It would be no exaggeration to say that Bill, the man pictured in the middle here, was also at the center of Bob Thomas & Associates, our mighty, incredible agency in Redondo Beach, Calif.
Bill was our primary client lead at Nissan – by far our largest client – so for a client-first agency, being of indispensable value to him was a sacred, if aspirational, goal. Bill was also one of my very first clients. He taught me that hard work, humility, and brutal honesty wrapped with a sense of humor can power a team through anything.
In the consultancy life, you’re lucky and grateful when your clients are also your good friends. It’s something altogether amazing when that friendship spans a lifetime. That’s the way it is with Bill. This week my buddy EC, who worked for Bill and who is also a dear friend, and I visited with Bill and his wife Sandi in Columbus, Ga.
Bill may not be clicking his heels as high as he used to in the corridors of Nissan these days but he is still the funniest guy in the room. We traded stories for hours, including the time when Bill and I fired each other – and tearfully reconciled – all in the span of 30 minutes. By the time the four of us said our goodbyes, there were those damned allergies attacking our tear ducts again.
Big shout out to all the people who blur the lines between clients and colleagues and friends, true partnership, work and fun. You know who you are and I love you all. ❤️