It was always going to take something special to encourage me to say goodbye to ThirtyThree. It was never going to be the promise of more money, better clients or even partnership, because I had them all there. But I started to get itchy feet. Why? During my decade there we had worked with some great clients, delivered some impressive work and picked up a hatful of awards along the way. Perhaps that was the problem. It was a little too safe. So what do you do in a situation like that? Well, the sensible thing. Talk to the boss.
The result was an arrangement that would be good for both of us. I’d have the freedom to set up my own business with the support of ThirtyThree as my first client. And ThirtyThree would retain my services on a part-time basis. Win, win. And so the adventure begins. With a laptop, a mobile phone, a desk in a shared workspace and an idea. A little one.
The idea is to tweak the big agency model. To offer clients a more agile and flexible way to work with the very best people around. I work with clients to design, develop and manage a client’s project or strategy, and call upon a wide network of trusted, talented friends to help me deliver it. An associate enabled delivery method. Something new for our industry.
And so I am going to be spending the next few months seeing if this idea has actually has legs. And I’ll be doing it not only with the support of ThirtyThree, but also the NatWest Entrepreneurial Spark programme. This is an enablement programme designed to help me develop my idea into a full formed, mature business of three years within 18 months. Exciting stuff. And exactly the support I need right now.
And so the adventure begins. Come on Ted. Allons-y.
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