Finally: Marketing

My first experiences in marketing, as I mentioned in one of my previous posts, were more than 15 years ago. I was writing PR articles, creating visuals, there were also a lot of political campaigns, NGO activities. However, an official start has happened in London Public Relations School. That was my chance to frame some of my skills and talents.

Second big moment was an event in Zrenjanin, organized by Vladimir Kova? who definitely “placed a seed” at the beginning of my marketing story. I liked people there, topics, what they were talking about, even what was bothering them.???

Somewhere, at the same time, I discovered a TV show called “MadMen”.?

Is anybody going to say: “No way, is that the reason why you founded an agency?”

It wasn't just that.

My first impression about Don Draper and the crew was just “not too bad”. My brother, Ivan Pataki, closed my attention to details, “just” pointing his finger. And then, that “trip” happened, like when I was just a kid watching trailer “Return of the Jedi”, imagining myself in a world, fighting against dark side and the same feeling when I watched a movie about Michael Jordan for the twentieth time, running outside and playing basketball few hours a day, over and over, without losing any game.?

The same passion that was leading me through comic books, being a DJ, running my idea to rock, working on my first “serious” job and responsibility that I've had working in Club Reset with guests, dealing with their expectations.?

I loved everything about the TV show “MadMen”. And then I've started to dream and to look for my place in the marketing agency Homepage.

And I've found one.?

Finally - I was in a marketing agency, having the impatient desire to show what I've got. However, my position in the agency wasn't providing me a chance to be creative.?

Most of the time I was working with Miloje Sekuli?, and if Vladimir Je?i? is responsible?for 80% of creating my personal aproach in business, the rest belongs to Miloje.?

Patience and the amount of kindness, knowledge, contacts and? advice that he was sharing were incredible. If we were in Belgrade, walking, having meetings in a few different locations, it would've? happened that people were coming towards us to say hi or shouting out from across the street… I've had a feeling that I was hanging out with a rock star.

I badly wanted to work in the creative part of an agency, but people from Homepage that were deciding, wanted me to be focused on NGO projects. It wasn't going further and I didn't want this.?

Anyway, in that period of time there was a moment when I was talking to Miloje on topics like: Who does he know? Which door is open to him? And, in one moment I said: “Wait. I MAYBE have a brilliant idea!”

Idea was rewarded, and more than half of the members of the National Assembly, Republic of Serbia, were wearing T-shirts with the logo of the company and story that was designed by the Homepage crew, initiated by my, apparently, good idea.?

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I personally delivered T-shirts to the National Assembly. All 250 of them. I attended the first Facebook LIVE of Assembly, Republic of Serbia.

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As Miloje was no longer with us, it hit me real hard. Especially because our last texting with each other was almost like a fight. Everyone who knew him also knew that it wasn't easy to get in a fight with him, but then I thought that somebody else was behind his words.

I've already had my own agency. I am deeply sorry that I didn't have a chance to teach him something from my own experience. I think it could have helped…

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Even though we stopped working together, the Homepage crew invited me… wait for it- to play music at the Vivaldi forum in Mokrogorska school of marketing, the same year they were co-selectors. Everything was in a Rock`n`Roll manner.?

Having in mind that they knew me quite well, they were sure that I would fit in. And there, in Me?avnik, I definitely decided that I will have my own agency. If only circumstances led me to the world of marketing and communication (at the beginning of this century), one event in my hometown initiated start that Peggy, Don, Roger and the crew totally boosted, listening to Lazar Dzamic and Dusan Vulovic I just said: “Ok, this is it!”

This is a moment when I should say: “Thank you Milka Negrovi? and Mihaela Turner!”

The last “push” was a comment of Misa Lukic , in his previous office, where I was in a situation to comment on a PR koncept that was created by an eminent agency. My proposals and suggestions were very welcome there.?

That was it!

Name of the agency had to have something to do with a “MadMan”. Hence there is a RETRO in the name Retro Digital Agency

I haven't told you this yet: for the last few years my ringtone has been a theme from a “MadMen”.

SEE ALSO:

4. Episode: Club RESET

3. First "Serious" Job

2. DJ Adventure

1. The Beginning or the first entrepreneurial story