It's not who you know... actually it is.

In 8th grade I ran for president of the student council, and while I didn't win, or even come close, I learned the value of relationships. And I drafted a pretty amazing tagline for my fledgling personal brand which was:

FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE,

VOTE FOR DIMMER!

Throughout my career I made it a point to seek out, meet and foster relationships with colleagues, clients, and new friends.

After 8 full-time agency jobs throughout the country, countless freelance engagements, I finally found myself with an opportunity to do what I'd always dreamed of, starting something of my own, but with who?

How about the guy who grew up 15 minutes from me, but that I never knew at that time?How about the guy that approached me at my alma mater when I was speaking to new grads? How about the guy who quickly became my friend after landing an internship at JWT while I was there? How about the guy whose work ethic and creative ability captured my attention early on? How about the guy that ended up my roommate for a couple years, and co-worker at an agency in San Diego? How about the guy who became a lifelong best friend? How about it?

It was a perfect fit. David and I had talked about the 'what ifs' of starting something. He'd seen me dabble in this world before when I started a little shop called The Uprising way back in 2007. It failed miserably - kind of like my presidential run - but I learned a few things and that entrepreneurial spirit was still burning in me. And now I'd found someone who shared that same flame.

It took us 13 years to pull the trigger, and the ties we had made over the past decade plus had begun to pay off. Colleagues had become clients, and past clients had become clients as well, which is not only fun but speaks volumes to the value of those connections. Troup had gathered up business for me to make the jump, but now the hard part.

Quitting the day job.

I had to do it. And it was going to be tough. I was breaking up with not only a friend of 18 years, but my full-time writing partner I'd had for the last 5 years, Jayson Szott.

Not only was the loss of the day-to-day camaraderie hard, but walking away from the steady paycheck and benefit package for a risky leap into self employment during a time of global economic uncertainty was paralyzing.

But fear kills too many good ideas, and I wasn't about to let it kill this one.

So as I celebrate the 1 year anniversary of my of independence today, and Troup's first year in business, I invite you to reach out. Because you never know what can happen in a year.