A Message From Jeff
Dear Friends,

Positive feedback is always a great way to start a new year! And that’s just what we received on our 4th Quarter three-part series, “Building and Managing Your Personal Brand." If you have not done so, I encourage you to develop your Personal Brand Plan for 2008. Go here for exercises and worksheets that will help.

This month’s article, “Agency Consolidation: Is a Single, Integrated Agency the Future Agency Model?" offers strong food for thought for all agency and marketing services professionals who are navigating the rapid changes taking place due to client-driven agency consolidations and integration efforts.

The ASK OUR COACH section addresses an issue we all deal with at one point or another: setting boundaries that support a sustainable work-life balance.

Finally, we invite you to join us at three upcoming conferences. I will be presenting at one of the events.

All the best wishes for a Happy New Year and continued success in 2008!

Jeff Gundersen, CEO
Executive Connections, LLC
jgundersen@executiveconnects.com
941-323-8300
Executive Search, Coaching & Consulting
http://www.executiveconnects.com

Agency Consolidation: Is a Single, Integrated Agency the Future Agency Model?

The biggest agency news in December 2007 was probably Dell's global assignment of the integrated account to WPP Group (a $150 million+ annual income award). In commenting on Martin Sorrell's role in the pitch, and the impact of the holding company's involvement, Casey Jones, Dell's VP Global Marketing, said, "The depth of his [Martin's] understanding and involvement in the operations worked to WPP's advantage. We asked for a commitment to innovate with us. Martin has the personal gravitas to assure that happens."

One requirement of this global account win is that WPP has agreed to build a 1,000-person agency to service Dell’s business, including all major disciplines. This is a continuing trend we are seeing... Read full article.

ASK OUR COACH
"Doing It All" and the Fast Track

As part of our commitment to provide assistance and support to executives wanting to further their professional and personal brand, we have created the ASK OUR COACH email service where you can get confidential answers to your career questions. What's on your mind? Don't hesitate to ASK OUR COACH.

Here is our answer to a question we received last month:

Q: I am a Global Account Director working for a major NYC agency. I love the client and category I work in, and have enjoyed my rapid career progression over the past 12 years. However, my ability to manage my work-life balance has deteriorated. I now have two young children, I travel 40% of the time (mostly abroad, which means these are long trips), and my husband has a demanding career. So while I have live-in help, it is a challenge for us to find the time we need for each other and for our role as parents. Plus, managing a global business, I find myself answering e-mails daily until 1 a.m. and constantly being available for conference calls between 7-9 a.m. What could I do to address these imbalances?

A: As a high achiever, who has been on the "fast track" of promotions and personal development, you could definitely use some support. Seems like your work load has increased and your personal life tasks have increased, but you are still operating using an "old" system. First, congratulate yourself that you are not in total burnout--YET! And acknowledge yourself for being self-aware enough to know you need help to avoid crashing. Begin to make the necessary changes by making a new contract with yourself. How about establishing some new boundaries as a start?

Simply put, boundaries are the lines in the sand that you and other people may not cross, no matter what. Start by defining your #1 boundary: What is acceptable behavior and what is not? (Hint: answering emails at 1 a.m.?) A boundary statement would look something like this: I will leave the office--and leave my work at the office--every day at 5 p.m. (since I start at 7 a.m.). You have to be bold in what you want and what you don't want in your life. People will not like it in the beginning because there is change, but they will respect you. You may even become a role model, helping them alter their bad habits, as well.

Also, ask yourself, "Where am I not saying 'No' or over-scheduling myself in a way that creates conflict with having a normal work-life balance?" What does work-life balance look like for you? You can change these things immediately (for the better) on your own and you can empower your executive assistant with guidelines that keep you from being scheduled at times that are a conflict with your personal life. You can also set limits personally on how late each evening you will answer or check e-mails and how early in the morning you will be available for conference calls. These are part of the boundaries you need to establish for yourself so you do not end up resenting the way your job infringes on your personal life (which it is now).

Next, in terms of the global travel, you are obviously well-established and well-respected within your agency and by your client. One of the questions you need to answer for yourself is, "Who else can I send in my place to attend various global client meetings, so that I can reduce my percentage of travel from 40% to 20-25%?"

Finally, even assuming you can make some of these changes, a global account director position in a top-tier agency may no longer be the ideal career fit as it was 10 years ago before you were married with young children. At this stage, after 12 years with the same agency, it is definitely time for some personal brand planning. If you could work anywhere else, even possibly on the client side, what other career path options would be inspiring to you at the present time?

We highly recommend you set up a support structure for exploring new career opportunities. This might include: working confidentially with an executive coach, enrolling key friends and colleagues to assist you in making new introductions, and updating your resume and connecting with relevant search firm contacts. Make a commitment to a process of evaluating your personal brand and your career goals, including exploring other career options outside of your current agency career path.

Good luck and keep us posted on how you are doing in (1) making changes in establishing boundaries and (2) setting up a support structure for evaluating new career path opportunities.

Connect with EC at These Conferences

DMA Leaders' Forum 2008 (by invitation only)
Date: February 25-27, 2008
Location: The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club, Aventura, FL
Phone: 212.790.1500
Overview: Leaders' Forum 2008 -- "Planning Imperatives for Today's Marketing Opportunities and Challenges"

Leaders' Forum is a three-day, high-level experience in which you will network with your peers: presidents, CEOs, COOs and senior executives from the direct marketing community at the elegant Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort in the beautiful Miami area.

* * * * *

13th Annual Best Practices in Retail Financial Services Symposium
“Securing Your Future In a New Era"
Date: March 9-11, 2008
Location: Sawgrass Marriott Resort, Ponte Vedra, FL
Phone: 800-803-3424 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              800-803-3424      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or 212-803-6093

The 13th Annual Best Practices in Retail Financial Services Symposium is the industry's defining event. This forum is critical at the senior level to continually raise the bar for the industry and facilitate informed discussion among those leading it. CEOs from major financial institutions will kick off all three days of THE leading banking conference. Mark your calendar and make sure not to miss Retail '08!

* * * * *

DMA 32nd Annual Financial Services Conference
Date: March 16-18, 2008
Location: Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Phone: 212.790.1500
Registration: DMA Member $1,199 / Non-Member $1,299

The 32nd Annual DMA Financial Services Conference will provide leading direct marketing strategies for professionals in the insurance, banking and other financial services industries. Exchange ideas with fellow marketers and discover best practices from industry experts, then head back to the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort to enjoy the luxurious amenities this oceanfront location has to offer.

Be sure to make it to Jeff's presentation at DMA!
"What Legislation Do You Want to Affect and How?: Data Security Legislation"
Speaker: Jeff Gundersen, Chief Executive Officer, Executive Connections, LLC
Tuesday, March 18, from 7:15-8:15 a.m.