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.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
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.
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.
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.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
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!!!!
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!!!!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
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.
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.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
On Shoots
I love shoots. You get to watch as your little idea baby comes to life. Sure they're stressful. Sure things don't always go as planned. But that's life. You just roll with the punches and hope for the best.
We're currently shooting the second installment of a new campaign for our biggest client. The first installment was shot in January. It was a good shoot and the spots turned out nice. But it's only four months later and this shoot has a completely different feel to it. It's looser, the energy is higher and the scripts are wittier. And it'll definitely show in the end.
Why do I feel more confident this time around?
Experience. We've shot this campaign once before and we've learned from it. And now we get to build on the foundation we set last time around. As the saying goes, "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." We've learned and it'll show in the finished spots.
Ownership. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into this round of work. And a lot of battles were fought to make this next round the best it could possibly be. When that much heart goes into the work on the front end, there's a lot more ownership for making it awesome on the back end.
Energy. The energy this round is through the roof. From agency to client to director and casting, everyone is excited about this round of work. There was excitement last round, but it was nowhere near the levels it is right now. And when everyone is this energized, the work will be to.
Needless to say, I'm definitely excited to see how everything turns out. And hopefully when it hits the airwaves this summer, you'll all be excited to see it to.
We're currently shooting the second installment of a new campaign for our biggest client. The first installment was shot in January. It was a good shoot and the spots turned out nice. But it's only four months later and this shoot has a completely different feel to it. It's looser, the energy is higher and the scripts are wittier. And it'll definitely show in the end.
Why do I feel more confident this time around?
Experience. We've shot this campaign once before and we've learned from it. And now we get to build on the foundation we set last time around. As the saying goes, "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." We've learned and it'll show in the finished spots.
Ownership. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into this round of work. And a lot of battles were fought to make this next round the best it could possibly be. When that much heart goes into the work on the front end, there's a lot more ownership for making it awesome on the back end.
Energy. The energy this round is through the roof. From agency to client to director and casting, everyone is excited about this round of work. There was excitement last round, but it was nowhere near the levels it is right now. And when everyone is this energized, the work will be to.
Needless to say, I'm definitely excited to see how everything turns out. And hopefully when it hits the airwaves this summer, you'll all be excited to see it to.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
On Meaning
Everything is subjective. Different people see the same thing in different ways. Everyone brings their own perspective into situations. That’s where meaning comes from. And if you’re trying to communicate with someone different than yourself, you need to figure out what matters to them. You need to take into account how they view certain situations. You need to understand that meaning changes from person to person.
This is my 50lb post. I’ve hit my goal of losing 50lbs and I did it in 5 months. And if you’ve never had to lose that much weight or if you’ve never struggled with weight, 50lbs probably doesn’t mean a whole lot to you. And that’s fine. But to someone like me, it means everything. So what does 50lbs mean to me?
It means size 4 jeans instead of size 20.
It means medium shirts instead of XL.
It means confidence instead of embarrassment.
It means shopping for clothes can be fun.
It means working out is no longer a chore but a way of life.
It means pride when I look in the mirror.
It means fitted clothes instead of baggy clothes.
It means sounder sleep.
It means knowing I have self-control.
It means hard work does pay off.
It means standing out for the right reasons.
It means learning to take compliments.
It means no longer using weight as an excuse.
It means knowing I’m worth it.
It means a happier, healthier, more confident me.
Losing weight isn’t about hitting a certain number, but about being healthy. So maybe all those products and services that help people reach a healthier lifestyle should remember and market the rewards of being healthy. Because at the end of the day, it isn’t about a being a certain weight. It’s about so much more.
So when you’re talking about the benefits of your product and service, make sure you understand what those benefits actually mean to your target. Don’t assume what you perceive as the benefit is the same thing they do. After all, meaning changes person to person.
This is my 50lb post. I’ve hit my goal of losing 50lbs and I did it in 5 months. And if you’ve never had to lose that much weight or if you’ve never struggled with weight, 50lbs probably doesn’t mean a whole lot to you. And that’s fine. But to someone like me, it means everything. So what does 50lbs mean to me?
It means size 4 jeans instead of size 20.
It means medium shirts instead of XL.
It means confidence instead of embarrassment.
It means shopping for clothes can be fun.
It means working out is no longer a chore but a way of life.
It means pride when I look in the mirror.
It means fitted clothes instead of baggy clothes.
It means sounder sleep.
It means knowing I have self-control.
It means hard work does pay off.
It means standing out for the right reasons.
It means learning to take compliments.
It means no longer using weight as an excuse.
It means knowing I’m worth it.
It means a happier, healthier, more confident me.
Losing weight isn’t about hitting a certain number, but about being healthy. So maybe all those products and services that help people reach a healthier lifestyle should remember and market the rewards of being healthy. Because at the end of the day, it isn’t about a being a certain weight. It’s about so much more.
So when you’re talking about the benefits of your product and service, make sure you understand what those benefits actually mean to your target. Don’t assume what you perceive as the benefit is the same thing they do. After all, meaning changes person to person.
Monday, May 3, 2010
On Worth
Worth determines whether or not someone will purchase something. It determines whether they'll devote their time. It determines whether they spread the word. Worth is important. So you need to make sure you are marketing in a way that proves worth to your audience.
Is the product worth the cost?
Is the convenience worth the lower quality?
Is the message worth 30 seconds of their time?
Is the result worth the hassle?
Is the destination worth the travel?
Is the company worth the loyalty?
You need to be able to make logical arguments that position your product or services worth. Because at the end of the day, if the customers aren't convinced it's worth it, they aren't going to use it.
Is the product worth the cost?
Is the convenience worth the lower quality?
Is the message worth 30 seconds of their time?
Is the result worth the hassle?
Is the destination worth the travel?
Is the company worth the loyalty?
You need to be able to make logical arguments that position your product or services worth. Because at the end of the day, if the customers aren't convinced it's worth it, they aren't going to use it.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
On Expertise
Everyone is an expert of something. The key is figuring out what your expertise are and leveraging them when it's relevant.
I'm an expert in lots of things. Most of my expertise won't help much in the grand scheme of things, but you never know. Here's my partial list:
Expert in procrastination.
Expert in getting things done at the last possible minute.
Expert in navigating to new and unknown locations.
Expert in quoting Ace Ventura When Nature Calls.
Expert in passing cars in high traffic.
Expert in using a George Foreman grill.
Expert in spending money at Target.
Expert in stumbling upon interesting stuff on the Internet.
Expert in driving a manual.
Expert in HGTV programming.
Expert in coffee consumption.
Expert in the stretch of I-35 from Kansas City to Fort Worth.
Expert in efficiently getting through airport security.
Expert in sleeping in on Saturdays.
Expert in Photo Hunt.
Expert in looking at things from different perspectives.
Expert in Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
Expert in getting places on time.
And that's just for me, a person. Imagine how many expertise a brand could find, claim and leverage. But when you claim expertise for yourself or a brand you need to make sure they are relevant and true. And then back it up with all you have.
I'm an expert in lots of things. Most of my expertise won't help much in the grand scheme of things, but you never know. Here's my partial list:
Expert in procrastination.
Expert in getting things done at the last possible minute.
Expert in navigating to new and unknown locations.
Expert in quoting Ace Ventura When Nature Calls.
Expert in passing cars in high traffic.
Expert in using a George Foreman grill.
Expert in spending money at Target.
Expert in stumbling upon interesting stuff on the Internet.
Expert in driving a manual.
Expert in HGTV programming.
Expert in coffee consumption.
Expert in the stretch of I-35 from Kansas City to Fort Worth.
Expert in efficiently getting through airport security.
Expert in sleeping in on Saturdays.
Expert in Photo Hunt.
Expert in looking at things from different perspectives.
Expert in Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
Expert in getting places on time.
And that's just for me, a person. Imagine how many expertise a brand could find, claim and leverage. But when you claim expertise for yourself or a brand you need to make sure they are relevant and true. And then back it up with all you have.
Monday, April 19, 2010
On Learning to Read Minds
Welcome to the Faux Expert's Free Internet Mind-Reading Course where you will learn to read the minds of others in three simple steps. The process takes some practice, but the results will astound you!
How to Read Minds
Step 1: Make eye contact with the person whose mind it is you wish to read.
Step 2: Vocally state aloud the information you wish to learn when reading the individual's mind. This will usually, but not always, take the form of a question. Make sure you state your request loud enough to be heard, otherwise it may be misinterpreted.
Step 3: Listen to the information being transmitted from their mind. The thoughts will most likely come vocally, so make sure your ears are ready to hear the response.
Troubleshooting Tips
• If the response you receive is unclear or seems dishonest, repeat Step 2, revising your information request if necessary.
• If you wish to probe deeper for more information from the individual's mind, repeat the process requesting the new information.
That's it. Now go forth and read minds!
How to Read Minds
Step 1: Make eye contact with the person whose mind it is you wish to read.
Step 2: Vocally state aloud the information you wish to learn when reading the individual's mind. This will usually, but not always, take the form of a question. Make sure you state your request loud enough to be heard, otherwise it may be misinterpreted.
Step 3: Listen to the information being transmitted from their mind. The thoughts will most likely come vocally, so make sure your ears are ready to hear the response.
Troubleshooting Tips
• If the response you receive is unclear or seems dishonest, repeat Step 2, revising your information request if necessary.
• If you wish to probe deeper for more information from the individual's mind, repeat the process requesting the new information.
That's it. Now go forth and read minds!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
On Lots of Things
On Communication
The only thing worse than miscommunication is no communication at all.
On Loyalty
If you don't have their backs, don't expect them to have yours.
On Telepathy
If you don't actually say it, you can't expect them to hear it.
On Ego
Thinking you're the best doesn't make you the best.
On Hiring
Hire people who are better than you and you'll get better work.
On Bad Days
A bad day can only last 24 hours.
The only thing worse than miscommunication is no communication at all.
On Loyalty
If you don't have their backs, don't expect them to have yours.
On Telepathy
If you don't actually say it, you can't expect them to hear it.
On Ego
Thinking you're the best doesn't make you the best.
On Hiring
Hire people who are better than you and you'll get better work.
On Bad Days
A bad day can only last 24 hours.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
On Bad Days
Sometimes a day comes along that infuriates you so much you want to throw your hands up and quit. It happens to everyone. It happens in any occupation. It happens at big companies and it happens at small companies. It just happens.
So what do you do?
You go home. You unplug. And you go do something that'll make you happy. And then you go to bed.
And the next day, you wake up to a clean slate. You forget about yesterday. Forget about how bad it was. You find a way to just move on.
Moving on is as easy or as hard as you decide it'll be. Because it is a choice. You either choose to dwell or you choose to move on.
I'm wired to dwell. Most people are. It's an ego thing. But you can change that. You can decide that the anger and frustration aren't worth your energy. It takes time to reprogram your thinking. I've been working at it for awhile now, and it's still tough for me to not dwell on a bad day. But I know the anger isn't worth it in the end so I keep trying.
Tomorrow I'm starting over. And hopefully it'll be a better day. But if it isn't, I'll try again on Friday.
So what do you do?
You go home. You unplug. And you go do something that'll make you happy. And then you go to bed.
And the next day, you wake up to a clean slate. You forget about yesterday. Forget about how bad it was. You find a way to just move on.
Moving on is as easy or as hard as you decide it'll be. Because it is a choice. You either choose to dwell or you choose to move on.
I'm wired to dwell. Most people are. It's an ego thing. But you can change that. You can decide that the anger and frustration aren't worth your energy. It takes time to reprogram your thinking. I've been working at it for awhile now, and it's still tough for me to not dwell on a bad day. But I know the anger isn't worth it in the end so I keep trying.
Tomorrow I'm starting over. And hopefully it'll be a better day. But if it isn't, I'll try again on Friday.
On Brand Loyalty
It's funny because until recently I've never really been loyal to specific brands. Well I've been a loyal Apple fan and Jeep fan for years, but that was the extent of it.
But ever since I've been reprioritizing different aspects of my life, I've become loyal to a lot of new brands.
My new more healthy lifestyle has made me loyal to General Mills cereals, specifically plain Cheerios. I felt like I was cheating on General Mills when I bought some Kellogg's Corn Flakes last night. Both brands are great for the health-conscious. The front of the boxes spell out the nutritional information and even better than that, neither have sacrificed serving sizes to get the calories down.
I've also become extremely loyal to KitchenAid. I have loads of shiny new appliances in my apartment to help with all the cooking I'm doing these days. And KitchenAid has become my go-to brand. They're solid appliances that look great. The aesthetic side of KitchenAid is probably what keeps drawing me in.
24HF and BodyBugg are probably my top brands right now. 24HF is convenient, but most importantly the staff is wonderful. They know me by name, they know what my goals are and they keep tabs on my progress. Awesome.
BodyBugg has been a God-send. Seriously. I love it that much. It has helped that much. If I'm not wearing my BodyBugg, I don't feel whole. That's what every brand what's to be to it's customers. That's what BodyBugg is to me.
Other brands I've built a loyalty with recently are Nintendo. Love Wii Fit. Laughing Cow. Hy-vee for it's health food section. Gap won my loyalty with their Long & Lean jeans.
I guess my point is that all these brands have been a huge part of my journey these past few months. So now all these brands hold a special place in my heart. Sounds cheesy, sure. But it's true. And I'm sure they're all stoked to have a new loyal customer that'll keep coming back for more.
But ever since I've been reprioritizing different aspects of my life, I've become loyal to a lot of new brands.
My new more healthy lifestyle has made me loyal to General Mills cereals, specifically plain Cheerios. I felt like I was cheating on General Mills when I bought some Kellogg's Corn Flakes last night. Both brands are great for the health-conscious. The front of the boxes spell out the nutritional information and even better than that, neither have sacrificed serving sizes to get the calories down.
I've also become extremely loyal to KitchenAid. I have loads of shiny new appliances in my apartment to help with all the cooking I'm doing these days. And KitchenAid has become my go-to brand. They're solid appliances that look great. The aesthetic side of KitchenAid is probably what keeps drawing me in.
24HF and BodyBugg are probably my top brands right now. 24HF is convenient, but most importantly the staff is wonderful. They know me by name, they know what my goals are and they keep tabs on my progress. Awesome.
BodyBugg has been a God-send. Seriously. I love it that much. It has helped that much. If I'm not wearing my BodyBugg, I don't feel whole. That's what every brand what's to be to it's customers. That's what BodyBugg is to me.
Other brands I've built a loyalty with recently are Nintendo. Love Wii Fit. Laughing Cow. Hy-vee for it's health food section. Gap won my loyalty with their Long & Lean jeans.
I guess my point is that all these brands have been a huge part of my journey these past few months. So now all these brands hold a special place in my heart. Sounds cheesy, sure. But it's true. And I'm sure they're all stoked to have a new loyal customer that'll keep coming back for more.
Friday, April 9, 2010
On the Agencies (and People) that Inspire Me
Since it's Follow Friday, I thought I'd give a shout out to the shops I follow on Twitter, but more importantly the shops I follow everyday to keep me inspired to do good work. So here they are, in no particular order:
Mullen
@edwardboches
Wexley School for Girls
@Wexley
CP+B
@cpbgroup
@bogusky
rethink
@Rethinknow
BooneOakley
@booneoakley
McGarrah Jessee
@mcgarrahjessee
Cole+McVoy
@ColleMcVoy
W+K
@FakeDanWieden
@WiedenKennedy
Victors and Spoils
@VictorsnSpoils
AKQA
@AKQA
The Martin Agency
@MartinTweets
R/GA
@RGA
TBWA
@TBWA
Mullen
@edwardboches
Wexley School for Girls
@Wexley
CP+B
@cpbgroup
@bogusky
rethink
@Rethinknow
BooneOakley
@booneoakley
McGarrah Jessee
@mcgarrahjessee
Cole+McVoy
@ColleMcVoy
W+K
@FakeDanWieden
@WiedenKennedy
Victors and Spoils
@VictorsnSpoils
AKQA
@AKQA
The Martin Agency
@MartinTweets
R/GA
@RGA
TBWA
@TBWA
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
On Listening
Everyone thinks they're a pretty good listener, but the truth is that very few people actually are. We need to all work on becoming much better listeners if we want to become more efficient in our jobs.
A lot of time is wasted by not listening. Or maybe it's wasted by not listening to the right people. We all know that we need to listen to what our bosses say. We all know we need to listen to what our clients say. But a lot of the time we aren't listening to what each other are saying.
We aren't listening to the people who touch the projects each and every day. We aren't listening to the consumers who actually use the products and services we advertise. And we aren't listening to coworkers who have already spent the time and energy thinking through the task at hand.
So we need to start listening. Start really listening. Because maybe then we wouldn't waste a couple weeks coming to the same conclusion that someone else already has. We wouldn't waste time on strategies that are flawed. And we wouldn't waste time rehashing the same things again and again and again.
Everyone is an expert in something. Everyone has something to bring to the table. The key is listening to what other people are saying. Listening to the insights and ideas that other people have.
When we become better listeners, we'll also become more efficient at solving the problems we need to solve.
A lot of time is wasted by not listening. Or maybe it's wasted by not listening to the right people. We all know that we need to listen to what our bosses say. We all know we need to listen to what our clients say. But a lot of the time we aren't listening to what each other are saying.
We aren't listening to the people who touch the projects each and every day. We aren't listening to the consumers who actually use the products and services we advertise. And we aren't listening to coworkers who have already spent the time and energy thinking through the task at hand.
So we need to start listening. Start really listening. Because maybe then we wouldn't waste a couple weeks coming to the same conclusion that someone else already has. We wouldn't waste time on strategies that are flawed. And we wouldn't waste time rehashing the same things again and again and again.
Everyone is an expert in something. Everyone has something to bring to the table. The key is listening to what other people are saying. Listening to the insights and ideas that other people have.
When we become better listeners, we'll also become more efficient at solving the problems we need to solve.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
On Plussing the Work
My Creative Director and I have been talking a lot lately about the notion that everyone who touches a project should make it better. Think about that for a second. You have an entire agency where everyone contributes one thing to making the project better, to plussing the work.
Account Service and Planning would contribute better insights on briefs. Media would contribute unique vehicles to deliver the message. Art Directors and Copywriters would contribute fresher, more strategic ideas. Creative Directors would add even more fresh thinking to those ideas. Directors and photographers would add their expertise and insights to the project, as would editors and so forth and so on. The work would get better with every person who touched it.
Here's the most important thing: sometimes your contribution might be nothing more than acknowledging that you don't have something to add to make it better. Sometimes that'll be the case, which is okay. But don't feel like you have to contribute just to contribute. If you can't make the idea better, acknowledge that and let the process move forward.
The saying goes if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Well the same principle applies here. If you don't have anything good to add, don't add anything at all.
Account Service and Planning would contribute better insights on briefs. Media would contribute unique vehicles to deliver the message. Art Directors and Copywriters would contribute fresher, more strategic ideas. Creative Directors would add even more fresh thinking to those ideas. Directors and photographers would add their expertise and insights to the project, as would editors and so forth and so on. The work would get better with every person who touched it.
Here's the most important thing: sometimes your contribution might be nothing more than acknowledging that you don't have something to add to make it better. Sometimes that'll be the case, which is okay. But don't feel like you have to contribute just to contribute. If you can't make the idea better, acknowledge that and let the process move forward.
The saying goes if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Well the same principle applies here. If you don't have anything good to add, don't add anything at all.
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