December 2011
16 posts
Chaos and creativity: friend or foe?
If you’ve read my previous posts, you know I’m skeptical about the idea that open office space breeds collaboration. I haven’t really seen it happen and it runs counter to my basic instincts about human behavior. It also contradicts the opinion of leading neuroscientists.
But a recent post from Edward Boches at Mullen has me giving the concept a second look. His story of how...
Is it just a job for you?
For some, work is work. It pays the bills and that’s enough. To expect that a job can provide anything more is foolish, they say.
I say otherwise.
If you choose to toil away for 50 years at a job that makes you miserable, enjoy. I’d prefer to spend that time doing something that challenges me, gets me excited and motivates me.
But hey, different strokes for different folks,...
Is age more than just a number? →
Does age matter when it comes to creating advertising? That’s what these four former DDB execs are counting on. The Boomer Generation is just starting to hit retirement age, spawning a potentially lucrative market for advertisers. In an industry dominated by youth, is there a place for a more ‘mature’ group that might know better how to speak to the AARP set? I think there is....
An unhealthy dose of cynicism
Everyone can be cynical at times. There is plenty of evidence to back up the belief that humans are motivated by selfish desires. Only a fool would blindly take everyone at their word.
But cynicism has its limits. If you refuse to see the good in people, life can get pretty miserable. And the only person to blame is yourself.
For a case study in cynicism run amok, look no further than the...
The Best Ads of 2011 (or, stuff I liked)
It’s that time of year again. Everyone is trotting out their ‘10 Best’ lists. So I figured, why not join the party?
Here are my favs from the past year, in no particular order. Most are TV spots, but I’ve tried to include some online and alt media stuff as well.
To differentiate my list from all of the others, I haven’t done any googling (okay, I googled the...
WatchCan’t wait for this show. Looks awesome.
funnyordie:
Billy On The Street: New Preview!
This amazingly hilarious (and 100 percent real) surprise game show with Billy Eichner premieres Dec. 22 on Fuse TV!
We're all the same (pretty much)
I read a great post yesterday about how to manage and market to millennials. Some good advice for sure. But it got me thinking.
Are there really such stark differences between the generations?
I don’t think so.
Gen Xers (myself included) like to rant about the entitlement mentality of today’s younger workers. And we’re not completely off base. I’ve seen it in...
RODD CHANT: DON'T WORK LIKE A DOG. INSTEAD, THINK... →
roddchant:
Image © Rodd Chant 2011
All too often people will say you should work like a dog to be successful, The Beatles even sung about it in a Hard Day’s Night. And it is all too common a response to questions about how to get what you want or to where you want to be.
But I…
This social networking thing is really starting to... →
This infographic on Mashable shows that more people than ever are using Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to find a job. Still think you don’t need to keep your professional information updated? If you only knew how often you’ve been passed over for a job because you didn’t make your info available, you’d change your tune pretty quickly. I can’t even count the number...
Are you the problem or the solution? →
Great article from Business Week about the type of people that can drag an organization down. I think we’ve all seen each of these ‘types’ floating around the halls at our respective agencies. And while we’re all guilty of a little negativity from time to time, it’s important to not let it become what defines you. This is good stuff to know, whether you’re a...
Time to take back advertising?
Are penny-pinching corporations sucking the life out of our business?
I think we all know the answer to that one. But it’s not their fault. They’re just playing by the rules they’ve been given.
So how do we regain the mojo we once had? Can we put our focus back on what matters—the work—while still pleasing the folks in the holding company c-suites?
Yes, we can.
But we need...
You don't have to like it but you better... →
Great post from Dan Goldgeier over at Talent Zoo on the media we consume and how it impacts our work.
Here’s a snippet:
“Don’t forget: advertising relies on knowledge of lowbrow culture just as much as anything that’s considered classic literature or art. Sometimes keeping up requires that you watch or read things you really don’t care for. Not a fan of reality TV or Twilight? Get...
All work and no play makes johnny a dull employee →
I’ve commented on this before, but it bears repeating. A recent study shows that Americans are afraid to use all their vacation days. And we don’t get that many to begin with. Now, maybe this isn’t such surprising news, given how much fear people have for their jobs in general these days. But this has been going on since well before the great recession. We don’t value...
Are ad schools worth it? A discussion.
Great 9-minute video of top agency players talking about ad schools and finding talent. Not sure I agree with all of it, but these are some of the heavy hitters in the business, so it’s worth a look. The key takeaway? Ad schools tend to make everyone look the same. Find a way to stand out.