“That’s no way to do business,” said the 52-year-old entrepreneur. And of course he and his clients want the success others seek, too. Their approach however, is going to be different. Lee doesn’t prescribe to the “win at all costs” approach to business. Lee’s start in business came at an early age when at 15 he was an office boy for Campbell & Macsai Architects, Inc. in Chicago during the early 70’s. He laughs. “I can admit now that I was the worst thing at a great firm but I learned from Mr. Campbell,” Lee said. “I didn’t realize it then but I was being groomed to do business—and do it with class. Mr. Campbell was the kindest and classiest man I knew and my first mentor.”
Lee moved from Chicago to Los Angeles in 1984 to make films. Along the way he’s worked for a small ad agency, gotten married, earned an undergraduate degree in business and later a graduate degree in business. “I smile to myself when I recount my experiences running that agency,” Lee said. “I was the best thing at a terrible agency but I’m too much of a gentleman to mention names.” Lee learned to focus on being excellent regardless of the situation in which he found himself. He said just remembered that cream always rises to the top. He learned to be the “cream.” “I always tell clients that excellence is always noticed and appreciated. Let’s be excellent in whatever we do and offer to the public.” Recently, Lee was asked by a potential business client “How large is your firm?” “Just me,” Lee answered. Lee was honest and the man started to walk away until Lee told him, “You know… Excellence is not a product of size.” The man stopped, turned around and the two are discussing Robert Lucy Creative marketing his business. “A man who thinks like you do can accomplish anything,” he told Lee. And he’s so right.
Robert Lucy Creative is named to honor the memory of Lee’s maternal grandparents Robert and Lucy Johnson. “Because of Grandfather Johnson I’m a third generation entrepreneur and that alone means a lot to me. I don’t take anything for granted.” Lee’s grandfather Robert F. Johnson was a building contractor who built homes for many wealthy blacks of Tulsa’s “Black Wall Street.”
Lee’s approach to marketing uses the latest bells and whistles, creativity and hard work—but the ethics are decidedly old school—and Christian. “I teach clients of Robert Lucy Creative to understand that creating win-wins allows them to be blessed better than stealing ever could,” Lee said. “Robert Lucy Creative clients will always take the high road.” He believes making an honest dollar is still something for which to be respected. “The God we serve expects us to honor Him with how we do business. That’s the Robert Lucy Creative approach and nothing less is acceptable. Lee has drawn his line in the sand and is prepared to live and die by godly business standards. “You do better when you know better,” Lee admits. Robert Lucy Creative clients are going to sell many billions of dollars in goods and services over the life of his firm. Lee vows his firm will always touch every stakeholder positively, too.
