Craft&Crew Origins: Church+State

If Church+State were a "client", they would be Craft&Crew's 2nd largest account. But they're not a client, they are a Partner...and an important one at that. So, how did I meet the agency's founder Ron Tite nearly 12 years ago? Here's the origin story:

In 2008, I was part of the Impact Entrepreneurship Group, attending our annual conference in Toronto. I was 20 years old. Ron Tite was the keynote speaker and, at the time, he was the Vice President and Creative Director for the advertising agency Sharpe Blackmore Euro RSCG. I had been thinking about starting my own agency and loved his energy (and after Googling his company on my Blackberry Curve, his work as well).

I sought him out following his keynote, introduced myself, and asked if he would be open to meeting for coffee sometime, letting me "pick his brain" about agency life. He handed me a business card and told me to shoot him an email to set something up. I turned around and typed out the message as I walked away. Our meeting was scheduled two weeks later for 9am. A little early for someone who couldn't afford to catch a flight from Ottawa but I set my alarm for 3:30am and was on the road by 4.

One of my favourite things about the drive from Ottawa to Toronto early in the morning (a route I would travel hundreds of times in the coming years) is timing my arrival just as the sun is rising. Coming down the DVP (Don Valley Parkway) as the light dances up and over the city's skyline has always put a smile on my face and set a positive energy for the workday ahead of me.

Twenty minutes away from arriving at the RSCG offices, my phone rings:

"Good morning, Dave, I'm sorry to say that Ron has been called into an important meeting this morning and won't be able to meet with you."

What. The. Actual. Fuck. I woke up at 3am, got in my car by 4, drove more than four hours just to meet with this guy for a 30 minute coffee to pick his brain and learn everything I could about the agency business. I had literally no other reason for being in Toronto that day. Defeated, I put on my best happy voice and responded with "Oh, that's no problem! We can reschedule for another day." I looked around me...bumper to bumper traffic. The nearest off-ramp was nowhere in site. Trapped with the timeline for turning around and heading back to Ottawa seemingly unknown, I looked up at the sun, took a breath, and called back.

"Hey again, it's Dave Hale. Listen, I don't want to sound rude but was Ron aware I drove down from Ottawa just for this meeting? Is there ANY chance he can squeeze in even 10-15 minutes today?"

"Holy shit! Dave, I had no idea. Give me five minutes and I'll call you back."

It didn't take five minutes. My phone rang but it wasn't the assistant, it was Ron.

"I cancelled the meeting and cleared the morning. See you soon."

What was supposed to be a 30 minute coffee where I'd do my best to cram in as many questions as I possibly could turned into a five hour education. Ron gave me the tour, introduced me to the agency's founders and other executives (some of whom have turned into great friends and business partners, as well), and answered every single one of my many, many juvenile questions. I loved every single minute of that day and left convinced this was the business I wanted to be in. A few months later, our agency was founded.

Since then, every time I've called or emailed Ron, he's responded almost right away. He's never asked for anything in return. Ever. He has become a friend, mentor, and partner and Craft&Crew wouldn't be what it is today without his support.

Here are the lessons this story has taught me:

1. Vulnerability is often rewarded.
2. Great relationships take time to build.
3. Pay it forward. Clear the morning.

As part of our commitment to being "Radically Transparent", the Craft&Crew Origins series shares the stories behind some of our greatest achievements and even greater failures. Stay tuned for more.