$6,000 and a Dream

In 1948, David Ogilvy took a leap of faith. With only $6,000, he moved his wife and son to New York City.

He was determined to open an advertising agency, despite having never worked in an agency before! 

But his outside perspective ended up being exactly what Madison Avenue needed.

Ogilvy's agency pioneered direct-response advertising. They paired a hard sales pitch with an attention-grabbing surprise, and made their clients a lot of sales.

Eventually, they represented enormous brands, including American Express, Dove, Rolls-Royce, and Guinness.

Ogilvy made his clients a lot of money. Much more than the revenue his firm earned. Yet, there was still plenty left over, thanks to the quality of his execution.

Eventually, he sold the company for a staggering $864 million, the most ever for an advertising agency at the time.

His relentless drive and dedication serves as an inspiring example of what can be achieved when paired with the courage to try.

Watch this video to learn more about Ogilvy.

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