We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Frank Roller a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Frank , thanks for joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?
Success is a deeply personal and multifaceted concept, varying widely from person to person. It requires a clear understanding of what success means to you. Is it about professional achievements, creating a nurturing family, accumulating wealth, or making a positive impact on society? For me, success is about finding passion in what you do, being inspired every day, and contributing to something greater while fulfilling your own dreams and aspirations.
When I reflect on my journey, I think I feel successful since I moved from Germany 30 years ago to the United States, without a real mission in mind, and created a company for myself. This company gives me freedom, connects me with amazing creative people, and opens my eyes to incredible talents. The fact alone that I have the liberty to create what I want gives me a feeling of success. This experience taught me that success isn’t tied to titles or material achievements. Instead, it’s about the pride in how far you’ve come and the journey itself.
One memorable experience that shaped my view of success was a project I worked on with an incredible team for a major client. Despite the project’s challenges, the collaboration, creativity, and dedication we shared made the experience immensely rewarding. It wasn’t the project’s outcome or the client’s high profile that mattered most, but the process and the relationships we built along the way. This taught me that success is found in the joy of the journey, the pride in your achievements, and the positive impact you have on those around you. And that’s what I am doing again – using my network, connections, and experience in content production to create a wellness and travel portal called placesofhealing.com, focusing on holistic wellness experiences. It’s my current passion project.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
As mentioned before, I studied advertising back in Germany and always had a passion for exploring the world, particularly the United States. After gaining some experience working in San Francisco at an advertising agency and at Calvin Klein in New York, I found myself in Los Angeles. There, I worked for a photo production company, eventually taking over their production department. This experience in the world of photo productions, involving high-end fashion brands and advertising clients, inspired me to start my own production company, GlenPR.com.
At GLAMPR.com, we work with international clients to execute photo and video content. One of our key advantages is offering bilingual services and understanding the cultural nuances of both European and American production environments. This unique position allows us to serve European clients who want to work in the American market and vice versa. I see myself as a bridge-maker between two cultures, which I deeply enjoy. My interest in traveling and learning about different cultures has always driven me to combine the best elements from both worlds.
There is a stereotypical perception of German culture being very precise, effective, punctual, and professional. On the other hand, American culture is often seen as open, with a “just do it” mentality and a belief that anything is possible. Finding a balance between these two belief systems creates a perfect mix of offering professional services with no limitations, executed in a personal and professional way.
My business is always a people-oriented one. We create connections with clients that often turn into friendships. It’s more than just executing business tasks; it’s about creating an environment of trust and mutual appreciation. This approach sets us apart from others in the industry.
I’m most proud of the relationships we’ve built and the creative projects we’ve brought to life. Recently, I’ve been using my network, connections, and experience in content production to create a wellness and travel portal called PlacesofHealing.com, focusing on holistic wellness experiences. This passion project combines my love for travel, wellness, and cultural exchange, and I am excited to see it grow and inspire others.
The main things I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know about my work are our commitment to excellence, our unique ability to bridge cultural gaps, and our dedication to building lasting relationships. We strive to provide not just high-quality production services but also a personal touch that fosters trust and collaboration.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
One resource I wish I had known about earlier in my creative journey is AI. I’m very fascinated by its development and the vast potential it brings. AI has revolutionized the way we approach projects, helping streamline processes, enhance communication, and manage budgets. It can set up complete frameworks for productions and quickly illustrate ideas, making it easier to pitch creative projects and ensure clients understand our vision.
However, I also recognize the downside of AI. While it aids in many aspects of production, I genuinely believe it has the potential to disrupt traditional production setups, including my own business. This dual perspective on AI—both as a tool and a challenge—has pushed me to think about reinvention. AI’s capabilities force me to find unique niches and aspects of my work that cannot be replicated by technology.
This constant need to stay engaged, reinvent myself, and adapt to changes is something I embrace with excitement. I don’t see obstacles as insurmountable barriers but rather as opportunities to innovate and grow. It’s about maintaining a playful and curious approach to challenges, finding creative solutions, and using these experiences to evolve.
AI may change the landscape of my industry, but it also opens doors to new possibilities. Embracing this technology and its implications allows me to continue growing and offering something distinct that AI cannot replicate.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I think my current goal and mission is to develop a new brand that focuses on personal experiences—something that staged commercial content or scripted productions cannot replicate. The true excitement in life for me comes from personal experiences, human interactions, and the exchange of ideas on a personal level. These life experiences are invaluable and irreplaceable.
Instead of just creating visual content for brands, I am now focused on creating events, retreats, and life experiences that connect personal transformation with wellness. This new mission is about offering holistic experiences that foster personal growth and healing. However, it’s important that these experiences are communicated with the same professionalism and appeal as commercial brands.
I am very excited about connecting people on a personal level and helping them discover healing modalities, explore the world, and meet fascinating individuals in the wellness industry. This approach not only enhances personal well-being but also enriches the connections we make, offering a more meaningful and transformative journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://placesofhealing.com
- Instagram: placesofhealing
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/froller/
