Since Ogilvy let the cat out of the bag with a release to the New York Times I can talk about my upcoming departure from Global Strategies. Actually, I am still here until the end of May and will continue to be a shareholder.
My departure is an amicable one of my choosing. I needed to take a break from integrating into a large organization with a different belief system and flying 300,000 miles a year to dozens of countries spreading search wisdom and working with clients. Working 18 to 20 hours a day, as anyone running a company knows, will wear on you and I realized I needed a physical and mental break from pushing the search rock uphill at large companies.
I have not decided what I will do yet other than the wife’s required rest and relaxation period and the SEMPO Asia Roadshow in June. I do plan to write another book on global search marketing as well as this and other blogs. I will continue to speak at conferences and do seminars on how to leverage search marketing and enter overseas markets incorporating the bet practices described in Search Engine Marketing Inc. I am most looking forward to frequent SCUBA diving trips and underwater photography.
I would encourage anyone to take stock of their life and make sure what you are doing is true to your heart and goals. I created GSI nine years ago after leaving another agency. I was frustrated at the lack of foresight they had and saw a huge opportunity in the marketplace that turned out to be right. I set specific goals to achieve and I hit most of them so I can leave with a sense of accomplishment.
Selling to Ogilvy was the perfect option for GSI since it gave us infrastructure and a global footprint that would have been cost prohibitive on our own. While it has been challenging at times it has also been a growth expereince for me professionally.
I will truly and deeply miss being part of GSI, which I still believe is one of the best search consultancies in the world. I do believe they will go on to great things under Jeremy Sanchez’s leadership.
I also want to thank my team at GSI for supporting my decision while being understandably pissed and disappointed. You guys rock and I am extremely proud of working with you and calling you my team and friends. I will truely miss my role as leader of a team of “brilliant strategists”
Our clients, especially the IBM team, I have worked with for the past 9 years, you guys have been a nightmare to work with but I have learned so much – actually a 600+ page book that was parlayed into a multimillion dollar search marketing company sold for millions. We turned client organizational challenges into opportunities and how “not to do it guides” and I will always be greatful for the opportunity to work for worldclass brands like IBM, Intel, P&G, Adobe, Nestle, Cisco and great people at these organizations. Sincerely, it has been a pleasure to work with you and grow with you.
Special thanks to Mike Moran who gave GSI a shot many years ago and taught me how to navigate the waters of IBM – and helped write the book that led to the company that led to my financial ability to walk away from it all. Thank you to Todd Watson who was a taskmaster but made sure we got the job done and did more for search evangelizing at IBM than anything I could have ever done. Lee Moore who will continue to drive organic implementation across the board and be my voice in the IBM community.
Thank you to everyone who helped GSI grow and prosper and give me encouragement and support over the years.
Please reach out with ideas for a new journey and speaking opportunities 😉