On August 27, 1971, some friends got together and decided to start an advertising agency. They wanted to stay together, stay in Austin and do something big. Forty years later, we are GSD&M.Sounds easy enough, right? No matter what age you are, at some point in time, you’ve had a fleeting thought of, “Man, it would be great if I could do that for a living…” which is, of course, immediately followed by 200 reasons why it won’t work. You have no experience, no money, no support. That’s when you’re inspirational idea falls to the dark depths of your mind, never to return. (P.S. This same process is applicable to asking someone out, picking up a new hobby and other various personal conquests.)

[Cue cheesy, inspirational music] One of my favorite quotes from folk musicians The Avett Brothers from the song “Head Full of Doubt, Road Full of Promise” is: Decide what to be and go be it. Now I’m no Tony Robbins, but I think there’s a lot of merit in this quote. Sometimes you have to just go for it. You are the only one who can make it happen.

When we interviewed our founders about what they were thinking 40 years ago they told us what they were thinking…

Steve Gurasich: Why not? We can do it! Together.

Roy Spence: Hey – get to live in Austin, hang out with my college friends and make a difference. Cool.

Judy Trabulsi: We are crazy, but at least I would get to stay with my best friends and stay in Austin.

Tim McClure: This is what I was meant to do!

Will there be naysayers? Always. Will there be difficult circumstances like a recession? Inevitably. But you gotta try… right? What’s the worst that can happen. Alright, off you go now.