January 8, 2021 Art Steiber

It’s Been A Good Run, But 40 Years Is Enough. Time For New Adventures.

Memories, Running

(Note: Yes, this post will be about running. Eventually). 

After more than 40 years in corporate America, today is my last day of employment. I’m retiring. I’m not sure where those years went. It seems like not that long ago I graduated from college and started applying at advertising agencies because it seemed like that would be a fun place to work. A mix of business and creativity. Think Darrin Stephens. (Look it up, kids).

I got lucky in 1980 and started as an Account Coordinator on the top account at a small Detroit-based ad agency. When I started in the advertising business it wasn’t quite “Mad Men” but in ways it was close. Some great clients and many unreasonable clients. Many creative people and some crazy ones. Some co-workers who were jerks and many funny, smart, caring people that became my close friends. Accounts won and accounts lost. Media parties, perks and fun mixed with lots of hard work, stress and late nights. But I loved it. As we used to joke, “being in advertising beats working for a living.” 

Agency Life To Client Side

Just a couple years into my career I was fortunate to join a wonderful local agency and spent over 15 years there eventually as VP working with many amazing, talented people who became like family. When a client of mine asked me to come lead their team I decided to move to the “client side” for a few years. Then in 2001 I was offered a position at an aggressive, growing, dynamic company that was building an in-house marketing team. In these last 19 years that company, Quicken Loans/Rocket Mortgage, has grown from a few hundred people to over 20,000 people and become America’s largest mortgage lender.

Almost four years ago I had the opportunity to shift to a small sister company within the Quicken Loans family of companies and help them create a new site and rebrand as Rocket Homes. (If you haven’t heard of Rocket Homes yet, you will.) I told people that after I moved to be VP at Rocket Homes I was working harder but having more fun. I feel blessed to have ended my career in that role working with a close group of passionate, smart, driven, talented, caring leaders and people. 

I’ll Remember The People

Throughout my career I was fortunate to lead and work with many outstanding people and had lots of unique opportunities. My various roles leading marketing, media campaigns and sponsorship programs took me to events around the country with the PGA, NASCAR, NBA, NCAA, MLB, NFL and others. I also was able to work with athletes, celebrities and top recording artists on some great promotions. But behind all the “glamor” was a lot of hard work by teams of smart, talented people creating and executing marketing campaigns big and small, national and local. That’s what I will remember most. The people that made my job easier and more fun. 

Time Flies. Trust Me.

Whether you are just starting your career or are mid-career with years until you plan to retire, just know that the time will go much quicker than you think. I often tell new parents, “Don’t blink. Your toddler will be grown and you’ll miss it.” I’m sure older people told me that also when I was starting out and I didn’t believe it. But now I do. As Ferris Bueller said, “Life moves pretty fast, if you don’t stop to look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

What’s Next?

So why am I retiring? There are many reasons. Any one of them alone is not enough but considering all of them together made the decision very easy.

Here are the Top 5 reasons:

#5: I’ve been the oldest guy in the company long enough

#4: My golf game needs more work

#3: I want to travel more with my wonderful bride

#2: I’ll have more time for family, including my amazing granddaughter

#1: So I can…

(See, I told you at the beginning that this post would eventually be about running.)