Unfortunately, 2022 ended with bitter news for our industry as we learned about the passing of Sander Flaum on Sunday, December 11th. Sander was a marketing legend and noted author, but more importantly he was a dear friend. Earlier in my career he was my boss, and even though I got fired from that company—not by Sander personally—I made it a point to maintain contact with him. While he could come off as tough, in reality he was incredibly caring, fiercely intelligent, and always willing to lend an ear. I will miss our talks, so much so that I can’t bring myself to delete the last voicemail I have from him.
He just wanted to say how much he enjoyed one of our latest issues, though it could have been better—if we had put him on the cover. While it was a joke, one of my favorite covers is the one he graced in 2018 following his win of our Trailblazer Lifetime Achievement Award. It was my honor to be able to recognize him with that award not only because of what he meant to this industry, but what he meant to me. I will miss him. This industry will miss him.
But his passing only further amplifies the importance of the connections we make in this industry. People are any industry’s greatest resource, and the more we work together, learn from each other, and help one another advance, the better off we and our industry will be. Forming and cultivating that kind of community has always been one of my main goals at PM360. I aim to share your ideas, celebrate your achievements, and even help you to recognize the incredible work of your colleagues.
You may have noticed the four individuals on our January/February issue’s cover. I didn’t put them there—you did. They represent four of the top vote receivers in this year’s Pharma Choice Awards, which you can learn more about on by clicking here. These awards are dedicated to letting the industry as a whole pick the best creative campaigns from the past year. Letting your peers say how much they appreciate your work. Letting your community honor you.
I realize it may be a little late to make New Year’s resolutions, but I have one you should consider anyway. Make new connections in this industry. Form friendships. Become a mentor. Find your Sander. I promise, you will come to value these relationships for the rest of your life.
