TEST - Your Grey Matters

The Stories

These are some of the stories of people turning 55 in our ageist society. Some are great, some are awful. All of them have a lesson.

Our goal: as Americans enjoy the fruits of all the improvements in health, quality of living and education, let's make sure that they can continue to enjoy them usefully for as long as they want.

David Bell - Advertising

David Bell - The Over-achiever

David Bell is a true over-achiever and probably the sharpest man you've ever met in advertising. As CEO of Bozell, he sold it to True North, where he also became CEO. Then he sold True North to IPG, where he also became CEO of one of its core divisions. A consummate "people person", he understands how to allow his team to shine. We asked him a few questions.

Most extraordinary job? Bozell. No doubt. A handful of us managed to build an international powerhouse from a fairly small start. We all worked 24/7, had extraordinary clients and managed to let loose an extraordinary group of people. Your take on the industry today? Mixed. I love the increasing precision with which we can deliver a message to the right person at the right time. I don't love that we have lost the power to create "the big idea". What keeps you busy? My coaching business --very focused on fine tuning executives to get them to deliver more. My charity work. And, the softer side of me, I took watercolors about 5 years ago. I love watercolors... there is no room for mistake. A watercolor demands flawless execution. Advice for those turning mid-40? You need to invest in yourself. You need to take time to keep up to date on all the technology affecting your business and on the technology that will allow you to improve continuously. You need to invest money in learning. You need to invest effort in learning.

Ed Papazian - Media

Ed Papazian - Media Dynamo

Ed Papazian is an absolute icon in the world of advertising and, more specifically, in media. In contrast to just about everyone in the business, he left a cushy corporate job as media director at famed BBDO to become an entrepreneur and run his own company "Media Dynamics". He is not known for weak opinions.

Your most extraordinary achievement is obvious. Yes, I created Media Dynamics in 1982 and in spite of the seismic changes that have radically changed the media industry in these 40 years, here we are. But... your second most extraordinary? Ha! I volunteer at my local school to teach math to high-school kids. STEM disciplines are the only ones which can improve the world. They teach people to be rigorous and objective. Your take on the industry today? I think many have taken the easy way out. Because digital can be measured more easily than, say, broadcast, they have poured time, money and energy into it. But many traditional media are still hugely powerful. Except, that because they are difficult to measure, the industry has given up. If you were starting again? I'd do the same thing: open up my own company. I would not abandon "traditional" media, though. It is still a $40 billion business. Advice for those turning mid-40? Ugh. People in their late 20's and early 30's see you closer to 80 than to 30 (laughs) so, either have a very cushy job or start your own business 5 years ago. Keep abreast of changes 100% of the time. Take 1 hour a day and just read up on new technologies, learn the buzzwords, use them aggressively. Get one or two clients who believe in you and allow you to try out new ideas so you are "in the game". Your softer side? I just bought a 2019 BMW R120 road bike. Does 0-60 in 3.5. I love it.