(Channeling my inner Kevin Durant. Sorry for the novel, but enjoy.)
When I turned 25, I was in the midst of my first job out of college – working at the now defunct 97.3 The Zone. I had lived a pretty good life to that point. I grew up in Homewood with supportive family and friends at home, at church and at school. In college, I got to travel the world playing video games, going to countries like Germany, China, South Korea and more. I was able to realize my dream of playing college football. Then, I graduated from the University of Alabama (with fun stops at Auburn, Birmingham-Southern and Rutgers).
On my 25th birthday, I decided to make a bucket list of things I wanted to accomplish in the next quarter century of my life before I turned 50. Some of the things on there were simpler than others – I wanted to attend a heavyweight title match, which I got to check off thanks to Deontay Wilder. I wanted to see Alabama win as many national championships in my next 25 years as they did in my first 25 (they won 4 in my first 25 years and have 3 now in the current run, so just get me one Kalen). I have a lot of travel things on there like visiting every continent (3 to go) and visiting every “Big 4” professional stadium (I’m about halfway there).
But I think it’s time to pursue #1 on that list.
The first thing on my bucket list was to start my own successful company. I made this bucket list when I was still a part-time producer at The Zone, but I wanted to do it then and I still want to now. I was inspired originally after working with some people from Edelman, one of the largest PR firms in the world, during my time as a gamer. They represented me during some sponsorships I had and after getting to sit in on various meetings, it was my first time to really see the behind the scenes on how things were run in a successful company.
I’ve had multiple companies that I have owned some or all of in the past. I still run my non-profit, the Under the Lights Foundation. I’ve run a digital marketing company part-time called Flux Media for the better part of a decade. And I was even an original investor and part owner of DBL Down Media, home of The Next Round.
However, while my non-profit and marketing company are still there, I was suddenly fired from DBL Down Media four months ago today and had my ownership shares bought back so that I would have nothing to do with them anymore. I got a decent return for my ownership stake, but it was still upsetting and I lost way more than just my percentage of a company – I lost a job, I lost a career, I lost longtime friends, I lost trust, and I lost respect.
I put everything into that place. Like everyone else there, my wife and I both invested all of our time, money and effort to build a fundamentally sound base to grow on, and I had no desire to leave. In fact, the week before I was let go, I asked to step up and provide more for the company in multiple ways to try and show my loyalty to making things successful.
I’m not sure what changed to make me go from “the secret weapon that took TNR to the next level” to being fired, but it is what it is. I’m still proud of the foundation that I, along with everyone else, helped create – even if some of us are erased from it’s history. Everything that company does from this point forward comes from what we ALL did in the first couple of years of existence to build it into what it is now. It wasn’t a good breakup, as they rarely are in this industry, but I wish them all the success in the world as they build from where we started day one.
I decided that weekend after my firing that I never wanted to work for anyone ever again. I was going to move forward on my own and do things my way, and I was finally going to mark #1 off my bucket list.
That brings me to today. I’m proud to announce a new project I’ve been working on for a few years with my wife Laurel, and now working on with a few great people I’ve had the pleasure to call friends over the last couple of decades in both my personal and professional life. I’ve had almost every role imaginable in the media industry over the last 15 years from lowly part-time phone screener up to management. I’ve been so fortunate that certain people gave me chances in my career to move up the ladder and now it’s time to put that experience to good use.
I’m excited today to finally announce L+L Creative – an integrated media and marketing company looking to redefine how local communities engage with media, marketing and experiences in the digital age.
So what does that mean and what do we do? Well…the sky’s the limit basically. We’re looking to build much more than a traditional “agency”.
We’re establishing a comprehensive content studio to produce original podcasts, shows, films and documentaries that showcase the vibrant culture of our communities. We’re developing an expanded digital platform that will highlight the best of sports and entertainment, alongside innovative event concepts that blend entertainment, food, and culture in unprecedented ways. Our technology solutions will empower local businesses and content creators, while our data analytics tools will provide valuable insights into our local market.
Our vision centers on creating an ecosystem where digital innovation meets social impact. Whether it’s helping businesses grow their digital presence, producing compelling local content, or creating unique experiences – L+L Creative is committed to pushing boundaries while staying true to our community roots.
If you can dream it, we want to help make it happen. I truly get happiness out of trying to help people, and that is our goal. While we are building out multiple projects of our own under this new company, starting in the influencer marketing, sports betting and social media spaces – we are also looking to help anyone who has a dream achieve everything they desire.
We still have a lot of work to do. But as we grow, we’ll continue adding services and capabilities that enhance our integrated approach. From developing proprietary technology platforms to launching new creative initiatives, we’re constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of our market and community. Whether you’re a business looking to grow, a creator wanting to tell your story, or a community member seeking authentic local content and experiences, L+L Creative is your partner in making something extraordinary happen.
No matter what the project is – come and dream with us at L+L Creative!