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HOW WILL WON: An Exclusive Interview with Will Griffith as He Passes the Torch
As the news broke that Griffith Corp. CEO Alysyn Bourque would be adding a new title to her job description (Chairman of the Board of Directors), Will Griffith was preparing to hand the wheel of the corporate ship to the company’s new captain. Griffith, who took a break from his artistic career to revitalize the company he founded, is a whirlwind of energy, creativity and intelligence. While he has his detractors, they were not strong enough to derail his long held vision for an online media network. While they were trying to define him by a structured set of standards, stereotypes and definitions, Griffith was breaking barriers, challenging social norms and his art was and remains his greatest weapons. Well, his art and his sheer will power, that is. It wasn’t easy. He has an amazing capacity to go into battle, whether it is in politics, business or in a socio-cultural arena, and disarm his opponents by allowing them to underestimate him. They eventually come to realize they’ve lost the fight and more often than not they come to hate him or love him, but respect him no matter which side they find themselves on. It was not easy. The journey has been a long one for Griffith.
Griffith Corp Chairman Will Griffith was enjoying a moment of relief in the Summer of 2008 when it looked like the company that bears his name would survive the economic meltdown. Then his broadcasting channels started dropping in viewers and cut backs in programming were inevitable. His Netcityradio.com unit had all but died and in a reluctant but necessary stroke, Griffith shut it down totally. He shed 3 of his 6 channels, scaled back spending and it appeared as though his vision for an online broadcasting network with Homeland Security programming and online entertainment for the family was over.
His shareholders expressed discontent and disappointment. His investors had all but written off the company as “a bad gamble”. So when was Griffith going to announce he was throwing in the towel? As virtually everyone waited for the company obituary to be announced, it’s founder remained tight-lipped and contemplative. He managed to keep the company afloat through the rest of 2008 and into the Summer of 2009. Then he downsized, slashed spending in a dramatic fashion and his family even cut-back on extras. Revenue was poured back into the company, keeping its remaining channels on the air. He said very little. If a shareholder inquired about the fate of the company Griffith would simply say “we’re doing what we set out to do. Be patient”.
Griffith (above) unveils ArtChix TV in January
It was also in 2008 that Griffith drank his last drink, reflecting today that his alcoholism had been a barrier to his family life and to business. He put down the bottle for good, never looking back and quit cold turkey after more than 20 years with alcohol as his companion. He replaced the booze with the woman he considers his soulmate (Alysyn), and the two children they raise together. As Griffith puts it, “I began to live life fully. I was no longer a zombie going through the motions”.
During the Summer of 2009 Griffith was behind the scenes, forming strategy and planning his comeback. He was not going to let The Griffith Corporation fail when he knew he could do something about it.
After nearly 6 months of taking shots from his enemies in the blogs and dealing the controversy surrounding his art (he remains in the Top 10 of the Top 100 Erotic Artists internationally), Griffith’s best weapon had become patience. He readily admits he has never been a patient person, but that family and recognizing the things that really matter help nurture patience and personal growth. Then in January 2010, Will Griffith emerged vibrant, energized and better than ever before. He had a new partner, Brian Colson, now his top gun VP at the company. He announced that Alysyn Bourque would remain CEO and he appointed a new strategic team. Griffith Corp then announced it was moving into online magazine publishing, snapping up ArtChix Magazine and launching The Bailey Monthly. He added another online TV channel to the existing three and unveiled ArtChix TV as the “official broadcasting center of ArtChix Magazine”, The company unveiled the new Griffith Media Center, designed and operated by Bourque. The strategy worked. Griffith Corp experienced record growth the first week and the numbers sky-rocketed.
Griffith (above) explains how ArtChix TV hosts live news feeds from ArtChix Magazine on the ticker
Griffith managed to make his comeback without stepping over the people in his way. He ignored most of them and negotiated with the rest. In the end he made many of his enemies his new friends and allies. Now he is preparing to return to his artistic career, turning the company over to the leadership of its CEO.
We asked the outgoing-Chairman of the Board how he managed to make his comeback in the midst of a global economic meltdown. He spoke to us in a candid interview and this is what he had to say:
Q: Chairman, as you are preparing to return to your artistic career and turn the company over to Alysyn Bourque, who will serve as both the Madam Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, you have just managed to make a comeback during a recession. How were you able to survive?
A: Well, let me reiterate what I said in my annual company address, and that is that we had a great deal of help. Our family and friends were supportive and we had good people around us who gave us the opportunity to grow as a family and as a business. We couldn’t have done it without them. We also, I think, remained determined. I’m stubborn that way. When everyone is telling me it’s impossible I am driven to prove that it’s not impossible, just challenging.
CEO Alysyn Bourque becomes new Chairman
Q: How did you manage to keep focused during those days when things were falling apart for the business?
A: Well, Alysyn is the primary reason why I never lost hope. She has always encouraged me. She has never once said a discouraging thing to me. Even I recognize that some of my ideas are way, way out there, but she always sees the possibilities. She is why I am better at everything I do. Through her I was able to find everything I was missing in life. I wanted to be better because she was in my life. We raise two children together, which is our primary focus. We can’t afford to lose hope. We can’t afford not to grow. The other thing I’ve always had is my faith and optimism. I have a certain belief that transcends business and transcends the daily grind. If I didn’t have that faith I would be an entirely different person than I am today. Good people and my faith, that’s how I stay focused. Otherwise I am prone to my own human frailty.
Q: But you also had trouble raising capital to keep the company running. How did you survive that?
A: Once again, determination. There was a period when it was just Aly and me and we pulled 16, 17 hour days. There were many of those days when I would operate on an hour or two of sleep and be back to work. In our personal lives we just cut back on everything. We are still fiscally conservative. We always shop for bargains. We have a lot of in-house family nights and we do things as a family, but I think we saw one movie in the last two years in a theater. I have to say that we have really good kids. Our children just don’t complain about anything when it comes to money. They have grandparents as well that keep them entertained, so really it has been a collective family effort that has allowed us to operate smoothly. Like I said, we had a lot of help. Business wise, we just kept doing what we could do with virtually no budget at all. We poured what we could back into the company and because we were able to remain focused on the big picture we can have this conversation today.
Q: You just unveiled the new Griffith Media Center. You have two online magazines, four online TV channels and some other things in the works. What are you planning now?
A: We will continue to build upon what we have and expand our current operations. We want to make what we have better. We’re also looking at some other ventures that would compliment our media network, but it’s just window shopping right now.
Q: You are considering a move for the company out of California. Has the company made a decision yet?
A: We’re still looking at options. As I stated in my annual radio address, we have three states with three viable contracts to look at. We will not make a decision either way until late March once we have a better idea how our numbers are shaping up. We have a lot to do in the way of ad revenue and continuing the current trend of growth so we won’t be slacking at all. We’re still working long hours, pulling some all-nighters and that is how we stay competitive. We also have a series of grants earmarked for our non-profit cultural programs at The Griffith Center. So there are a great many opportunities on the table and it will come down to the best choices for our overall vision.
Q: You have initiated a stock buyback program that is starting in March, I think. How do your shareholders feel now? (laughing)
A: (Laughing). We’ve actually started the buyback program this month, ahead of schedule, and some of our shareholders have already been paid. The shareholders who invested larger sums are, of course, more pleased than those who invested little. But every dollar counted in the early days and our shareholders have doubled their investment. So if they invested $1.00, they have witnessed a return of $2.00. Everyone is happy and we’re working our way through our shareholders in phases.
Q: So who has controlling interest?
A: Alysyn and I each have 30%, which gives us an equal and majority interest. So together we control the company. Then we have our new partners, which have the remaining 40% divided among them.
$100,000 of original paintings (above) by Griffith currently on the market
Q: You are an artist, and a big supporter of the arts. Have you stopped painting since returning to business?
A: Well, I am am continuing my artistic endeavors full-time. Because of the challenges and duties of running the company I had to take a break from my art during the course of the last month. But I am returning to art fully. We are a very artistic family and a very art-oriented company, so we are always involved in the art world on some level. The Griffith Center continues to support and promote artists internationally and we have committed ourselves to that. It is our passion.
Q: You caught some criticism for your bold artistic style.
A: I did, but that is how history is made. We began breaking barriers with gender and sexuality, which had its own socio-political impact. We have to be willing to put ourselves out there if we are to change the socio-political climate through art. It creates debate and dialogue, but that’s the key. there’s dialogue. people are talking and as long as they’re talking and debating they’re not dropping bombs or killing one another.
Q: Will you have a hand in the company at all?
A: I still retain a seat on the Board of Directors and Alysyn and I have always been our own closest advisers to one another. I am concentrating on our cultural, human rights and artistic programs while she handles the day-to-day corporate operations. She has her own unique style of leadership and she will be leading this effort. I will, of course, be by her side in this thing but only in an advisory capacity. She is seasoned for this and I am proud to see her assuming the Office of the Chairman.
Q: Your artistic life is so different than the daily grind of business. Is there a way to balance that?
A: I think so. What is crucial is to know that everything has its place and to keep perspective. My artistic challenges are no less grueling than the challenges of business. I currently have close to $100,000 of original artwork in the Marketplace and then, of course, there is the marketing of products featuring my art.
Griffith’s artwork has an entire product line (above & below), including U.S. Postage Stamps, designer ties and a KEDS shoe line
Q: What kind of products?
A: We have a series of shoes by KEDS that feature prints from my paintings. We have U.S. Postage Stamps, t-shirts, coffee mugs and then prints of my original work. So all of these provide a source of income and revenue from my art. The thing is, much of that is poured into our non-profit, The Griffith Center, and some of that has been used toward loans to the company. But we continue a very frugal budget personally and professionally and this will continue under Alysyn’s leadership.
Q: So are you painting now?
A: I just finished two pieces, both in the gallery now and am planning a new series this spring.
Q: Alysyn is artistic as well.
A: She is, yes. She’s a brilliant poet and writer, which is how many of our readers first came to know her. She has several publishing contracts on the table and continues to concentrate on her writing in addition to business. She has that balance and maintains it better than I do. (Laughing)
Q: Thank you so much for talking with us today.
A: It’s my pleasure. We love what what the ArtChix staff is doing with the place. (Laughing)-Exclusive by Samireh Samadi, Art Desk, ArtChix Magazine
