Today we’d like to introduce you to David Pailin.
David, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
While in college, my best friend and I started a magazine committed to real advice on very uncomfortable topics. We felt many advice columns and publishers at that time spoke to readers from a place of superiority and judgment as opposed to relatability and authenticity, so we just wrote from the heart. To our surprise, it took off almost immediately, and we were featured in our school’s newspaper, The Morehouse Maroon Tiger. With thousands of hits and hundreds of subscribers we continued interviewing and speaking on various issues from an affluent, but experienced perspective.
After I graduated, I noticed that magazines, in general, were struggling to stay afloat and increasingly being challenged by blogs and other websites. My goal was to continue promoting individuals and services that we really used and really loved so I decided to transform the company into a creative agency. We would still retain the magazine, but it would be one piece of a three-pronged approach to advertising which included digital communities, promotion / consulting and experiences.
This new direction was incredibly difficult because it was both unique and unorthodox compared to many of the businesses we were familiar with. Some of our veteran team members only wanted to do magazine oriented things; others were focused on the events, still more only saw value in the consulting. It was a very rough time, and many people walked away from the business including my co-founder. Looking back I really wish I understood what I know now about team building, vision casting, and organizational leadership, but it was a lesson I had to learn the hard way.
I had hit rock bottom, but we were still receiving inquiries for our services and content, so I pressed on. One of my very first clients, Stephanie Chung, took me under her wing as a mentee and showed me what it means to execute at the highest level. I will always be eternally indebted to her for that because she is an absolute powerhouse, and certainly did not have to spend that time developing a know-it-all like me.
But I listened carefully, taking copious notes, and bit by bit we started finding our groove. We recently celebrated our fifth anniversary, and I’m blown away by the lives and brands I’ve had the honor of impacting. So far we’ve counseled over 50 brands, connected 20,000 plus professionals, and hosted experiences across five different states. It feels like yesterday when I started because I still live for the moment when a client’s eyes light up after they see the creative, or after hours of brainstorming, we find the perfect words to capture what their company is.
I tell people all the time I have the best job in the world. I get to tell the world about the amazing people I know and watch as others find out for themselves.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s been really tough, especially because I really have a passion for being the first to tell the world about rising entrepreneurs, artists or companies. The talent and gifting is always there, but sometimes people are not ready for that spotlight and don’t know how to communicate that until the show is live.
The Plutocrats Club – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Well, The Plutocrats Club is a holistic creative agency that specializes in connections. We do so with our three-pronged approach of promotion / consulting, communities, and experiences.
What sets us apart is that we realize that today’s companies need a relationship more than ever, because there are endless alternatives. Where some marketing companies may just create a flyer or host an event; we take the time to help you develop your identity, boost your curb appeal, put you in communities (so you have inroads to industry leaders and peers), and finally craft an environment so that you can interact with thought leaders face-to-face.
All that we do is meticulously connected, and though some clients opt to use individual services, we make it a point to share strategies for the big picture and lasting success.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success as my ability to help someone accomplish a goal. Profitability is a fundamental measurement of success in business, but when it comes to advertising impressions, followers, and event attendees are all sub-markers that can also point to success.
On a more humanistic note though, success can also be doing what you said you would do, and all of the people that you do it for being more than satisfied with it. For those that are outside of the business realm, keeping a promise and just plain showing up can equal significant success to many people, especially children.
Contact Info:
- Address: 369 E Las Colinas Blvd, Irving, TX Suite 359
- Website: theplutocratsclub.com
- Phone: 4692151418
- Email: info@theplutocratslcub.com
- Instagram: @theplutocratsmag
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theplutocratsclub/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-plutocrats-club-irving?osq=the+plutocrats+club
Image Credit:
The Plutocrats Club LLC
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