Retirement often equates with remembrance, as I reflect thoughtfully back on the past. As the Virginia Slims advertising slogan toted, “You’ve come a long way, baby.” The campaign was designed by the famous advertising agency Leo Burnett, and tied into the women’s movement of the late 60’s. Today, the City of Portland elected their first black, female City Council member, a major step in both the advancement of women and people of color. In 1964, Bob Dylan released “The Times They Are A-Changin'” and now they are really changing fast, considering that the majority of Portland City Council members are now female, in what was once a male-dominated world. By the same token, in this 53-year time-span I personally have gone from High School to the end of my career. Back in the mid-sixties, I honestly did have aspirations of being in the advertising business, but had no idea that it would be media-related. I was drawn to jingles and commercials, and could remember every word of the Crest toothpaste ads (we remain loyal to Crest), political campaign parody songs for Birch Bayh, and “See the USA in your Chevrolet.” I saw my teenage self creating these marketing ideas, but never once thought about a career in selling or managing them.

It’s funny how this childhood fascination eventually grew into a livelihood, with a college degree in Marketing and a professor named Burnett (not Leo) who taught an advertising class. It was the first time I ever had an instructor that actually had his foot in the business world through running his own advertising agency. Too many times I had to agree with George Bernard Shaw who wrote: “He who can does; he who cannot, teaches.” As a result of Mr. Burnett’s influence, I began to see myself working for an advertising agency, but soon afterwards a friend introduced me to the radio business, where I could design and sell campaigns for small businesses. It was close enough to give it a shot, especially after testing the water with a similar role in newspaper. Radio seemed to have a little more flair, and more opportunities for creativity.

That first experience with radio soon led me to a small advertising agency position. I actually took a cut in pay thinking this was more in line with my college degree. Instead, I found it more structured with less potential, and went back to radio with the knowledge that I was better than I thought at selling. In the process, I saw the advertising business from both sides of the desk, had my first female boss, and developed greater confidence in my skills. This decision led me to a life of following the money, constantly moving-up in market size, and ultimately into television. I also became restless about “just” being a salesperson and began to evolve into management roles.  I achieved the peak of my career in running television stations, once again moving markets to improve status and benefits. The one good move that I made was staying with the same company for 20 years and earning a lifetime retirement pension. However, when that company sold the station I was managing, the new company terminated my contract. It was then just a matter of buying time until retirement, that I filled with several sales positions.

What was for most of my career a constant uphill path of achievement suddenly went into a tailspin. I began to feel like a failure, even though I accomplished award-winning sales at my last two media companies.  I went back to my roots in radio and newspaper, while my wife continued to excel in her television management roles. Her career took us to two new markets and three different companies in Austin and Portland, so the media business continues to be volatile by nature. At this point, as I look back in the rear view mirror, I’m relieved to finally be retired. My last two positions were perhaps a fateful transition into this stage of my life. My responsibilities to others were diminished and my focus was strictly selfish, so “just” selling can be very lucrative and less taxing. It was like pulling the parachute in drag racing, allowing me to gradually slow down in life. 

Writing this blog has become an important psychological transition from extreme job-related pressure to solitude and reflection. I did my first post, “Practicing for Retirement” just after my 65th birthday and 3 months before retirement. I set everything up through Go Daddy and Word Press to allow me an outlet in which to express my moods, feelings, poems, opinions, experiences, and overall silliness. As I’ve stated many times, regardless of if anyone reads it, it’s important personal therapy for a guy that used to be a community and business leader. The second post, Baseball Notes of this the 729th, was done just before I cleaned out my office. It was simply to document a few facts about the sport that fascinates me most, but not necessarily my favorite. I like the history of baseball more than the game itself, and my office decor where I now write reflects some of those historical moments. It wasn’t until the third week of January, quickly approaching 2  years ago, when this became a daily habit of expression, as I remain on track with my post-a-day goal.  Have you looked in the rear view mirror lately?