MY SILENT ENEMYYears ago, I was a successful ad agency owner. And like you, I was running the show - a show that I thought I knew all about. Despite success, I made some bad decisions, wasted money – all the things other owners go through. I was alone, working in a bubble. I didn’t join the mega ad associations – I couldn’t justify the expense of attending their meetings overseas or at posh island resorts.Over the years, I worried a lot. I knew I wasn’t always at my best and I couldn’t explain why. In looking back, I must admit that the effects of isolation – not having the support of a peer group for instant feedback and realizing there was a lot more to learn, probably prevented me from getting over that growth hump – the one where you get a couple of bigger clients and you go from 18 to 25 employees.I SUCCESSFULLY CASHED OUTWhile I successfully cashed out at 50, sometimes I wonder how much more I would’ve grown if I had my own advisory group of agency leaders who were going through the same issues and opportunities that I was experiencing.The effects of isolation – even if you have a partner – are silent and invisible, until you realize that you’re not getting ahead; your clients know more than you, you’re busy chasing your own tail, fighting internal fires … and the fun is gone.WHY I STARTED CEO STARSI started CEO Stars six years ago because I didn’t want agency leaders to go through what I went through. I wanted agency owners to reach their potential and what they were capable of doing. I wanted them to believe they were ‘unstoppable.’I wanted agency executives to learn from each other; solve problems and share ideas in a non-competitive confidential environment – and get the attention that’s often ignored.I wanted agency leaders, with a dream inside their gut that’s wrestling to get out, to realize that dream and get to their desired destination – before it was way too late. I wanted to put the fun back into being an agency owner.TO MY FELLOW AD AGENCY OWNERS:Loneliness slowly saps the pursuit of excellence out of your mind and the subconscious denial of it is your own silent enemy that will haunt in the coming years with taunts of ‘what if’ and ‘why didn’t I.” The delusion is that even with stress, lack of joy and sub-par performances, it seems that all your cylinders are working at normal. But that normal equates to living in mediocrity. For me, that wasn’t a good place to be. And, I don’t believe it should be for you also.###