More than 20 years ago, I met this post production color correction artist who became a beloved, lifelong client.
Our meeting also signaled a golden opportunity that helped further my budding career.
I was watching a movie one night, not paying full attention as I thought about how I could prospect in a market that was underserved. (Yes, I even thought about work during my downtime at night.)
I had been in the business for a little over three years at that point. I’d had some success but felt unchallenged and unfulfilled calling on the same old list of people: the lawyers, doctors, and CPA’s.
Then, it dawned on me…what about the people at the end of the movie listed in the credits? The folks that no one notices?
Every movie or TV show has an incredible number of people working hard behind the scenes to make it happen, the prop masters, the color correction artists, the sound editors. Everyone wants a wealthy actor or famous director as a client, but how about the guys and gals that actually MAKE the movie?
So, I hit pause on my VCR (like I said, it was 20 years ago!) and starting writing down all of the names on the screen, as well as the studios that they worked in.
That epiphany began a wonderful multi-year relationship I had with Sony Studios, Fox, Warner Brothers, Paramount and more.
Soon, I had my first client off that list, the post production color correction artist who I wanted to mention today.
Jan has been a client for more than 20 years now. He’s has been a great friend, not only a great client. In that time, Jan has won Academy Awards and Emmy Awards. He’s close friends with Clint Eastwood and many others. He’s had a tremendous career.
Jan and I got together for a review a few weeks ago to go over his investments, his union pension plan, his life insurance, and long-term care.
What struck me that day, as we went through his planning and I listened to him talk about his life now, his goals and needs, was how well everything has worked out.
He is not a rich man, but a GREAT man – and has a great family. The planning we’ve done for the last 20 years has all worked out. We’ve successfully managed his investments spanning three decades and two economic downturns; made sure his life insurance is in place, long term care insurance; disability coverage early in his career. It’s all paid off for him.
But it isn’t just a client-advisor relationship. I even helped Jan through a divorce, then later saw him get remarried to his current wife. Over time, his kids graduated high school, then college, and even law school. It’s been an honor to be his friend and advocate through it all.
At the end of our review meeting the other week, Jan said, “Well, it looks good. I think we’ve done it. I really can retire this year if I want.”
I confirmed all of that to be true. We were able to close the books on his planning for the time being, confident that he was very comfortable and could live the life he chose.
As I said goodbye to Jan and his wife before I left his house, he gave me a hug. “Love you, Jeremy. Thanks for all you have done for us.”
That meant the world to me; MEANS the world to me. It’s why I do what I do.
And all of this because of one idea I had while watching a movie on my VCR 20-plus years ago!
Roll credits…hit pause!
-J.D.