Changing of the Guard

In a perfect world, this column would have been written a week ago. That’s when I first learned of Steve Dreyer’s retirement.

Yet John Lennon observed, “Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.” I’m trying to find a way to blame the delay on the coronavirus.

I first met Steve in 2006. My bride suggested I write columns providing free marketing advice, and Steve was immediately on-board with the idea.

True, he looked at me oddly when I explained my system of three people proofing my work prior to submitting them for publication. “NOBODY writes like that!”, he observed. Yet he respected my quality control efforts and unorthodox strategy.

Over the years Steve and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye. He rejected several columns out of hand, which ruffled my feathers.

Then there was the time he called me at 8pm Monday night saying “I don’t like this week’s column. You have an hour to write a new one.”

Guess who didn’t eat dinner that night.

Yet, all things considered, I can’t complain. As we found our rhythm, Steve and I worked together well and delivered a quality product. Sometimes he’d tweak my headlines, but 98% of what I sent his way made it past his red pen intact.

Through it all we became friends, and I gained a tremendous respect for his opinion and his editorial skills. I shall unquestionably miss him.

Yet every cloud has a silver lining, and this one’s no different. Elizabeth Marie Himchak is stepping into Steve’s size 9½ shoes. She and I have also collaborated over the past years, albeit less frequently than Steve and I did.

I’ve always found Elizabeth to be strong, personable, and talented, and I’m looking forward to forging a partnership with her and helping her maximize her new adventure.

Admittedly, we’ll probably differ on some things moving forward, but that’s what will make our partnership so dynamic and productive.

Thus, even while saying good-bye to one friend, I’m delighted to welcome another as we jointly strive to make this the best marketing column possible.

Nobody likes upheaval, and a changing of the guard is never easy. Fortunately, we have a steady hand taking the reins, and I consider myself lucky to have worked with them both.

With that said, I wish you a week of profitable marketing.

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