• How underdogs become champions
• “I’ve passed on a lot of business
(TRT is 21:13 )
An an 18-point underdog, the 1969 New York Jets went on to win the Super Bowl that year. The so-called Hitless Wonders, with the worst batting average in the American League, the underdog Chicago White Sox went on to win the 1906 World Series. In politics, an underdog from a small state, Joe Biden went on to win the Democratic nomination and then the presidential race in 2020.
There’s a lot to be said for being the underdog.
Mike Sullivan more than agrees. He’s president and CEO of the advertising agency Loomis and he’s made a career out of turning underdog businessess into champions.
He tells us more in this edition of Bizgnus Interviews.
In growing his business over the past 30-plus years, Mr. Sullivan says sticking to his beliefs has resulted in a great team that also subscribes to the same ideas, but has also resulted in losing some business.
“I’ve passed on a lot of business,” he says. “I try not to get into relationship with clients that don’t share our values -- or at least enough of our values.”
He is candid about the result. “I’ve passed on all sorts of opportunities frankly that would have accelerated the revenue growth of the organization dramatically but would have ruined the culture.”
Mr. Sullivan is co-author of the book, “The Voice of the Underdog: How Challenger Brands Create Distinction by Thinking Culture First,”). (BizComPress, August 2020. Mr. Sullivan’s co-author, Michael Tuggle, is an award-winning creative director and writer with more than 25 years in the ad world
For more information: theloomisagency.com