The Winning Side of 45

If you know me at all, then you understand my love for music. Outside of the people I love, doing work that matters at PromoCorner, music is my passion – and it goes far beyond my adoration of Van Halen. My tastes run the gamut from Vivaldi to Willie Nelson to Metallica and everything in between. I’m always on a quest for new music and keep an open mind to everything that I hear. A few years ago, my friend Danny Rosin introduced me to American Aquarium and, in particular, their singer and songwriter, B.J. Barham and I instantly fell in love.

American Aquarium would likely be branded as “Americana” (not to be confused with Americanna, the industry-leading supplier of jar openers, coasters, sponges, and mats), but their music is much deeper than any one genre. B.J. Barham is a candid, open, and raw songwriter which is why he connects so deeply with his fans. There’s one song in particular that has always touched me titled, “The Losing Side of 25.” In the words of Barham, it’s a song that’s, “about turning 30 and having no idea what you want to do with your life and just still doing it – doing what makes you happy. For us, it’s playing music, but it really is directed towards anyone who’s artistic and creative. It’s not about the paycheck or your parent’s approval, it’s about doing something you love doing.” You can watch a tremendous live version here.

As I approach my 50^th birthday in November – and with apologies to Mr. Barham – I thought I’d borrow some inspiration from this song and rewrite it from my perspective, my experiences, and my life. With that, I give you, “The Winning Side of 45.”

All my friends know their path
Charting each course with focused drive
I’m still driving my route
Trying to figure what it’s all about
Pushing forward not sure where we’ll arrive.

Every day we’re creating
On laptops and at trade shows
They all look at us
Curious where we’re driving this bus
And wondering if we really even know.                                                                            

They all ask me how we’re doing
I just smirk and rise
That the industry’s been good to me
It’s time do exactly what I think
Now I’m on the winning side
The Winning side of forty five

The PromoCorner team supports me
Always there to lend a hand
And I lean more on them
And I learn more from them
Helping me to find our own brand

So every week we do our thing
Doing work that matters for all
Marketing, content, and media
Done with a sense of purpose
For our clients both big and small

People keep asking what we’re doing
I smile and close my eyes
They say you have built a great team
And we don’t understand your scheme
But still we support you and your guys
The winning side of forty five

We might never win the big awards
Hell we might never ever be cool
But we got a team that cares
Can fit circles into squares
And we do it by breaking all the rules

So we might never be famous
And that’s alright by me
Cus’ we’ve done the things we wanted to
And said the things we needed to
And created the things we wanted to see

When they all ask me how I’m doing
I just smile and realize
There are different roads to finding success
I walked my own trail I guess
Came out on the other side just fine
The winning side of forty five

Yeah there are different roads to finding success
I walked my own trail I guess
Came out on the other side just fine
The winning side of forty five.

Bill is president of PromoCorner, the leading digital marketing service provider to the promotional products industry, and has over 18 years working in executive leadership positions at leading promotional products distributorships. A featured speaker at numerous industry events, a serial creator of content marketing, president of the Regional Association Council (RAC) board, and PromoKitchen chef, Bill has extensive experience coaching sales teams, creating successful marketing campaigns, and developing branding that resonates with a target audience. He can be reached at bill@PromoCorner.com.