10 years of FutureKings

My team asked me to conclude our 10 year celebration with my founder’s story. 

So this is for all you founders or would-be-founders out there.

And for the people that have helped FK get to where it is today.

I hope you find it interesting and insightful.

As luck would have it, the questions I get asked the most often fit neatly into one of our workshop structures from our Insights phase…

• What (is it like to run an agency?)
• Why (do you do it?)
• How (does it make you feel?)

In 10 years of doing these sessions, we’ve never had the same answer twice.

As I considered my answers, I too never landed on the same answer twice.

But if I had to sum this all up in 3 words, with a short explanation for each? Then I think this is it…

What is it like to run an agency?

It is PERMANENT. 

There is no switching off. You are always on.

There is no leaving the job at the door.

There is always something.

I have tried everything over the last decade, but then I realised that’s the wrong way to think.

When I am with my family, or playing rugby, or cricket, I am in that moment. But FK is there at every step, every minute of every day.

If you don’t want that, then this life isn’t for you.

The key is to accept it will always be there.

Why do I do it?

Firstly, my Father did it. And for whatever reason, I always wanted to do the same.

Secondly, and my preferred reason; the PEOPLE.

I have loved building our team, and I love meeting new people; founders, leaders, optimists.

I love the ambition and energy of brand building, campaign creation and helping clients deliver brands in a digital world.

I love the work life balance being an agency founder enables me and my team to have.

Time with family and friends beats everything.  

How does it make you feel?

PROUD. 

Of the team, the work, the results, the relationships.

Yes there are factors beyond your control, so many macro and micro issues you can’t affect.

Yes you need limitless optimism, and a strong sense of realism.

For the latter I have a board that advises me and a team that I trust. The former is deeply engrained. And it needs to be.

Looking back there has without doubt been less sorrow than joy.

On reflection, those three words are a very accurate answer to the WhatWhyHow questions, and as if to prove our own process by evolving this into one line of crucial advice, it would be to take pride in your people.