Work Hard
Hey folks,
Generation after generation of Americans have valued hard work. It’s in our collective ethos. The “Puritan work ethic,” for example. Immigrants from all over the world come to America and work hard to earn the American Dream. The numbers are there; we work harder than other industrialized nations (34.4 hours per week), we take less vacations, and as a result, we built the world’s largest economy. All of the life lessons and motivational posters and clever quotes seem to have made their way to a younger generation of Americans. Despite the fact that Millennials have been much maligned, they have been “the first to grow up with smartphones in their hands, and are often stereotyped as lazy and entitled, workplace experts say workaholics are common among 19-to-35-year-olds, perhaps more so than among older members of Generation X and Baby Boomers,” according to a new study from Project Time Off. #Boom
I’ve known this for quite some time, because half of the Madison+Main-iacs are Millennials. And everyone here worked hard all week. It’s Friday, we’ve worked hard, now it’s time to play hard.
Monday, 1.23.17 – #28 – Give the Other Person a Fine Reputation to Live Up To
In addition to their day jobs, Marketing & Partnerships Coordinator Sophie Fisher, Client Services Coordinator Matt Ong, and Account Executive Meredith Mason have just registered for the Dale Carnegie course. They will be spending the next eight weeks learning effective communication and leadership skills at Dale Carnegie Virginia‘s Bayberry Court training facility. I send all of my team members there, and you should too. #TrustMe
Tuesday, 1.24.17 – Happy Anniversary
On Tuesday, I had a chance to reconnect with Director of Retail Sales Erin Brooks and Account Executive John Corbett from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. We enjoyed hearing about the new things happening at BH Media.
We have a tradition at Madison+Main, where we buy lunch for the entire team to celebrate work anniversaries. On Tuesday, we gathered to barbecue our illustrious Associate Creative Director Art Webb, by ordering from our favorite BBQ joint, Alamo. This newsletter is the last time you will see the word “Associate” in front Art’s title, as he has been promoted to Madison+Main’s Creative Director. Please take a moment to congratulate Art with a quick note: artw@madisonmain.com
Wednesday, 1.25.17 –Lights, Camera, Home Show!
On Wednesday, Communications Manager Kent Brockwell and Marketplace Events group manager Cristian Moore were up bright and early to hit the local TV circuit promoting this weekend’s Virginia Home Show. They started the chilly morning chatting with Antoinette Essa at WTVR CBS6 and then headed over to WRIC ABC8 for a live segment with Kerri O’Brien on the noon news program.

Meanwhile, Sophie and I had the pleasure of working with Katherine Whitney of Richmond-based management consulting firm Warren Whitney. We were working offsite to help two very engaged nonprofit organizations who are about to join forces. More news on this exciting partnership to come. #StayTuned
Thursday, 1.26.17 – Work Hard, Play Hard
On Thursday, we sent Matt to Thailand for a vacation. Being a hardworking millennial, we decided he should have a little R&R.
Senior Account Manager Kaitlin Riddle and I enjoyed working with the talented team at Broadscope Thursday and I was incredibly impressed with the voiceover talent we hired for the video we are making for the Lightning Protection Institute. #OneTakeDave
The Hard Shell in Midlothian is a great place to cap off a long day, especially when you’re surrounded by friendly folks. On Thursday night, Madison+Main VP Kara Forbis and I met with Cabell and Taryn Singleton, our clients from Sycamore Vet Hospital, and presented their new logo and brand identity system to their entire team. Yes, bourbon was involved, and everyone seemed happy. #RavingFans

Friday, 1.27.17 – Go Lancers! Go Rams!
Tonight, my two favorite basketball teams play. My son Jack‘s team, the Manchester JV Lancers square off against the Midlothian High School Trojans at 5:45 p.m., and my beloved VCU Rams host Dayton tonight at 9 p.m. at the Siegel Center. But before that, I have five phone calls, four meetings, one proposal, and two copywriting jobs.
…and many of us will be working all weekend at Meadow Event Park, site of the Virginia Home Show. It’s going to be an amazing event, and I hope to see you there. Tickets? I have a few left, so if you reply back to this emailand let me know you’d like to attend the show for free, I will leave a couple of tickets at will call for you.
“Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.”
– Coach Taras Brown (popularized by NBA All-Star Kevin Durant)