15th AnniversaryMarketing

1. The future is more exciting than the past (but the past has some great stories)

By | July 30, 2018

Fifteen years. So much has changed. In 2003, I had three children under five and my wife was pregnant with our fourth. My business partnership ended very abruptly and I traded the liability my business partner had not fully disclosed for a non-compete and a few months of money in the bank — but no job.

In hindsight, I can’t believe I started a business – I give most of the credit to my very brave wife who thought I had the skills to run my own business. Three days before I was to announce I was leaving the agency, an important client called and said their president wasn’t happy about the creative direction and she wanted me back on the account. Talk about awkward. This forced my old partner and I to negotiate working together so he would not lose an important client. Spire2 was born!

Fifteen years later, I have two kids in college, two in high school and added a fifth child to our family. My faithful wife continues to support me through all the ups and downs, and Spire2 is still around. The marketing landscape has experienced more change in the last fifteen years than I could possibly fathom in 2003. Spire2 began with a focus on helping clients navigate the changes; and I believe this expertise is why Spire2 is still around. I love staying ahead and applying what I see coming down the road to help clients market smarter.

Spire2 began with a focus on helping clients navigate the changes, and I believe this expertise is why Spire2 is still around.

Not to say there have been times I would have been happy to say goodbye to Spire2. Like the time in the wake of the recession that started in 2007, when I found myself paying employees and not myself. Things were bleak and I forced myself to a commitment: I would let a long-time employee go unless I got new business before the end of the month. I connected with a prospect on the 30th and they signed my proposal on the 31st!

Celebrating Fifteen Years

I am happy to say I am still excited about Spire2, and I have some big ideas to shake things up. I thought I would honor the fifteen-year milestone by sharing fifteen things I have learned along the way about business and marketing. I will share one each week leading up to Thanksgiving. You have just swallowed the first, so hang on and enjoy the journey.

Celebrating 15 years

Jeffery James
Jeffery James
Jeffery is the Creative Director and Principal of Spire2. He brings marketing expertise from a variety of industries. He excels at understanding clients' corporate objectives, translating them into brand positioning and executing marketing materials that exceed expectations.