If there’s a downside to being Kevin Kelly, it would stem from being the hippest guy in the room.
Yes, he is usually the guy in jeans and a t-shirt surrounded by guys in suits and ties, but to think the difference ends there is not only selling him short, but underestimating him. He’s creative, genuine and in full possession of a positive personal energy.
While his vibe is contagious, you can’t help but note that the underlying essence of the co-president of BigBuzz Marketing Group has a bit of a rebellious streak. There’s no doubt Kelly would be the toymaker elf lobbying Toy Shop management to use only eco-friendly materials in its products, and who somehow persuaded Santa to be the singer in his after-hours rock band. While you’d definitely want to meet him at the bar at Jewel for an interesting chat, you might think twice about accepting a dinner invitation. Here’s why.
FMC: What are the 3 best things you’ve done in your life?
KK: I played in several touring rocks bands, married my guitarist and had 3 kids with her. (See how I weaved a few into one there? Especially the obligatory kid thing…) … I started Bigbuzz nearly 20 years ago and connected with my now business partner Doug Graham just a few years ago…. I am committed to philanthropy and helping to save our planet, one solar panel, electric car, and recycled bottle at a time.
FMC: What mistake did you make that turned out to be your best learning experience?
KK: You want me to pick one? Oh there are so many mistakes!
Look, there are too many to list…from horrible early business partners and a missed record deal, to a night in jail and bad pitches. But, I truly believe it’s all part of the journey that gets you to where you are at this moment, and if that’s the case, I am thrilled with how it has all worked out. I live with no regrets and believe all the “mistakes” are there for us to grow. The important thing is deciding to just do it and take the risk.
FMC: When you were 5 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up, and why?
KK: TV repairman. One hundred percent!
I wish I still had the first grade assignment. It was one of those papers where there was room on top for a drawing and the triple-lined paper with the dotted line so you knew how tall the write your lowercase letters. It was less that I was always interested in tech stuff (although that played a part), and more that when the TV repair man came to the house, we were all so happy because we knew we would be able to watch Carol Burnett (or whatever was on that night) together as a family.
FMC: Why do you do what you do?
KK: Ahh, the $100 question. I’m so fortunate to love what I do.
The main reason I show up every day is to create a secure place for my team to be creative, fulfill our core values, and help businesses find their potential and grow using sincere and engaging communications.
FMC: What’s your biggest vice?
KK: I have a 15-pound vice in the basement. Comes in handy for holding and hammering stuff.
FMC: OK, funny guy. What would be your last meal on Earth assuming, of course, you made reservations in advance?
KK: It would definitely involve a LOT of carbs. I would probably have a bread bowl of soup, and bread plate of pepperoni pizza, and for dessert a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Chubby Hubby with extra peanut butter schmear. And a triple espresso, because I don’t want to fall asleep for the BIG ending.
FMC: What gives you hope for the future?
KK: Change. Our ability to change as humans … learn and grow, wake up and realize that every individual action counts, big or small, and creates positive (or negative) momentum. Every small piece each of us does from smiling and saying hello to a stranger, to picking up trash, to walking for cancer…I believe there’s good in all of us and I am hopeful we can rid ourselves of all this divisive rhetoric to come together to solve the bigger problems ahead of us as a people on this ailing planet. It’s the only one we have, let’s fix it together.
FMC: What’s your idea of a great day off from work?
KK: A triathlon in the morning, watching the Philadelphia Eagles win an afternoon game with my die-hard Philly fan kids, and dinner and a movie with the extended family in the evening.
FMC: Coke or Pepsi?
KK: Diet Coke, hands down.
FMC: Who was/is the most influential person in your life?
KK: I was fortunate enough to have an extraordinary high school band teacher, Dennis Blose. A combination of Mr. Holland and that guy from Whiplash. He taught a bunch of eye-rolling punk kids in a pretty good high school marching band how to take pride in ourselves, understand what it was to strive to be great, to be the best and go from a winless group to a unit that won every state and regional award for excellence for the entire four years I was in high school. We recently reunited to rekindle a friendship and have an annual cigar, talking about how all that happened so I can try to bring some of that inspiration into being the leader I strive to be. And of course, Mom and Dad, who always told my two sisters and I we could do anything we wanted to do if we worked hard. But it didn’t sound empty when they said it, we really believe it, and we try to help our kids believe it too.
FMC: Favorite restaurant (anywhere)?
KK: Doveberry Inn in Vermont, or dinner anywhere with my wife, including Taco Bell.
FMC: Do you anticipate your wife reading this?
KK: LOL! Maybe, but it’s not just a gratuitous happy marriage plug 🙂 I’m just illustrating that I found a gal who doesn’t cook and doesn’t need fancy (always), and I don’t care about home cooking, frankly. Had it growing up, it was nice, but whatever. Eating is not a hobby for me (but is for far too many, reference the obesity problem in america). Oh but now I’ve gone all preachy on us.
FMC: Last book read?
KK: Creativity Inc. by Ed Catmull
FMC: Where do you get your news?
KK: NPR via my Amazon Echo, AKA Alexa
FMC: What five people, living or dead, would you want to have dinner with?
KK: Leonardo Da Vinci, Paul McCartney, Steve Jobs, Thomas Edison, and Hitler. (I always think I can “fix” the bad in people or maybe I’d just shoot him in the head.)
FMC: Any reason to think the most evil man in history would accept the invitation?
KK: As an Irish Italian Jew, I assume he’d be excited at the potential of persecuting me as a three-fer-one.
FMC: Favorite drink?
KK: Cream soda and tonic water (formerly dirty martinis). I gotta to have my daily quinine.
FMC: What’s the biggest misconception people have about you?
KK: Well, not much behind the curtains here. I live a huge portion of my life out there on social media. But if I had to pick something, I would say that I work too much. Frankly, I haven’t worked a day in my life.
Connect with Kevin Kelly @BigBuzzKev
Photo by: Justin Lisa