Way to climb the agency ladder

I have to tell you up front that I've never followed the traditional track of working my way up through the agency world. I came upon the industry, didn't like what I saw, and started doing things my way from the beginning. 

I haven't put in the 100 hour weeks on Madison Avenue or slaved away under the dictatorship of an angry creative director. I have launched two digital agencies, worked with a variety of great clients, and now find myself at Campfire where I am a creative director and partner and work on some of the most innovative and strategic campaigns out there. But I do know is that there are basic principles that apply to any career advancement and certainly apply in the agency world.