On Being Wrong

You know that moment when you finally realize that you're wrong?

If it's a small goof, there's embarrassment.

If it's a big mistake, there's a bruised ego. 

But if it's HUGE, the kind of wrong that you've been arguing your stance on for months (or even years). The kind that made you cast logic and truth and history aside. The kind you were willing to start WWIII over because you were SO SURE you were right.

Well with that kind of MASSIVE MISCALCULATION, there's laughter.

Because there's that one second of clarity where you're like, F*CK. And then you laugh. And laugh. And laugh some more. Because laughing at how wrong you were is all you can do. 

I bet there are a lot of conspiracy theorists who laugh on their death beds. And republicans. And I'm pretty sure that everyone who argued the world was flat would be busting a gut today. Along with anyone who freaked out about Y2K. 

Actually, I'm surprised there isn't more laughter in the world. We've all made those kinds of mistakes. We've all been colossally wrong at least once in our lives. So we should all be laughing at ourselves. I know I am. 

Lessons Learned

I've learned a surprising amount this year. Some lessons were fun. Some were empowering. And some were painful. But everything learned will make 2011 even better than 2010. And 2010 is going to be tough to top.

I've learned that...

I have the strength and determination to tackle the most daunting of tasks. Like losing 70lbs. Or making a music video. 

Happiness is a choice. You either choose to be happy or you choose not to be. Either way, it's in your hands.

I am awesome. And am worthy of awesomeness.

A good hike can resolve almost any internal battle.

LA can actually be fun if you know the right people and find the right scene.

There are tons of people out there who will drop everything to help me. All I have to do is ask.

There's a plus side to my closest friends living far away - mini vacations!

When life feels like a rollercoaster of uncertainty, the best thing to do is go ride some actual rollercoasters and enjoy.

Side projects are the key to staying happy in the ad industry.

I'm powerless when it comes to good song lyrics. Powerless.

I need to trust my instincts more.

If enough people are giving you the same advice, it'd be best to stop being so stubborn and actually listen.

Following my heart is important. But so is following my brain.

I'm fearless and strong.

Sometimes the best things disguise themselves as something terrible. Like being laid off, for example.

The only way someone can change is if they decide to do it for themselves.

Friends can be family and family can be friends.

Taking risks is important. If you don't put yourself out there, you won't know what's possible.

You work to live, not live to work.

Paintbrushes and charcoals and markers are the best kind of therapy for me.

The universe is on my side.

Forgiving someone is less painful than hating them.

Collateral Damage

Collateral damage is damage that is unintended or incidental to the intended outcome. 


Unintended. That's the key. Of course knowing it was unintended doesn't make the outcome suck any less. But it means it wasn't malicious. It wasn't personal. It wasn't intentional.


To be fair, I am the collateral damage from a crappy economy. I am the collateral damage from an unstable industry. It's much bigger than my specific situation. And I know that.


So I'm not bitter. I am however in need of a job.


And with that comes this – there's a kickass Art Director looking for work. Spread the word (and the site): www.jessicADanford.com


And while you're at it, spread the word about some of my insanely talented coworkers who are in the same boat as me: www.wearecollateraldamage.wordpress.com


Thanks. 

we are collateral damage

We've launched a new site. It features the work of a bunch of amazingly talented people who are looking for new jobs. So check out the site and spread it around. Thanks!

"We are writers, designers, art directors, producers and illustrators. We are talented, award-winning lovers of advertising and art and culture. We are funny, smart, sarcastic and creative. And we're looking for work. We are collateral damage. Nice to meet you."

Visit the site and check out the portfolios here.
Follow us on twitter here. 
Like us on Facebook here. 

I'm in Love

Meet my new iPad, Stan.

Stan is quite possibly the love of my life. He is gorgeous, intelligent and highly entertaining. He sings me songs. He watches movies with me. He'll even snuggle up with me and a good book. He's stylish – always sporting Jack Spade. He's dependable, knowledgable, loyal. And he does exactly what he's told.

In other words, he's perfect. I love him. 

Plan of Awesomeness

I've been talking up my Plan of Awesomeness since things went down last Wednesday. My plan isn't entirely figured out, but here's what I've got so far. I know a bunch of you are crafting your own Plans of Awesomeness, so feel free to borrow from mine if you want to :)


Jessica's Plan of Awesomeness

1. Smile and be happy
2. Accept that it's for the best
3. Smile and be happy
4. Plot next great adventure
5. Smile and be happy
6. Kick ass at next great adventure
7. Smile and be happy

Bathroom Etiquette Addendum

I've been meaning to post this for a couple days but just now got around to snapping a photo. It seems that other people in my office agree that bathroom etiquette here isn't quite up to snuff.

Be the Statement

There are a lot of times in life when you want to make a statement. You may want to prove you deserve that promotion. You may want to let someone know that they're worth it. Or you may simply want to say FU. What I've learned is that it's always more powerful to BE the statement than to simply say it. Live your statement. And live it big.

Plaz: When are we doing lunch?
Me: Not this week. Can't eat this week. 
Plaz: Why not?
Me: I need to make my big FU statement.
Plaz: So, you're going to be carrying around a giant exclamation point?
Me: I'm going to BE the exclamation point.

Exactly.

On Fairness

Life isn't fair. Sometimes that works for me, sometimes it works against me. But I'm guessing/hoping it all balances out in the end.

The Lost Cause

I don't believe in lost causes. I refuse to accept that any cause can be a lost cause. I'm hopeful that everything has a solution. That everything can be fixed. If you believe in something enough, you can make a difference. It might be a small difference, but you can make a difference.

By definition, a lost cause is a cause with no chance of success. No chance of success? That's sad. That's tragically sad. It's sad because when you deem something a lost cause, it means you've given up on the idea of success. 

Working toward a goal is challenging. It takes determination. It takes focus. It takes sacrifice. But if it's something you believe in, something you honestly believe in, then it's worth it. Sometimes it'd be easier to give up. But when you are that passionate about something, you can't turn your back on it. If you could, you'd be turning your back on yourself. And we aren't wired to do that. 

My other issue with the lost cause is when it's applied to people. People aren't causes. They're people. And all any of us are doing is trying to find our way. And that isn't a cause, it's life. 

We're supposed to help each other through life. We're supposed to be there for each other. Support each other. Guide each other. Love each other. We're not supposed to judge each other. We're not supposed to decide who's worthy of the effort and who's not. We're all in this together. We're all doing our best. And none of us are causes, let alone lost causes. 

I don't believe in the idea of the lost cause. Maybe that's naive. Maybe it makes me an idiot. I don't care. Because I'd rather be hopeful that my hard work and passion will pay off. I'd rather be hopeful that I can make a difference.

No cause is a lost cause. And no person is either. 

Bring It

When life feels like a rollercoaster, you may as well try to enjoy the ride. 

This sentiment was the point of my weekend excursion to Cedar Point. Life has been full of ups and downs lately and I was looking for a little perspective and a lot of fun. And here's what I got: 

26 hours of music therapy on the open road. 8 hours of rollercoaster therapy at Cedar Point. And an unexpected 5 minutes of complete clarity after a wrong turn.

Needless-to-say, I'm feeling pretty good right now. And I'm pretty proud of myself too. For a last minute weekend excursion, this one will go down in the books as one of the most empowering. And not just because I conquered the Top Thrill Dragster.

It launches you from 0-120mph in less than 4 seconds. Launches you 420 feet straight up. Which means you fall 420 feet straight down. And if you know me, you know I'm terrified of heights. TERRIFIED. But I couldn't pass up the challenge. So I did it. And I loved it. And I figure if I can handle this, then I can handle the rollercoaster ride that is my life. So bring it. 

My Apologies

Dear Universe, 

I'm sorry for doubting you lately. I didn't trust you and I should have. I realize now that you know what you're doing. Granted, you had to hit me over the head, repeatedly, for me to understand it all. 

Anyway, I like the game plan. I really do. And I'm on board. But I'm going to need a little more time to get ready. I need to get everything sorted out in my head first. But you're right. Probably about all of it. So thanks. 

With love, 

Jess

Horror Movie Motel

So my best friend and I are on our spontaneous road trip adventure. Around 3AM this morning, we decide it's time to stop for some sleep. We pulled off of 70 and strait into a horror movie. Seriously. Indiana is a frightening place.

You might be staying in a horror movie motel when...

• You drive by the motel and make a joke about how you're glad you're not staying there, before you realize you're staying there.
• There's a creepy old Indian man at the front desk who directs you to a motel room two parking lots away (after telling you there's no rooms available).
• The light switch by the door doesn't turn on any lights.
• The toilet randomly flushed every 60 seconds.
• You feel dirtier AFTER you shower.
• You sleep ON TOP of all the bedding.
• The bed shakes. On it's own. 
• The thought of bed bugs make you sleep fully clothed with pants tucked into your socks and your hoodie pulled over your head.
• The bathroom fixtures are either broken or missing completely. 
• You choose to sleep with one of the two working lights turned on. 
• You strategically place a chair in front of the door, even though you know it won't stop anyone from coming in. 
• You check the windows to make sure they're locked.
• You consider NOT brushing your teeth because you're scared of the water quality.
• You make sure your bare feet and pant legs never touch the floor.
• You set your alarm for four hours of sleep. More sleep than that isn't worth your life.
• You randomly get up and make sure your car is still parked outside.
• You'd rather dry your face with kleenex than the towel provided.
• Randomly throughout your stay, you hear what sounds like someone trying to open the door.
• The bathroom towels were more grey than white.
• As you lay down you comment that you're calling the Better Business Bureau first thing in the morning. 
• You are crying real tears from laughing so hard. But you're laughing only to keep from crying. 

Thankfully, we made it out alive.

Rollercoasters

My life has been an emotional rollercoaster ride recently. And in honor of that, I decided I'm making the 13-hour drive to Cedar Point this weekend with my best friend. I love spontaneous trips. Spontaneous symbolic trips. See y'all Monday!

Oh the Irony

I'm noticing a lot of irony in my life right now. It's good that I see the irony, otherwise I'd probably be handling everything a lot worse.

Irony #1:
My jaw is in excruciating pain. And when I'm in pain, I have a tendency to clinch my jaw and grind my teeth.

Irony #2:
The side project that makes my soul happy also happens to be the one that breaks my heart. 

Irony #3:
The second I decide I'm happy living in KC, I realize I may be forced to move elsewhere. 

Irony #4:
I'm not the happiest person these days (see above ironies), yet two different people today told me that I smile non-stop. 

Seeing the irony makes a lot of it laughable. Of course, my jaw hurts so bad right now that laughing is a little painful. There's irony in that too.

Words of Faux Wisdom

On Authenticity
If you're going for a hand-drawn look, hand draw it. 

On Looking the Part
If you fake it long enough, you'll eventually accept it as real.

On Failing
Everyone fails. The key is learning to fail gracefully.

On Optimism
The Universe needs balance so therefore can't be against you forever. 

On Uncertainty
Despite childhood memories, living in limbo isn't as fun as it sounds. 

Detox

Detox starts tomorrow. Time to get back on track. Wish me luck because I will definitely need it.

Cause and Effect

I went to a wedding last weekend where we all rang miniature bells as the newlyweds left the church. It was nice, you know minus all the "every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings" comments. Those got old REAL quick. So I'm giving you people options for the next time a situation comes up that might require a similar line.

Every time a bell rings, a little annoyance it brings.
Every time a bell rings, queens curse their kings.
Every time a bell rings, a driver is mocked for their stupid window clings.
Every time a bell rings, a woman regrets all her past flings.
Every time a bell rings, someone eats their plate of lings.
Every time a bell rings, a descendant pays homage to the Mings.
Every time a bell rings, on a Blackberry a friend pings.
Every time a bell rings, a washed-up actor tries and sings.
Every time a bell rings, an employee-to-boss insult slings.
Every time a bell rings, hope and happiness springs.
Every time a bell rings, upon an unsuspecting person a hornet stings.
Every time a bell rings, a guitarist breaks their strings.
Every time a bell rings, a bored adult searches for a playground with swings.
Every time a bell rings, shit happens along with other things.
Every time a bell rings, two Missourians dream of Colorado Springs.

So there you have it, bells ringing cause a lot of other things to happen.

On Facebook

I'm not ashamed to admit that I have a Facebook addiction. It's how I keep tabs on people. It's how I stay in touch with people. It's also how I keep people in the know of my all-important life happenings (HA). But some things about Facebook annoy the crap out of me. So I'm making some rules. And I might start blocking the people who don't follow them. Because seriously, enough is enough. 

1. I do not care how you do on random quizzes. I don't care about your virtual farm. I don't care about any of the games you play. I'm friends with you on Facebook because (for the most part) I care about how you're doing and I want to know what you're up to. So go into application preferences and shut off all those ridiculous notifications. 

2. Don't "like" every status update. Don't comment on every post. It makes you look needy. And after so many "likes" it stops feeling genuine. Don't be a Facebook vulture. 

3. Don't synch Facebook and Twitter. There's a pretty good chance I already follow you on Twitter. And if I don't, there's probably a reason.

4. Friend counts are dumb. You don't get a prize for having the most friends. I actually think it makes you look a little pathetic. I know you aren't really friends with all those people. So stop friending people just to friend them. 

5. If we don't live in the same state, then please stop inviting me to your events. I would love to come (maybe), but I'm not jumping on a plane for your birthday party/concert/benefit dinner. Besides, knowing I can't come to the awesomeness makes me miss you. I'd rather just assume no awesomeness happens unless I'm there. 

I'm sure I'm missing some very important rules, so look for addendum later. But this seems like a good starting point. 

On Bathroom Etiquette

There should be a standard set of rules for bathrooms. Common sense rules. Things that shouldn't have to be written out. But clearly I'm writing for a reason. Clearly bathroom etiquette is being neglected.

1. Bathrooms need music. We don't need to hear coworkers going about their business.

2. Bathrooms are cell phone free zones. Not only do I not need to know you're talking to someone while sitting on the toilet, but I'm pretty sure the person on the other end of the line wouldn't want to know that either.

3. Always wash your hands. We all know who does and who doesn't.

4. Don't try and have conversations with other people in other stalls. It's awkward. And I'm pretty sure the conversation can wait a few minutes.

And a late contribution from @libbyhall22:

5. Never head to the bathroom when the co-worker nearest you might already be there. When in doubt, wait it out.

On When Not to Drink

Sometimes drinking seems like a good answer. It probably rarely is. Let's ignore that for now. But there are definitely some times when drinking is NOT the answer.

Drinking is not the answer when the question is...

Do we need to stop for gas?
Aren't you pregnant?
Do I have cirrhosis or the liver?
License and registration?
Will pain meds make me loopy?
How many hours until this very important deadline?
When is my flight instructor test?
How do I drive a stick again?
Is this a fake ID?
Doctor, are you ready for brain surgery?
Can I get directions to the nearest church?
What time are you heading over for family dinner?

And my personal favorite...

What time is the AA meeting?

On Real Thoughts from a Faux Expert

This blog is changing. It's less about advertising and more about life. The reason for this change is simple: my focus has shifted. I used to live to work. I mean, I loved advertising. I lived advertising. I was a junkie. Now, I still love my job. Really. It's just now I work to live. I can't think of a more exciting way to pay the bills than to have a job in advertising. I can't think of more challenging way to accumulate travel funds than to concept on ads all day. And I can't think of a more creative way to contribute my part to capitalism. Really.

So the blog will be more about my thoughts on life. But for all you ad nerds out there, a big chunk of my life consists of working. In advertising. So you'll still get your fix.

On Learning from Friends

I believe that everything happens for a reason and that everyone has something to teach. Some lessons are good. Some are bad. But everyone you meet has some role in your life, no matter how big or small.

I have my top seven teachers. They're also my closest friends. They're the ones who inspire me. They're the seven who know me best. They're the people who have made me, well, me. So love them. And thank them. I'm pretty awesome because of them.

Jennifer the Artist

Brilliant and creative, my sister lives life in her own unique way. She creates. She inspires. And no one can make me laugh quite like she does. Whether it's through her art, music, friendship or laughter, she uses her talents to help others. And she makes me want to do the same. 

Sarah the Helper

There isn't anything my little sister wouldn't do to make the people she loves happy. Nothing. And lucky for the world, she has a lot of love for a lot of people. She wants to save the world with her love. And if anyone can do it, she can. She's a constant reminder of the power of loving others. 

Diana the Thinker

For over fifteen years, she's been pushing me to think about the world around me. About religion. About politics. About relationships. About life. She doesn't accept things as true without an internal debate of logic and reason. And whether she realizes it or not, she has always guided me to do the same. 

Marcus the Musician

He's more heart than talent. And this guy oozes talent. But it's his heart that drives his music. It's his heart that fuels his dreams. It's his heart that inspires hope. And it's his heart that is slowly teaching me to listen to mine. 

Perry the Wavelength

My wavelength. My soulmate. The person who, even a thousand miles away, reminds me that I'm never alone. He's the one who always knows what I'm thinking. He's the one who always gets what I'm feeling. He's the one who always understands. He's my other half. 

Jordan the Enthusiast

He loves people. And animals. And nature. He lives life knowing that everything has its place. That the world is bigger than his immediate surroundings. He knows that we're all in this together and that the choices we make effect more than just ourselves. He sees the big picture and wants everyone else to see it as well. 

Dan the Ego

It's not cockiness, but confidence. He's one of those people who says what he wants, does what he desires and doesn't really give a damn what others may think. He knows his strengths and isn't afraid to play them up. And that confidence is contagious. It's contagious because he'll play up your strengths until you see them too. 

There are a lot of other people who have taught me along the way. But these seven, well their lessons live with me each and every day. And I love them for it. 

On My Least Favorite Word

Fuck. 

No, that's not my least favorite word. But it is the response my least favorite word evokes in me. Because there's a word out there that no matter what, says something bad is coming. What's worse, it says that what was previously said was a lie. A lie to lighten the blow. A lie to make everyone feel good before they feel bad. It's a painful word to hear, and lucky for us, we get the hear it all the time.

"I love this concept BUT can you please make all these changes?"
"Awesome BUT let's see what you can do with a little more time."
"I agree BUT I still think we have to do it this way."
And my personal hell these days, "Yes BUT not right now."

That one word negates the sentiment that came before it. It's the cowardly way of being honest. Because you're hiding your honesty behind a compliment. Behind hope.

Next time, just say what needs to be said. Be honest. Don't complicate things.

Make these changes. 
Let's see what you can do with more time. 
I think we have to do it this way.
No.

We all want to believe the good. We want to focus on the compliment. We want to embrace the hope. Because it's easier to accept that then the truth that follows. And that's where things get complicated. And that's why I hate the word.

On the Beauty of Words

I love art. And I love quotes. So put the two together and I'm in heaven. Seriously.

Below is a collection of other people's, for lack of a better term, quote art that I'm really digging today. It's like someone is taking the thoughts inside my head and making them beautiful, no matter how sad they may seem. There's beauty. And there's comfort. Comfort in knowing that someone else out there is thinking the same thing. And I'm finding beauty and empowerment in their similar experiences. It reminds me that we really are all in this together, no matter how alone we may feel.

On Small Budgets

Sometimes small budgets (or in this case, no budget) can inspire a creative solution. And sometimes my craftiness amazes even myself. That is all. 

On Football

I love football season. Love it. And I'm a Chiefs fan, which sometimes makes it hard to love football. But not last night. Last night my boys made me proud. Last night the stadium was magical. Last night was the epitome of why I love football so much. Because loving football isn't just about the sport. It's about the camaraderie. It's about the fans.

It's having nothing besides fandom in common,

and yet during game time you're best friends.

It's having a beer with people you've never met before

and you'll probably never see again. 

It's 70,000 people in a stadium all cheering for the same thing. 

It's not being alone in your

pride/frustration/disappointment/happiness/hope.

It's random high-fives with strangers. 

It's win or lose, knowing thousands of other people

are feeling what you're feeling. 

It's realizing it's possible to put aside your differences

and coexist peacefully. 

It's why I love football season so much. Because for those three hours on game day, nothing else matters. And that's awesome. 

On Expectations

I believe people are inherently good. I believe everyone has talent and expertise in something. And I believe we exist for each other, that we're all in this together.

And because of this, I expect greatness from everyone. I expect kindness and selflessness and passion. I expect common courtesy. I expect honesty and goodwill. I expect a lot.

I clearly have incredibly high expectations. For myself. For friends. For colleagues. For pretty much everyone. Expectations that are probably too high. Expectations that are probably not very realistic. That even I fail to live up to.

So I'm legitimately asking here, how do I go about lowering my expectations?

Because I feel I'm being unfair to a lot of people for expecting so much from them. All anyone can do is their best. And not everyone's best is the same. And I don't want to be disappointed by that.

On Control

I have control issues. Like bad. To the point where I can't be a passenger in a car without getting crazy anxious. Now, I don't consider myself a control freak. I just find comfort in knowing I'm in control of my own life.

This past month has been crazy. Things haven't been going my way. And the worse things got, the harder I fought to try and control all the various situations. Then I broke. I couldn't deal with the stress anymore. I couldn't deal with the insomnia. I couldn't deal with the uncertainty.

To keep my sanity, I had to (very, very quickly) learn to accept that I didn't have control over any of it. I don't have control over clients. I don't have control over office politics. I don't have control over decisions my friends make. I don't have control over what people think, feel or say. I. Don't. Have. Control.

So I shifted my focus. Because I do have control of my thoughts. My actions. My decisions. That decision to focus only on those things I can actually control, well that decision took me from miserable to excited in less than 24 hours. No joke.

Because I can't control client feedback. But I can control what I choose to do with it.
I can't control office politics. But I can control the role I play in them. 
I can't control decisions friends make. I can control how those decisions effect me. 
I can't control what people think, feel or say. I can control what I think, feel and say.

The lesson here is really just a reminder. You only have control over yourself. It's an empowering lesson. It's a freeing lesson. And it's a lesson I'll probably need a refresher course in again and again.

On the Power of Words

I believe in the power of words. It's probably why I'm such a music junkie. Or more specifically, a lyric junkie. Because no matter my mood, there's a song out there that speaks to me. I spent a couple hours a few nights ago carefully crafting the perfect playlist for what I need right now. Below are the words that made the cut. There's empowerment, there's sadness. There's wisdom and there's hope. Enjoy.


"I realize now I deserve so much more than what you give. Than what you give. I look so good without you. Got me a new hairdo. Looking fresh and brand new. Since you said that we were through." Jessie James, I Look so Good (Without You)

"Let's dance to joy division and celebrate the irony. Everything is going wrong, but we're so happy." The Wombats, Let's Dance the Joy Division

"How does it feel to realize you're all alone behind your eyes? It seems to me if you can't trust, you can't be trusted." Ben Folds, Trusted

"Everything's a stress and what's more, well it's all somebody's fault. Get over it." Ok Go, Get Over It

"It's me that ought to be moving on. You're not adorable. I was something unignorable." The Ting Tings, Shut Up and Let Me Go

"You had my heart, now I want it back. I'm starting to see everything you lack. You blew it, you put me through it, I want to undo it." Carrie Underwood, Undo It

"I'm starving for words that would ration my sadness away." Ludo, Drunken Lament

"Oh and I made my own bed. I lie in it. You lie in yours. You lie, you lie, in yours." Ben Folds, The Bitch Went Nuts

"I'm medicine and I am poison. I can help you up or make you fall. You had some of the best times you'll never remember with me. Alcohol." Brad Paisley, Alcohol

"Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars? I could really use a wish right now." B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams, Airplanes

"Just because I'm hurting doesn't mean I'm hurt. Doesn't mean I didn't get what I deserve. No better and no worse. I just got lost." Coldplay, Lost

"Cause I don't care if I ever talk to you again. This is not about emotion. I don't need a reason not to care what you say or what happened in the end. This is my interpretation, and it don't, don't make sense." MIKA, My Interpretation

"I never knew you, you never knew me. Say hello goodbye. Say hello and wave goodbye." David Gray, Say Hello Wave Goodbye

"Well I'm not one to sit and spin, cause living well is the best revenge." R.E.M., Living Well is the Best Revenge

"I wipe the slate clean. I kick the daydream and remain independently happy." Blue October, Independently Happy

"You can sound the alarm. You can call out your guards. You can fence in your yard. You can pull all the cards. But I wont back down." Eminem, Won't Back Down

"Don't look back in anger, I heard you say. At least not today." Oasis, Don't Look Back in Anger

"Guarantee I'll be the greatest thing you ever had. Cause you ain't never met nobody like me." Eminem, So Bad

"No matter what you'll never take that from me. My reign is as far as your eyes can see. It's amazing." Kayne West, Amazing

"This is the way you left me. I'm not pretending. No hope, no love, no glory. No happy ending." MIKA, Happy Ending

"You may be right. I may be crazy. But it just might be a lunatic you're looking for." Billy Joel, You May Be Right

"Cause all I ask for is instant pleasure." Rufus Wainwright, Instant Pleasure

"Ask a scientist, it's quantum physics. We're all in this together. And on the subway, we feel like strangers. But were all in this together. Yeah I love you and you love her and she loves him, but were all in this together." Ben Lee, We're All in This Together

"What I want from this, is learn to let go." Damien Rice, Rootless Tree

"I wanna feel a car crash, 'cause I'm dying on the inside. I wanna let go and know that I'll be alright." Matt Nathanson, Car Crash

"If you think you need to go. If you wanted to be free. There's just one thing you need to know. And that's that you can't count on me." Counting Crows, You Can't Count on Me

"It's alright 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown." Frou Frou, Let Go

"I need some sleep. It can't go on like this. I tried counting sheep, but there's one I always miss." Eels, I Need Some Sleep

"Excuse me please one more drink. Could you make it strong cause I don’t need to think." DMB, Grace is Gone

"No I'll stand my ground, won't be turned around. And I'll keep this world from draggin me down. Gonna stand my ground and I won't back down." Tom Petty, I Won't Back Down

"I wanna celebrate and live my life." Taio Cruz, Dynamite

"I pray all your dreams never come true. Just know wherever you are, near or far, in your house or in your car. Wherever you are, I pray for you." Jaron and the Long Road to Love, I Pray for You

"And that's what you get when you let your heart win." Paramore, That's What You Get

"Sometimes in my tears I drown, but I never let it get me down. So when negativity surrounds, I know some day it'll all turn around." Matisyahu, One Day

"You write such pretty words, but life's no storybook. Love's an excuse to get hurt and to hurt." Bright Eyes, Lover I Don't Have to Love

"Nobody said it was easy. No one ever said it would be this hard." Coldplay, The Scientist

"Always fighting what we’re feeling. Hurt instead of healing. After all, we’re only human." Jon Mclaughlin, Human

On Being Better

Always strive to be a better version of yourself. Strive to do better work. Strive to be a better friend. Just strive to be the best you can be.

The best way to do this is to surround yourself with people who push you to be better.

In advertising, I have my go-to people that I rely on to challenge me to be a better creative. They don't all work at the same agency as me and they aren't all creatives. But they all challenge me to look at things differently. They challenge me to leave my comfort zone. They challenge me to learn my craft. I'm a better creative because of them.

Same thing applies in life (you know, that thing OUTSIDE of advertising). Surround yourself with the people who make you a better person. The people that make you a happier person. A more loving person. Find these people and then hold onto them. Make them a priority.

I have awesome friends. Lots of them. But I have a handful who constantly make me strive to be a better version of myself. They push me more understanding. They inspire me to be more creative. They challenge me to question the status quo. They motivate me to be more involved. And they provoke me to push myself more than I ever would on my own. And they do it all without trying. It's just who they all are.

I'm truly grateful to have such amazing people in my life. And I'm rising to their challenge of being a better person. I'm striving to be a better Art Director. And I'm going to be the best person and friend I can possibly be. Which hopefully means I'm helping you all be the best versions of yourselves too.

On Hope

So I haven't posted in awhile. I won't rattle off a list of excuses. In all honesty, I haven't posted because I've been too busy out enjoying life. Which, if you know me at all, is kind of a new concept.

Anyway, I'm feeling very hopeful right now. And hope is a powerful feeling. And an important one.

There isn't a whole lot of hope in our industry right now. There really hasn't been since the economy took that nasty turn for the worse. Budgets are small. Projects are straightforward and seem to lack creativity. People are frustrated. The only hope we grasp onto is knowing that eventually this will pass and things will get better.

That just isn't enough for me. So I took on a side project. One that I love. One that provides me a great deal of hope. Hope for creativity. Hope for a breakthrough. Hope for the future.

One of my oldest and closest friends is an incredibly talented musician. And I decided to spend my spare time helping him realize his dreams, which in turn is helping me stay focused on mine. So now I'm Art Director by day, Band Manager by night. And I'm having a blast.

I'm having to teach myself a lot in this new role, which is fine by me. We just launched www.marcuswords.com, which took a lot of learning on my part. And as I keep learning new web stuff, the site will keep evolving. I'm learning the art of promotion, which really isn't my strong suit but something that should be. And I'm getting to be the artist I wish I could be at my day job. There's a really cool poster series in the works that I'll post here soon.

It's good to be hopeful. Hopeful that talent and passion might actually pay off. Hopeful that there's something bigger out there to be a part of. And hopeful that at the end of the day, somehow, somewhere you made a difference.


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The new logo:

The poster series (as it stands now):

On Happiness

You are in charge of your own happiness. And sometimes things suck so bad that it's hard to stay happy. So here's what I suggest.

Build your own personal happy place. Fill it with all the memories that make you happy. And visit it as often as you need to.

My happy place includes:

People watching in Piazza San Marcos.
Driving golf carts around TCU.
Hanging on the stoop.
Club 2625.
The Infamous Apple Night.
Watching Marcus play.
The night Diana's ring went missing.
Climbing a glacier.
Antigua.
Hiking the Pasadena Dam.
Driving country roads with my best friend.
Theme parties.
The road trip to Shreveport.
The wavelength.
Walking home in a Chicago downpour.
The Paddy Wagon in San Antonio.
Canoeing on Lake Louise.
White water rafting.
Driving from Chicago to Boulder, in a blizzard, in a Geo Metro.
Chiefs games.
Playing car tag with Perry.
Long talks with Jordy.
Mardi Gras.
Christmastime at Krug Park.
My first concert.
The Six Fuzzies.
The Pub.
Air furniture.
My sisters.
This.
Homemade Halloween costumes.
Summer camp at Crowder State Park.
The night the door was kicked in.
DJ Copy.
Listening to ICP on the tour bus.
Sprite Night.
Playing Badminton.
Barbosas.

I love my happy place.

On the Importance of Knowledge

The most solvable problems are those problems that are clearly understood by the people trying to solve them.

Solutions stem from a full understanding of the problem. Knowledge is key. Not merely knowledge of what the problem is either.

You need knowledge about how it became a problem. Is the economy suffering? Are customers becoming more health-conscious? Have you suffered from bad PR?

You need knowledge about what would be considered an acceptable resolution. An increase in sales? More twitter followers? More consumer trust?

You need knowledge about the people this problem affects. Are they risk-takers? Conservative? Desperate?

And you need knowledge about the people the solution will affect. Do they want convenience? Appreciate goodwill? Are they penny pinchers?

The next time you have a problem that needs solving, do your homework. Learn as much as you can about the situation. Ask questions. Turn to experts.

Knowledge is key. Without it, we'd have a whole bunch of problems and very few solutions.

On Making Mistakes

I'm in an industry where you fail on a daily basis and if you aren't failing, you aren't pushing yourself enough.

I believe it's how you deal with that constant failure that separates the good from the great. If failing last time makes you skittish this time, then you'll most likely fail again. If failing last time makes you work harder and push further this time, then you might succeed. Failure is an integral part of our process. And how you deal with it will shape the kind of creative you become.

Failing in life follows this same principle. How you deal with your mistakes shapes who you are. Mistakes build character.

We as a society tend to label people by the mistakes they've made, not by the person they are. I've made my share of mistakes. Everyone has. Most of us grow past our mistakes. Most of us learn from them and move on. But your past is and always will be a part of you. It's how others see you, and how they may always see you. And it's frustrating.

Mistakes shouldn't define you. How you deal with them should.

One of my closest friends is an incredibly talented musician with a huge heart. Unfortunately, a lot of people can't see that because they're too hung up on his past. They're more hung up on his past than he is. He took a bad situation and found a way to rise above it. He didn't run from it. He didn't throw his life away because of it. Instead, he faced it. And he's a better person, and an amazing father, because of it.

I choose to see him for his success in handling it all. I choose to see him for the person he became through it all. I choose to focus on the outcome rather than the mistake.

Here's my point.

Don't be afraid of making mistakes. We will all fail at some point. It's inevitable. So don't be afraid of it. And when you do make a mistake, accept it. Face it. Learn from it. And then move on.

Don't let your mistake define you.
Let your triumph over it define you instead.

On Brand Pride

I just finished watching my Horned Frogs destroy their first opponent in the College World Series. Upon the win, I immediately went to TCU's online bookstore and bought a new shirt. I made my purchase out of pride. I cheer for them out of pride. I wear purple out of pride for my Horned Frogs. I am proud to be a part of the TCU brand.

Alumni from most colleges have pride for the schools they attended. Aside from colleges, brand pride at this level is rare. Professional sports teams have this kind of relationship with their fans. Which turns their fans into consumers, helping them profit off of ticket sales and merchandising.

Apple is the only major brand that has tapped into this kind of brand pride. They have their Apple fanboys, sure, but they also have a huge group of regular people who will never buy a PC. Mac users, like myself, happily share the Apple story with others. We try and convert others to the brand. And we do it willingly because we're proud to be Mac owners. We're proud to have the cool new technology that Apple churns out before anyone else. We're proud to be a part of the Apple story.

Brands need to tap into this feeling of customer pride. They need to give their customers a reason to share their love of the brand with others. They need to give their customers something to be proud of.

Easier said then done, I know. But as marketers we can help. What does the brand you're marketing do that would make people proud to be a part of it? What is it about the brand that would get people talking about it unprovoked? What can the brand do to instill a sense of pride in their customers?

Pride makes people loyal. It makes people ambassadors. It makes people customers for life. Brand pride is rare, but it isn't impossible to achieve. And here's the proof: GO FROGS!!!!

On Lots of Things, Part 2

On Common Sense
Common sense is extremely uncommon these days.

On Vacations
Plan them. Take them. Enjoy them. And recall them when you need a momentary retreat from life.

On Priorities
Always put the people you love ahead of the work you like.

On Pride
Work that lacks pride more than likely lacks power.

On Rules
Rules are written for those who can't figure things out on their own.

On the Business of Advertising

The Advertising Business no longer exists as we once knew it. And to be honest, our role today isn't just that of advertising. So perhaps it's time to examine what business we are actually in.

My agency, and many others, promote that we're in the Idea Business. I mostly agree with that, but get hung up on the thought of relevance. Yes, we come up with ideas. But if the ideas aren't relevant than they're worthless. So I'm not sure Idea Business is right.

A lot of times I like to think we're in the Problem Solving Business. Which is true, but I think that's one of the things that holds this industry back. Because solving problems is passive. And we need to be proactive. We need to solve the problems that don't even exist yet.

I think in truth we are in the Communication Business. No, that doesn't sound hip and cool, but when you look at why there is even a need for ad agencies, you'll discover it boils down to communication. We exist to help clients communicate with consumers.

The reason I think it matters what business we define ourselves as being a part of, is that it becomes a constant reminder of what our role is. Our goal used to be to create ads, which is why saying we worked in Advertising made sense. But our business is no longer about print or the :30 TV spot. Instead it's about communicating with consumers as effectively and as interestingly as possible.

On Vacations

Take them. Your mind will thank you.

On Being a Consumer First

My job title is Art Director, which is pretty cool.

But I'm a consumer first. It's the reason I even need a job title. I need it to foot the bills for all the consuming I do. And believe me, I consume a lot.

Sometimes there is a strange contradiction between being an Art Director and being a consumer. That shouldn't be the case, but I think a lot of us working in advertising give our consumer instincts a back seat to our quest to find the Big Idea.

We need to remember to review all our ideas with our consumer eyes as well.

As a consumer, I want to know what your brand stands for.
As a consumer, I want to know what your product or service will mean for me specifically.
As a consumer, I am cynical about any claim that isn't backed with reason and logic.
As a consumer, I research all major purchases online.
As a consumer, I rely on word of mouth over everything else.
As a consumer, I prefer cleverness over slapstick humor.
As a consumer, I want to know that you treat customers fairly.
As a consumer, I like brands that take risks with the goal of being better.
As a consumer, I want to be talked to as an intelligent person.
As a consumer, I hate food shots that over-promise.
As a consumer, relevance, logic and commonsense win me over.

As an Art Director, I need to remember all this when concepting and executing ideas. Although I'm not always a part of the consumer group we're trying to reach, a lot of times I am. And a lot of the things I want as a consumer get lost in my work as an Art Director.

Consumer first. Art Director second.

On Food Porn

Food porn (noun): Close-up images of juicy, delicious food often used for advertising purposes.

I hate food porn. I think it's one of the great wrongdoings of the ad industry. It's false advertising, simple as that.

I'd actually equate it to meeting someone online and exchanging pictures only to meet them in real life and realizing that the previously sent pictures were photoshopped. It's blatant lying.

Do I understand why clients love food porn in their spots? Yes. Appetite appeal is huge and it probably actually draws some people in to try the product. But that's where the problem begins.

Because unless that's what your product looks like when the consumer orders it, there will be a huge let down. There will be anger. The consumer will know they have been lied to. And you can't build brand loyalty on lies.

It used to be a lot more acceptable. However, consumers these days are not only smart and engaged, but they're also cynical. They know when they're being lied to and they're savvy enough to share their experiences with other consumers on sites like consumerist.com.

When was the last time you ordered a hamburger that looked as good as it did on TV? My guess? Never.

Here's what I think we need to do as an industry to confront the food porn trend:

1. Convince clients that if they want beauty shots of their food in advertising, they need to ensure that's exactly how they will deliver the food to consumers. Every burger served needs to look like the burger you used in the spot. No exceptions.

2. We need to be more realistic with how we showcase food in ads. Wrinkle free buns don't exist on an operational level, so don't use them in the food shots. Embrace the imperfections. Showcase exactly what consumers will get when they order, but do it in the best light possible. Be honest.

Nobody likes being lied to. So let's stop using food porn to sell food. It's distasteful and quite frankly, it's not doing the client any good.