We had the good fortune of connecting with Mike Savacool and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mike, what do you attribute your success to?

The most important factor behind my success is tenacity. I realized early in my career that there are smarter and more talented people around – and that’s a great thing. I don’t have to be the best. But my business partner and I have always been tenacious and committed to putting in the work. At LESS+MORE we developed a process early on and we are disciplined about following it. We hold each other accountable to not cutting corners, and it leads to the results that our clients have come to expect from us. But it is often not easy and the tenacity to see it through, even when challenging, has been an important factor of our success.

What should our readers know about your business?
LESS+MORE is a boutique branding agency that I founded in 2006 with my business partner Steve Secviar. Steve and I play a lead role in every project we take on. This direct link to us as experienced branding experts and business owners provides our clients with a uniquely connected and collaborative experience. We deliver brand strategy and design that meets the objectives, no matter what it takes to get there. We got to where we are today by staying focused and saying “yes” way more than “no”. We have embraced new challenges and types of clients along the way and, by being versatile and willing to learn new things, we have built on each success. We’ve learned many lessons. One that I share with younger creatives it to always be learning. Creativity requires you to connect elements that were not previously associated – creating something new using existing materials. By being open to learning about new subjects, processes, people, etc., you increase your ability to solve creative challenges by being able to reference a larger pool of inspiration and raw material.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I like to spend time outdoors. Fortunately San Diego has much to offer in natural beauty. The ideal day for me looks something like this: Early morning at Sunset Cliffs – surfing if there are waves, stand up paddling if not. Breakfast burritos at Sunny’s to follow! Midday, go up to Torrey Pines for a cliff hike with world class views. Head north from there for great lunchtime tacos at Las Olas in Cardiff, enjoying the coastal drive on the way. Back south for dinner downtown on Lumi Sushi’s rooftop deck – a new and exciting addition to the Gaslamp Quarter – followed by a walk over to Cowboy Star in the East Village for an after dinner drink. A favorite place for me to finish a day in San Diego is at the Casbah enjoying great live music in one of San Diego’s most unique and treasured venues.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My business partner and I met while working at an advertising agency called Bulldog Drummond. We learned everything we needed to know to launch our agency while working there. Founder Shawn Parr and creative director Neil Bellefeuille were instrumental in shaping our approach to branding and also our desire to run a business that prioritizes people, relationships, and culture. They were (and continue to be) examples of how to beautifully balance success in business with living a meaningful and rewarding life. But the biggest shout out goes to my Mom and Dad for giving me a solid foundation, strong work ethic, and ongoing unconditional love. Thanks you two!

Website: http://lessandmore.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dolessdomore/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dolessdomore
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoLessDoMore

Image Credits
Frank Rogozienski – all

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