Hausman On Turning Ten

Last night, we had the pleasure of sharing a significant event—Hausman’s tenth anniversary—with 120 of our closest friends, clients, and colleagues. In her remarks to the group, founder and president Tami Hausman looks back on the early years and ahead to new opportunities.

So, in 2008, a woman walks into a bar…

Ok, just kidding! I’ll be serious. For once.

So, last week, I was having lunch with a client (yes, this is a true story), and he, our client—otherwise known as Grant—told me that he only went on ONE blind date in his entire life. By the way, Grant works with Rider Levett Bucknall, one of our clients that we have been fortunate to have as a collaborator for four years.

The first time that Grant’s hairdresser tried to set him up on a blind date with a friend of hers, he resisted it. (He noted that, back when this happened, he used to have hair, hence the need for a hairdresser). Even after a couple of times—and even though he had never BEEN on a blind date—he continued to resist the idea. This went on for months.

Then, for whatever reason, he finally gave in. And the very first day that he ever went on a blind date, THAT is the day that he met his wife. Fifteen years later, he is still happily married. And, even better, he now has the good fortune to be one of our clients!

I’m telling you this anecdote because opening a new company is a bit like going on a blind date. You have fear and you have excitement. You have hope and dreams. You could either win the lottery or throw your savings away on a bunch of losing raffle tickets. There is something irresistible that piques your curiosity and just MAKES you do it. You don’t know why. But, at the end of the day, let’s face it, you really have no fucking idea what you’re doing, or what you’re getting into.

Going back to last week, in the course of our lunch, Grant asked me what I would say to my younger self, now having the benefit of hindsight (yes, now that I am in the fifth decade of my life, I am allowed to have hindsight). And I really DON’T think I would do much differently—except live in a warmer climate, or at least a city that still had seasons like spring. However, I would say with confidence that I never imagined my degree in Semiotics and French would be the foundation for starting a PR firm for architects.

Odd, right?

Then, a couple of months ago, I came across this quote from Joseph Campbell, which pretty much sums up my career (and it is now my screen saver): “You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.”

And the life that was waiting for me is here, in this room.

Hausman is about our TEAM and it’s about all of YOU.

I am fortunate to work with a dedicated team of PR specialists who you see here (we’re all wearing sashes) who work hard to get results for our clients every day. They are PR pros, writers, copyeditors, marketing professionals, office management experts, photographers, graphic designers, comedians, foodies, avid readers, athletes, parents, cat lovers, and singers (as witnessed at our annual karaoke party).

We, as a team, are fortunate to work with top designers of corporate, academic, institutional, healthcare, hospitality, urban planning, cultural, residential, interiors, and tall building projects. They are architects, interior designers, planners, engineers, cost consultants, thought leaders, authors, speakers, chefs, dancers, mixologists, set designers, volunteers, activists, sustainability experts, entrepreneurs and provocateurs.

And then we have a dynamic network of people who give us guidance, support, and expertise. They also provide us with humor, bad internet jokes, fake news, real news, and other productive distractions.

So, to get back to the beginning of my story, this woman walks into a bar, goes on a blind date, and then 10 years later, throws a great party for her colleagues and clients, who have become her friends.

And with that, I’ll stop talking, and I invite you to enjoy!