In a new series for the McCorkell blog, we will be getting to know the people that make our agency tick. We thought we’d start with the man who started it all, our CEO and Founder, Scott McCorkell.
What’s your story?
My path isn’t quite like your typical CEO. Back when I was in school, I was told by everyone to be a commercial artist. I was number one in art, in architecture and won awards for my work. I ignored everything and became an entrepreneur, building a multitude of organisations in the computing industry before realising there was a gap in the market for agency services that could speak the language technology companies wanted. So I created one.
This is why McCorkell is different: We’re not just another agency; we’re marketing, we’re creative, we understand sales and the technology dialect. This is what the client needs and is why we’ve grown to become one of Asia-Pacific’s most trusted marketing organisations in the IT&T space.
What excites you most about your industry?
I get excited when I see really great ideas being delivered exceptionally well. I love the creative side of marketing and I get excited when I see really good stuff; the sort of concepts that are lightning bolt moments that make you wonder “how did they think of that?” You don’t see that from many places anymore, so when that happens, when people think about who is going to see their message, I get excited, because finally, someone other than myself is thinking about more than just the bottom line.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
My dad used to say, “You only live once, you’re a long time dead,” and it’s a phrase that has stuck with me over time. Twenty eight years ago, I had cancer, and I learned first hand that this statement is very true. I fought hard, beat the cancer and have lived life as fully as I can every day since. Dad’s advice and that experience have played a large part in the way I do business and the outlook I have as a CEO.
Who inspires you?
From an aspirational point of view, I don’t want to be anyone else; I want to be me and this has served me well to date. I get out of bed and go to work eight days and nights out of the seven. I work 23 hours a day and am in the boardroom on a Sunday morning at eight. So if you ask who inspires me, I don’t actually have a role model as an individual, I have people I just want to surpass.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
There’s a statistic I read the other day – the top eight wealthiest people in the world own more wealth than the bottom 50 percent of the population in the world. That scale is quite amazing when you think about it.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
There isn’t much I’d do differently. I’ve achieved much of what I always set out to do. I found a way to use my creative talent to build a business that affords me the ability to pursue many other passions.
How do you unwind?
If I have water under my feet, I’m happy. If there’s an engine, a boat, a car, a motorbike, doubly so. I unwind by hitting the horizon, by charging into the unknown and exploring the world. I’m a keen traveller, so any chance I can get where I’m venturing off into the unknown with the speed and thrill as the wind brushes through my hair, I’m happy and relaxed.
Everyone in business should read this book:
It sounds a little arrogant and I don’t mean it to, but I haven’t written it yet. There aren’t books that have taught me how to run a company or how to lead. That’s just me and that’s just life experience. When I write my book, I’ll be sure to let you know.