ACT Blog

Mentors, Providers of “Degrees” For Living

Recently I read that those applying for jobs in fields including marketing are often asked:

“Do you have a Master’s Degree?”

I have a question:

“Is a Master’s Degree, possibly even a lesser degree, necessarily beneficial?”

For college students, there is a many-years payback of huge student loans, plus a minimum of four years of no real on-the-job experience.

Is it worth it for everyone? In my opinion, not necessarily.

A degree is not an automatic guarantee of success.

There are many, many plumbers, carpenters, salesmen, mechanics, even bartenders and barbers that make excellent livings- – without a college degree.

In older generations, my generation as an example, success came by having an early start working from ground up and learning a lifetime skill – – by doing.

Have a mentor

To be personal, mentors were my “college professors”. They gave me a masters in ethics and life.

They were not academics.

They were working, successful entrepreneurs and professionals- -willing to pass on their knowledge to an ambitious teenager, then a young man and on to the early owner of a small start-up firm:

Me!

I remember those mentors, with gratitude. And I do as I can, to pass on to others my continuing experiences gained from “doing”.

Mentor Memories

Some of my mentors were:

Frank Brookhouser, a daily columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer, host of one of the earliest Phila. television news shows, and author of several books.

I was 17-years-old when I met Mr. Brookhouser. I was a copyboy in the newsroom of The Inquirer. He taught me newspaper journalism.

I still remember him saying:

“Write to communicate. Short sentences are fine. Single word sentences are fine.”
_____________
Merrill Panett, first editor of TV Guide Magazine.

At 19 years of age, I was editor of The Inquirer’s employee magazine, “Home Edition.”

I wrote the entire 48-page, pocket-size magazine.

I had my own small office, a typewriter, desk and a chair.

Mr. Panett’s office was across the hall.

I worked on the magazine, “Home Edition” on my days off from my job at the City Desk. (I was on two payrolls. News and Promotion Departments.)

Mr. Panett taught me how to lay out a small-size magazine. TV Guide and Home Edition were close in size.
_____________
George Neil, General Manager, Phila. Inquirer.

As editor of “Home Edition”, I had access to almost all personnel at 400 N. Broad St., to interview them, to write about them, their functions, and how things would come together at a major newspaper.

In those days, there were five editions per day, Bulldog, Late Bulldog, City Edition, Late City, and Final City.

I recall Mr. Neil, in his office getting on the floor, on his knees, spreading out a section of The Inquirer to explain to me “forms”; how 4-pages, 8-pages came together for press.

He was the general manager- -and a teacher.
_____________
Gene Vassil, former Sales Manager at WFIL radio (about 25 years ago).

Gene taught me a saying, that I’ve used- -and passed on to others.

It is: “Find a way to do business.”

I’ve changed it, when trying to help others. My instruction is:

“Do not hear the first no… just give another idea…”
_____________
Harry Dozer, founder and president of a Philadelphia, publicly-owned, major insurance company.

At a meeting on a Sunday morning, in the kitchen of his Lower Merion home, he explained to me what he wanted my ad agency, American Advertising Services, to write for his Wall Street Journal full pages.

He showed me competitor’s ads.

“Read them,” he said, “They work.”

“Don’t try to be so creative, that to be original you make a square wheel”

He then said: “The round wheel works!”

I never forgot that.

Joe Ball, editor , at work in the Home Edition office, Phila. Inquirer, about 1949.

W. Clement Stone, president, Combined Insurance Co. of America.

In March, 1972, Jack Kelly, brother to Princess Grace of Monaco, and I originated and produced the “American Football and Basketball Conference” the largest event of its kind ever held in the U.S. It was at Notre Dame University.

When I visited W. Clement Stone president of a major insurance co., at his Chicago office to invite him to be a member of the Awards Committee, I saw on his desk a sign. It read: “Do It Now.”

I took the advice, following it to this day.

In fact, I often say to people: “I’m a do-it-now guy.”
I am.

He was my wife’s dad. My father-in-law.

A brilliant, self-made, highly-successful entrepreneur, he manufactured lamp shades, and was a wise real estate investor and developer.

Shortly after our marriage, knowing I had been in my own business only two years, among the advice he gave me re: business transactions were:

“Let the other fellow live.” (My interpretation was to be fair, with the other party also benefiting.)

I’ve tried to always do this.

He also said to me:

“To have a happy marriage, have a happy wife.”

I’ve now been married 56 years – -and have a happy wife…I hope!
_____________
Milton H. Ball (“Mickey”), my dad.

When I went into business, he said, “Here are three words to remember.”

They are:

“Persevere. Persevere. Persevere.”

I have done so.

And this coming year will mark my 59th year enjoying the advertising and marketing firm I originated in 1956.

I have…Persevered.
Education Gained
All of the aforementioned mentors are now deceased.

Their success and my success possibly have been attained by remembering and following their lessons.

I did not go to college. (I went to night classes at Temple University. No degree.)

But, having the opportunity to be led by professionals I met through my workplaces I, received an education.

I thank them…
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Postscript: My wife, Sandy, also taught me two important words.

They are:

“Thank you.”

So, to my wife (especially!) and to others, past and future…”Thank you.”