n1969, when I had been at BBDO for seven years, an investor offered to back me in the start-up of my own agency. It was a crazy, cocky thing to do because I didn't have a name in the industry or a handful of clients in my pocket who would follow me wherever I went. I hired a receptionist named Sally Hastings and rented a modest space on Fifth Avenue where she and I spent many weeks wondering when my first client would appear. It was 1969, the summer the New York Mets were in the middle of a hot National League pennant race, their first. The Mets played a lot of afternoon games back then at Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens. And that's how I spent most afternoons - at Met games. I'd tell Sally, "If anyone calls, just say I'm out pitching the Flushing National Bank."

This went on for months. Finally, I went to my backers and said, "Listen, guys. I don't think this is working out." But they had more confidence in me. "Don't worry, it's gonna happen," they said.... more