Ask yourself: Why would I want to associate with a loser? Why would I trust my brand to a guy who failed to reach the personal goals he set out to achieve not just once but twice? Well, for starters I’d like to think they were fairly lofty goals . . . namely, piloting a $40 million fighter jet and later, playing centerfield for the Yankees (you know, careers that aren’t usually posted on Indeed). And I did make great strides toward fulfilling those lifelong dreams. In fact, if it weren’t for “less than perfect eyesight” – discovered during my physical after I’d been accepted into the Air Force Academy – I may have made one a reality. But, it was a crash and burn! As far as my “career” with the Yankees, they didn't notice but I did get signed by Cincinnati to play “A” ball. However, having someone throw 92 mph fastballs at me didn’t make me a .300 hitter, so it was time to hang up my spikes . . . and fall back on my third love: Creating art. And that's just what I did. With two strikes on me, I dug in, choked up and created a winning career in advertising. That career has landed me as the owner of one of the 100 fastest-growing advertising agencies in the nation. We've made it our mission to assemble the best talent in the industry and give them a forum to execute all things creative at the highest levels. An outcomes-driven agency, we specialize in such verticals as financial services, higher education, healthcare, professional services and nonprofit. That means you won’t just get a pretty ad. You'll get our best thinking to solve a problem, build a brand, move a product or make a shopper spend. We hire only people who want to make a positive difference to your business and have fun doing it. In some cases, our agency-client relationships span decades (so we must be doing something right). I guess the third time is the charm! If you'd like to know more, send an email to rick@austinwilliams.com