Today on the podcast, I get to talk to one of the mentors who helped me discover my passion for great creative. John Hayes. John was the GM of Adams Outdoor Advertising when I met him for the first time. The year was 1999 and I was ready for a new challenge. Shortly after that meeting, he offered me an art director position, and I eagerly accepted.
Back then, John was restructuring Adams to go all in by using the power of creativity and great design to re-imagine Adams Outdoor as a branding tool, not merely a company that sells ad space on the side of the road. I still remember the day he shared his new vision for the company, and while I didn’t know it at the time, I was about to experience a paradigm shift in how I would view advertising, design, and creativity for the rest of my life.
John and I talked about the genesis of that idea and how everything started to fall into place once he found the right mix of talented people he believed could help deliver the results he was hoping for.
We also talk about his creative leadership, the importance of good messaging, and what it means to be a servant leader. John also shares his approach to helping clients see the big picture by getting them to understand why not taking a risk is actually the biggest risk of all.
Even though I only worked at Adams for two years under John’s leadership, his lessons and guidance have stayed with me throughout my career. These days, John is enjoying his retirement after a long career in sales, marketing and advertising. I’m grateful I met John when I did. Our lives intersected at a point where we both needed each other’s unique talents. Like any great outdoor campaign, John’s lessons were simple to comprehend, and his messages had a lasting impact.
Here is my AdYack with John Hayes.
Thank you to our sponsor, ASR media.
