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SF BUSINESS
TIMES Tim Gallen Title: President Company: Gallen Associates Inc. of Walnut Creek. Public Relations; develops market positioning tools and strategies, conceives, writes and oversees the production of collateral materials such as brochures and audio-visual presentations. 2000 revenue: $2.2 million Founded: 1974 in Miami, Fla. Number of employees: 12 Source of startup capital: Was the publisher of Florida Real Estate News. Thought one of the advertisers was wasting his money, and told him he needed a PR firm. I guess I did a fairly good job of convincing him because he whipped out his checkbook and wrote me a check for $1,000 dollars. Background: Bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Florida. Planned to be a musician, but after the drums were stolen, he began studying journalism. Later, got a job with an ad agency. Age: 54 Residence: Danville Web site: www.gallen.com Big Picture Reason for starting the business: It wasn't some great move to start the business ? I had to. I found I don't take orders well. Hardest part of decision: Knowing I would have to be everywhere at once. When you're on your own you don't have anybody to depend on or talk to or bounce things off of, so you have to do everything. It was a very good life lesson. Biggest plus of ownership: Independence. Thinking on your own without being dependent on anyone else. Biggest drawback of ownership: Not being able to be even a 14-hour-a-day person. I'm a 24-hour-a-day person. On weekends and nights, it's always there. One of the most difficult parts is that my wife and I have been partners. It's been challenging to balance my personal life with my business life. You've got to have the ability to compartmentalize. Also, I've got to take care of my own retirement. Being on your own means being on your own at the beginning and at the end. Biggest misconception about ownership: The biggest surprise is this feeling that I never want to retire. I need work to keep my mind going. If you'd asked me 20 years ago I would have said, 'When can I pull the ripcord?' Greatest strength: My experience. I've done everything there is to do at least 16 times, so there are no surprises. I have a pretty good read on what's going to happen. Biggest weakness: Probably I talk too fast and too much. Biggest mistake: Not opening more offices around the country to have more places to land and apply my expertise. I should've opened one in New York, and opened one in Los Angeles sooner than I did. Smartest move: Specializing. We have a practice that is one of the best-known real estate media strategy firms in the country. I have carved out a niche that is very difficult for other people to break into. Biggest risk: Coming out here. My wife is Cuban, from Miami. When I told her we were moving to California, well, her fingernail marks are still on the end of the runway at Miami International. When I came out here I just had one client ? I only had one egg in my basket. But it worked out very well. Biggest worry: Chance. In dealing with my clients, I worry about the things I can't control. If my client is going to make a big announcement on a Monday and somebody says something to a reporter on Friday, there goes that Monday announcement. Top source of inspiration: My older friends. Most
of my friends have always been two, three or four years older than
me. Many of them have been my clients over the years. That's one
thing I think a lot of younger people don't take advantage of these
days. Most challenging task: Mentally juggling. Favorite task: Looking at something and figuring out what the most appealing attribute is as far as a story. Maybe that's from my journalism days. I'm good at looking at something and seeing what somebody is going to find enticing about it. Least favorite task: Repetitive things. Greatest frustration: Right now it is dealing with growth, physically. One of the most frustrating things is here we are at the right time and place and there's not enough space. Sources of support and advice: First, my wife.
Second, my new partners. Third, my oldest and best friends and clients. Goal yet to be achieved: Balancing my personal and professional life. I have no problems going to work and I have no problems going to play, but sometimes one gets in the way of the other. First move with capital windfall: I would invest it in my retirement. Five-year vision: A little bigger and a little smarter, but overall pretty much the same. Inducement to sell: The right price. And a consulting agreement. First choice for a new career or venture: I'd
like to own a Harley-Davidson dealership. Personals Most interested in meeting: I would like to have met Winston Churchill. Stress reducer: Riding motorcycles. It's very relaxing. Favorite pastimes: Travel. I hate to see the same thing twice. I have an RV and I like getting out on the road and getting lost. Favorite book: "The Materese Circle," by Robert Ludlum. Favorite film: "Yellow Submarine" was my favorite movie of all time. Automobile: 1997 Porsche Carrera S4. -Steven E. F. Brown |
