One Entrepreneur On The Start: Marc Lefton of Adholes

This is part of a series called "The Entrepreneurs On The Start."  This interview is with Marc Lefton of Adholes.

What was your first business venture?

I started a graphic design firm when I was 19 called Creative Ideas and Design.

What made you want to go into business for yourself?

The traits of an entrepreneur are being able to learn things yourself and being good enough at a number of things to be dangerous but not great at any of them so much that you only focus on that one thing. So for me, I've worked in advertising as an art director and a copywriter. But most art directors think magical little elves make their ideas turn into print reality. I know how to produce things - and over the years I branched out into knowing a little programming, a little bookkeeping, honed my sales skilled, worked on my technology abilities and became a very well-rounded business person on top of being a creative person.

Ultimately, I realized that having control of my situation was very important and instead of trying to convince owners of companies I worked for that my way of doing things was better, I went off on my own.

Would you go into business, if you had it to do over again?  Why or why not?

Yes, but if anyone told me how hard it really was or how long it takes or how gut-wrenching it could be - I might not have signed up for this. At the same time I don't see getting a job as a viable alternative so I'll probably be inclined to stick with it no matter what.

What were some of your biggest lessons learned about starting a business?

They are for a boxer fighting the heavyweight champion of the world, no amount of planning can prepare you for that first punch. And likewise, no amount of planning your new venture can prepare you for the things you never thought of, could never expect, but inevitably happen anyway. The best entrepreneurs face these decisions with grace, and keep moving forward, and don't get caught going head to head with any one issue. Because even when you can beat something, it takes far less effort to dodge it and keep running.

What advice would you have for others considering going into business for themselves?

People will tell you to save 6 months expenses. But if you don't have it, you shouldn't let it stop you. I've always believed if you can't make money without money, you can't make money with money either.

 Any final thoughts on starting a business?

The true key to brilliance is not being great at something but knowing what you're not good at and surrounding yourself with people who are even better at those things than what you are good at. Go get 9 partners if you have to. It's better to own 10% of something than 100% of nothing because one shortcoming kept you from succeeding.

Marc Lefton is a New York City-based award winning advertising creative director who founded Adholes in 2004 - the ad industry's first and largest advertising social network  and group blog, which was honored by the Webby's in 2007. Recently, he founded Half Fiction, a marketing agency focused on integration of new technologies such as social media, mobile apps, augmented reality and mobile tags.