Moving On

TL;DR: September 1 will be my last day working at Portent. I am not retiring.

Now for the soulful post.

It’s been a great ride. Keep reading for three reasons that, while I’m making a change, I’m not retiring:

Why Now?

This move has been in the works for a while. Chad Kearns and I have worked together for over three years. He now leads Portent and runs the agency far better than I ever could. Around him is an exceptional leadership team: Katie McKenna, Kirsten Pickworth, and Michael Wiegand. They’re surrounded by specialists including 19-year veterans like Tracy Beach (Tracy, you think you can hide, but you can’t)—folks who know the business inside and out.

I’ll miss being here. It’s been my thing for 25 years, which is part of why it’s time for me to make some changes. Chad and his team have this place handled. I wouldn’t be comfortable moving on unless they did.

They trundle me out for pitches and the occasional speaking gig, then gingerly return me to my office, where I sit, looking terribly important. It’s a sweet gig, but I’m sucking up serious P&L dollars and Diet Coke while my butt slowly shapes itself to my chair.

So, it’s a great time to try something different that does not include retiring because my wife will either leave me or wall me in ala Edgar Allan Poe if I’m home 24/7. That’s Reason I Am Not Retiring #1.

Thank You!

I’ve heard lots of kind words and thank-yous. But I’m the one who should say “thank you.”

I cannot say it enough: Thank you to my whole team, to every client who’s supported us (or fired us, as long as you paid your bill and weren’t a total git about it). Thank you to everyone who’s helped me stay sane minimally crazy. Thank you to everyone who’s shown so much class, frankness and support for 25 years as I’ve stumbled around, crashed into things, barked my metaphorical shins, stomped on people, and made mistakes carrying out the easiest, most straightforward aspects of leadership.

Thank you to Clearlink, for taking a chance on us and working towards a new model for marketing services. Thanks in particular to Phil Hansen and Ted Roxbury, who made the deal happen.

Your investment has helped us grow. Your time and collaboration have helped us take on a new kind of client, and I’m excited to see the continued evolution of Portent and Clearlink. We’ve developed as a company, and this is one reason I’m comfortable moving on. It’s been a pleasure.

Thank you to everyone who supports me in my work after 9/1. Reason I’m Not Retiring #2: I’m not retiring because if I did my head would probably explode, showering everyone with nasty bits.

What’s Next?

I’m working full-time at Portent until 9/1/2019. At that point, I’ll leave, cardboard box of belongings in hand.

After that, I’ll stay in marketing, and stay connected to Portent.

• I’ll be at Portent a couple of times a month, running training and sponging off the Diet Coke machine
• I’ll continue writing, speaking, and working as a marketer

Until 9/1, though, saying more would distract me from my current job. As my official departure date approaches, I’ll share details. Nothing surprising, though. Don’t get all excited.

Which brings me to reason #3 I’m Not Retiring: I’d have to be a complete idiot to do something so stupid. I enjoy the work and, most important, working with all of you.

Thanks for listening.

Got questions?

[email protected]
@ianlurie (note the change – no longer @portentint)
On Linkedin

End of message.