(Watch John’s Tribute Video.)
Twenty-six years ago this month, I walked into the Large Conference Room at Lawrence & Schiller for my second interview for a broadcast writer/producer position. Two stoic gentlemen were seated at the head of the table. One of them had a yellow legal pad with a handful of questions scribbled on it. That was John Pohlman. He asked me the questions, one by one. Didn’t respond in any way to any of my answers. Gave me an assignment. Thanked me for coming. And excused me from the room.
I walked out pretty sure that I would never encounter Mr. Pohlman again.
Fortunately, I was wrong. A few weeks later, my phone rang. It was John offering me the position. I was naked just getting out of the shower, but that isn’t relevant to the story. (If John were editing this, he would have removed that line).
Many things have changed at Lawrence & Schiller in the past quarter of a century. One constant has been John. And it has been an absolute gas working with him all these years.
John is a gifted writer. Incredibly funny. A trivia master. A caring mentor. A calm in the storm. Wise. Willing to ask the tough questions and make the hard decisions. Pretty much, always right. NEVER lets ego get in the way. Refuses to let anyone settle for work that is either “creative” OR “effective”… demanding it always be both.
Perhaps John’s greatest gift to all of us at L&S is being the sword bearer for the concept that the “right” answer should win. Always. No matter from whom or where it came.
Whether it is a strategic, creative, business or personal challenge at hand, John is a great sounding board. When his head nods in approval, you can rest assured you’ve found the right answer.
As you can imagine, the assignment of drafting a tribute worthy of John is daunting. Especially since I can’t ask him to help punch it up. So, I’ll just use some of John’s writing.
Over a decade ago, a business consultant advised that we create a framed statement of the L&S culture and place it on the desk of every team member. As I read it again today, I realize what John authored was a prefect description of himself:
How to be 5280
Be Selfless. Remember the client always comes first.
Be Passionate. Care deeply about our clients and the work you do for them.
Be Relentless. Work hard to make everyone else’s job easier.
Be Impactful. Focus on solutions, not problems.
Be Flexible. The product matters more than the process.
Be Professional. Maintain confidentiality with clients and co-workers.
John, congratulations on your Creative Legacy Award! It is long overdue and absolutely deserved. Thanks for hiring me, coaching me and being a great partner.
Tribute Video
The following video premiered prior to the presentation of the Creative Legacy Award during the SDAF ADDY Award Show on March 15, 2014. It offers memories, insights and congratulations from co-workers, business leaders and elected officials who’ve had the pleasure of working with John over the years. Enjoy!
