Frank Bloom
Current Career
I started working in the world of advertising in 1965 with a job as a Research Account Executive at Young & Rubicam, Chicago. I was promoted several times and left the company as an Account Supervisor. In 1974, I started my own agency, Brittany Advertising, Inc., with two partners. I worked at Brittany until 1989, when I retired from the business.
I then became a certified management consultant, specializing in small business issues. I maintained a full-time practice until 1994, when I retired from that business as well. However, I still occasionally accept some consulting assignments.
In 1994, I became a high school teacher in the Chicago Public School System. I worked at Kelvyn Park for five years, Resin Orr for five years, and Theodore Roosevelt for three years, and then retired from high school teaching.
In 2006, I turned a long time interest into a vocation and became a financial advisor. I continue to work in this capacity, primarily with school teachers at all levels.
I have taught college and graduate school level courses in marketing and marketing communications for thirty-eight years. I have taught in the MBA Programs at Roosevelt University, Illinois Institute of Technology Stuart School of Business, and Keller Graduate School of Management. In addition to Columbia College, I have taught undergraduate courses at Triton, Kendall, Malcolm X, Wright, Elmhurst, and Harper Colleges.
I have also become quite active with the Illinois Education Association. The IEA is essentially a union comprised of 132,000 members across the state. I am strongly interested in protecting teacher pensions.
What was your first “real world” job?
After graduating with my Bachelor’s Degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology in January, 1963, I worked for the Chicago Police Department. Because of my 1-A draft status, it was only job I could find where they were not concerned with the fact that I would be drafted soon after I started working. As one of the few members of the Department with a college education, I was assigned to the Police Planning Division at the Department’s old headquarters on 11th and State.
What are 1- 3 professional accomplishments that you’ve achieved over the years?
One might question what is meant by a “professional accomplishment.”? However, in addition to owning my own marketing communications business for fifteen years, I have published several books and many more journal articles. I have also taught at every level from pre-kindergarten to graduate school. I have been active in Democratic Politics and actually ran for elected office once. I didn’t win. I was one of the few Democrats in a strongly Republican District.
What Drives Your Professional Career
The answer to this question would change depending upon when during my career I was asked. Initially, I sought commercial success, that is, to make a lot of money. As I began to achieve success, I became more motivated about controlling my own destiny. This was part of the reason why I started my own company. As my business began to take its toll on my physical and mental health, my interests began to change from commercial success to helping people. When I came to the realization that I had to choose, either to continue the business grind and probably be dead within ten years or leave the business and stay alive, the decision wasn’t too hard to make. I became a consultant, then a teacher, and then a financial advisor, in order to, in one way or another, help people. There is nothing wrong with being motivated by commercial success. However, that alone can lead to a rather empty and somewhat meaningless life.
Three Pieces of Advice That Would Be Helpful To Any Student
- Be consistent. Regardless of whether we are talking about school work, or life, make a real effort to be consistent in all things. Procrastination followed by a rush of activity certainly doesn’t represent your best effort, and usually doesn’t work.
- Do things in moderation. Whether it’s overeating, drinking too much, driving too fast, or whatever, moderate your lifestyle so you can fully experience and fully enjoy your environment.
- Motivate yourself by setting goals and objectives. Take the time to think through and to write down your objectives and goals. Yes, there is a difference. A goal is something you wish to accomplish. An objective is something you wish to accomplish within a specified time limit. Then measure your performance against the attainment of these objectives. Not only does this help you to attain success, in whatever manner you define success, it also provides you with a sense of appreciation for life.
