I had an opportunity to reconnect with a brilliant marketing professional, I deeply admire. His work has been a model of inspiration for me. His inventiveness is a source of laughter and insight that is rare in this cut and paste world. Tom is an original who has found his happy place in the center of the circles.
Tom Fishburne is a cartoonist. To be precise, he is the Marketoonist.
Let me explain.
As a young boy, he loved to draw cartoons. Deriving great pleasure from his hobby, he never thought about it like a vocation. It was something he just did. As he went to college and graduate school for an MBA from Harvard, he became entranced by the world of marketing. He got to work at General Mills, Dryers/Haagen Dazs, Method and Hotel Tonight in marketing positions.
But he always kept on drawing cartoons. Only now they appeared more focused on the foibles of life in the office, and in particular, the marketing department. Like all of us marketing geeks, he realized how silly we can be with our marketing speak and the layers of complex thinking we spread over the meetings, focus groups, and research studies. He started reaching audiences from Google, GE, Kronos and other companies through his insightful marketing cartoons. Today Tom is a frequent keynote speaker on innovation, marketing, and creativity.
At some point, it all clicked. He was encouraged to do more of his cartoons on marketing topics so that colleagues could use them in PowerPoint. Of course, the cartoons would mock the PowerPoint by shining a light on the marketing platitudes. In short, he found a way to combine many of the things he loved.
Lunch and the Three Circles
Tom and I got to have lunch together on a recent West Coast trip to discuss an idea I had for a project. As we both enjoyed asiago-laced eggplant sandwiches, I shared with Tom how much I admired that he lived at the intersection of his three circles. I explained to him the reference from the Richard Bolles’ book What Color is Your Parachute.
Draw three circles. Put within those circles the three things that you love to do and that excites you with unbridled passion.
My daughter Fanny has found her path to that intersection through her love of performance, food and writing. She lives in the intersection of those three circles writing cookbooks, creating recipe videos for food clients and with some luck, her own TV show. Listen to Fanny’s speech on this subject to a group of high school seniors.
Tom loved the thought, and we discussed his circles around cartooning, marketing, and his enjoyment in public speaking.
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He sells cartoons to clients for ad campaigns, promotions, and internal meetings. If you love marketing and are wise enough not to take things too seriously, check out Tom’s work at the Marketoonist. Subscribe to his weekly cartoon and blog post for smiles and insights.
Tom lives at the intersection of happiness.
Need help sorting through your circles? I have advised many professionals to help them find their way. Set up a call and let’s find your happy place.
Cartoon courtesy of Tom Fishburne
