Behind the Headlines with Way To Blue’s Adam Rubins

Adam Rubins, CEO of Way To Blue, on the “movement towards mindfulness”, finding success in active social discussions and why there is no reward without risk.

Before I reach the office in the morning, I’ve already…
Kissed the kids good morning, checked email, flicked through daily editions on Flipboard, Pulse and Feedly and meditated. I’m a huge advocate of the movement towards mindfulness.

You’ll mostly find emails about…in my inbox.
A wide range – from client negotiation and new business opportunities to HR-related issues and an increasing amount of unsolicited outreach from people I don’t know.

I know I’ve had a good day if…
My heart rate has remained steady. Running a business is not for the faint hearted!

My first job was…
In the media and marketing team at Buena Vista International, the movie division of the Walt Disney Company. My dream job which I got through persistence and hard work.

I can tell a campaign is succeeding when…
It’s been discussed widely on social channels. It’s the moment it moves from something I think is out there to ‘it’s out there’.

I eat… when nobody is watching.
Nothing. I like people to watch me eat.

The first time I pitched to a journalist…
Not the first time, but I remember trying to convince a journalist that Pirates of the Caribbean would be a success. At the time Johnny Depp wasn’t as big a star, it was based on a theme park ride and it’s fair to say Pirate movies were not a successful genre. They were a little more interested when the sequel was about to launch!

The worst thing anyone has said to me is…
“I was never managed so why should I manage you?” I am a firm believer in building the right culture in an organisation led by talent.

The last book I read was…
Thrive by Arianna Huffington. An incredible read about mindfulness and the importance of disconnecting from digital devices.

I’ve never really understood why…
Marketing and publicity is so held back by fear of change. Without risk there can be no reward.

If I could go back and talk to my ten-year-old self, I’d say…
Sort your hair out. While you still can.

This time next year, I’ll be…
One year into my five-year-plan.

Fancy featuring in a Behind the Headlines interview? Please email richard.odonnell@gorkana.com.

 

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