistoric Tadpole Things: Avoiding The Consumption Of One, Helping The Evolution Of The Other. =-.

While watching Don emerge from the bedroom on Sunday and take in the scene above, one of my first thoughts was; "I'll bet Edward Boches posts on this during the week..." and here we are. Couple of other things about this scene: • It happens just after Don has 'lost' his own family. This is his new family. • Don is separated from wife + kids because he has been living a lie for the last decade. Many of the people in the Pierre are there because he finally ate some crow and revealed his true feelings about them–and how essential they are to the success of this new venture. If you're working with people towards a common dream, it helps to remind them occasionally how much you value their talents and hard work. To that end, Edward, thank you for your blogging over the last six months. During a difficult and challenging time in this business, your posts are always insightful and often inspirational without being Pollyanna-ish. I look forward to more of the same. P.S. How about Trudie with the 10 varieties of sandwiches? Is it just me, or is she way too good for Pete Campbell?

I was tickled and excited by the hotel suite scene in the season finale, and it really rang true for me. When in San Fran some years ago, I jumped ship from McCann-Erickson (oh, the Mad Men irony!) to work for a smaller entrepreneurial agency starting an SF office, and we actually worked out of a residential apartment suite. It was one of the few times I had a big grin on my face going to work every single day, from the sheer adventure of it. (Umm, we also had a 20th floor wrap-around view of San Francisco harbor from the GG Bridge to the Bay Bridge, which didn't hurt...)

Thanks for mentioning PFTA, Edward. The list of those who would rather bootstrap their own idea than go back to The Office or The Agency is endless. Highlighted in Lemonade alone: 1. Michelle Pfennighaus, who started findyourbalancehealth.com. 2. Bob Weeks, who now owns and operates redeyeroasters.com 3. Tom Van Daele, who created cardsofchange.com and runs his own agency, unknownlab.com 4. Kurtis Glade, who is making his own film about surf camps for kids for Cystic Fibrosis: http://www.vimeo.com/5649691 5. Hank Leber, who started agencynil.com 6. Todd Gallentine and Ronan Doyle, who became partners in relaunching grayandpartners.com 7. Lisa Hickey, who reinvented her advertising career into a social-media business, launching projects like http://www.goodmenbook.org/ 8. Jeanne Schad, who now owns http://internalrelations.com/ It goes on, and on, and on. And I hope it never stops. .-= Erik Proulx´s last blog ..The Person Who Did __________ =-.

I had the pleasure of working for Bill Cahan of Cahan & Associates in SF for 7 years and was 1 of 2 Partners. After 25 years, he decided to take a sabbatical and we let go 20 plus people. We started Emotive Brand on pure adrenalin, a methodology we had been dreaming of implementing and a team we believed in and trusted. The next day we were on the phone with lawyers and haven't skipped a beat and couldn't be happier. With the right business partner and a vision, you can make anything happen.

Half the time, I'm hoping to be fired so as to light the fire under my ass. Then again, I'm not as goodlooking as Draper nor as charismatic as Sterling. Two essential elements often overlooked.

I wasn't inspired to start a new agency but i was re-inspired about the agency that i am already a part of and how lucky I am to be in a small intimate and amazing group of creative people who are as passionate as Don and his cohorts.

The great entrepreneurs always seem to have 5-6 projects going on at once. Perhaps because starting projects is fun or because they know that even great ideas often fail to gain traction? If I might, I'd add something to your list of things you need to start something. You need friends. We have more ways to track how social capital is leveraged but I think the value of friends and co-dreamers has always been far above that of the apathetic banker. Best! .-= Seth Simonds´s last blog ..Unsustainable =-.