Try to remember

the kind of December

when I was a young

and callow fellow.

1972, Swinging London, working for Gala Cosmetics Group under the genius American Founder Stanley Picker.  Enter another genius, the late 93 year old Mariano Puig, CEO of famed Spanish Family Puig Company.  A deal was signed by these two visionaries for Gala to distribute Puig’s anchor brand Agua Brava in the UK.  At 23 I was served up as the young creative Marketing Manager to handle the launch.

Last night, 50 years later, I was invited to dinner with Mariano’s son, Marian, now a Puig Board Member and Chair of ISDIN, Spain’s leading skincare/sunscreen company – and Juan Naya, the CEO of ISDIN.

We talked about the old days; great visionaries with great dreams and how lucky we have all been.

(Puig is now 109 years young and owns huge brands in beauty and fashion – Carolina Herrera, Paco Robanne, Jean Paul Gaultier, Dries van Noten, Nina Ricci and Charlotte Tilbury as well as the ISDIN joint venture.)

And we dined at Jordi Cruz’ beautiful three star Michelin ABAC – Wow!  Living the life in beautiful Barcelona with two beautiful people.  A long way from a council house in Lancaster.

Made me think.

Be grateful for what you’ve got,

not what you’ve not.