The Journey...

From Belgium to Rochester, NY - of all places. It was almost Australia. Could have been Brooklyn, NY. Could have been anywhere - because my parents would have succeeded anywhere, anytime by sheer will power and hard work. That's the point - it doesn't matter where or when as long as you're committed to hard work and perfection.

That formula was imbedded in my body and soul from my earliest years. Nothing less than an A would do. Nothing less than perfect attendance would do. Nothing less that treating others with respect would do. Nothing less than working to the nth degree would do. Multi-tasking may be a phrase of the recent decade, but it was a core asset that my parents lived and breathed.

So that's the magical formula that I was given by my parents. And that's the magical formula that seems to escape so many. Today it's called a competitive advantage. A generation ago it was called working hard to get ahead.

A prerequisite in the Miltsch household was learning how to play a musical instrument. As you can imagine, the German heritage would lead right to an accordion, which I failed to embrace like my brother, Joe, who seemed so German playing the accordion in his "lederhausen." I did my necessary "time" and proved that the instrument of choice simply could not be an accordion. I made a play for the guitar and that proved to be a far more successful choice.

There were many years of mediocre guitar playing until I finally found the gift of inspiration and passion from two local teachers. The first, Don Ames, had landed in Rochester after many years of big band road gigs . Then there was Dick Longale who introduced me to Django Rheinhart, George Van Epps, Kenny Burrell, Jim Hall and a "string" of incredible jazz artists. Now music finally made sense to me. Now I finally found the true inspiration.

That passion and commitment created a conflict in my senior year of high school at Aquinas Institute. To pursue a music education at Eastman School of Music seemed a logical choice. To hit the road and play gigs seemed appealing. But in the bitter end at the twelfth hour which was the last week in August after graduating, I finally caved-in to my parents' wishes for a business degree at Rochester Institute of Technology.

I found that a workable solution. Pay the dues at RIT but complete all the BS requirements in stellar order in the quickest, possible time. I found that taking a few extra courses and going full-time during the summer would lead to graduation in 3 years.

Meanwhile, I pursued my musical dreams and worked full-time at it. From recording jingles to landing a house seat as the guitarist in a Broadway revue that ran 6 nights each week for a number of years. There were even a few stints with the local Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra where I became the selected guitarist for their Pops Concerts. Throughout that period of time, I got lucky enough to play gigs with some of the finest musicians that perfected their academics at the Eastman School of Music. Of course, there were the Mangiones. But the gifted artists I remember the most are Tony Levin and Steve Gadd. Then there was Jeff Tyzik, whose musical genius was simply amazing. Eventually we "banded" together and started a small music business that delivered some impressive jingles and business film sound tracks.

That also proved to be the actual segue into my business career. But that time I recognized that the gift that Tony Levin and Steve Gadd possessed was truly a gift beyond my reach. But I did see how the integration of music, especially jazz improvisation, and business could create a unique expertise. Eventually, I found my niche. Creativity in the business world seemed to be lacking - and the whole world of advertising and marketing, the basis of my RIT education, and my musical years made for my competitive edge. Soon I found that Xerox, Kodak and Bausch & Lomb were eager to find new talent that could support their marketing and advertising needs. So, a new world opened for what has now become a 25 plus year journey.

Of course there are regrets along the way. Once the business became hyperactive, I simply couldn't find the time to keep up my guitar skills. That's most unfortunate because it took a 10-year grind to get to the point where guitar playing was second nature. It's also unfortunate because playing the guitar is such an emotional experience.

And then there are the regrets of the business world. Actually, they're not regrets as much as they are dues that need to be paid. I haven't always taken the easiest or quickest road, but somehow I've always managed to get there.

All in all, it's about the kudos I can now give to those special people who I believe and hope I've given something special. That's also your cue to go to Kudos.