How I got fired four times and still made it to The White House.

In the ad biz they say you can't be any good if you haven't been fired. Well, I'm obviously very good.

Ad people do get canned more than most -- it's an industry thing. Nevertheless, four times is a lot and each was a painful experience casting mounting doubts about my talent and career. Unbeknownst to me at the time those firings set me on course that led to my co-founding an award-winning Madison Avenue ad agency and being honored at The White House. But after firing number three things weren't looking good. No one, and I mean no one, would talk to me. Even the headhunters wouldn't return my calls. Not able to get any interviews with those ad agencies I knew, I began going through the phonebook calling those I didn't. One day I made 106 calls and got 104 rejections.

One of those calls got me a meeting with an agency exec who said he was extremely impressed with my work. Though I'd gotten that positive response quite a bit -- when I was actually able to get people to see my work -- I'd been around long enough to be wary of flattering words and promises to call when something came up. So, when weeks turned into months, and the call never came, I wasn't surprised.

When the phone rang two years later, and it was the guy calling about a possible project, I couldn't believe it. That call led to a meeting, which led to a collaboration, which resulted in some of the most exciting, successful work I'd ever done. Up to that point my career had been a struggle to keep a job, and now I was part of an exciting campaign (Kenneth Cole) that was winning awards, attracting press and building a buzz. It also happened to attract a business guy who was convinced that he and I should team up and start an agency. Intrigued, but not convinced, we began collaborating and within a year had a small shop that began winning business and awards. Who knew.

It was during this time that I created one of my best ads ever - an anti-child abuse ad that got my partner very excited. Determined to find an organization to run it we managed to get a meeting with people at the National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse who just happened to be planning a visit to New York from Chicago. It was a lucky break since, without a face-to-face meeting, our chances of selling our ad were slim to none. When our big moment came, and we revealed our ad, the NCPCA folks could not have been less excited. They felt it was too controversial. However, they were excited enough about us to give us a great project: a great national TV assignment! I'm proud to say that the campaign we eventually created contributed to a 57% increase in hotline calls, won some major awards, and got great press.

It was shortly thereafter that I received a curious letter with the words, THE WHITE HOUSE as the return address. Considering the many creative job seekers who were now vying for my attention, I assumed it was yet another gimmicky attempt to do that. To my amazement it turned out to be, in fact, a real invitation, The invite was for a White House gala honoring those select few whose public service contributions had "made a positive difference." That White House experience was something I'll never forget.

It's also a story I don't mind sharing. Because if someone had told me that after being fired four times I'd have my own award-winning, Madison Avenue ad agency and be honored at The White House, I'd have said they were crazy.

I've heard it said that hard things get put in our way, not to stop us, but to call out our courage and strength. Though I'm not sure how much courage and strength I have, I've always tried to keep up my hopes. Perhaps this story will help you do the same.