One of my new obsessions: GOOD.
"The solution lies in the principle of shared value, which involves creating economic value in a way that also creates value for society by addressing its needs and challenges. Businesses must reconnect company success with social progress. Shared value is not social responsibility, philanthropy, or even sustainability, but a new way to achieve economic success. It is not on the margin of what companies do but at the center. We believe that it can give rise to the next major transformation of business thinking."
-MICHAEL E. PORTER / “THE BIG IDEA: CREATING SHARED VALUE” / HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW
Monday, July 11, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
File Under "Things We Love"
Like just about everything Wieden does for Nike, I'm in love with this. Enjoy!
http://www.nikebetterworld.com/
http://www.nikebetterworld.com/
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Before You Ask Me for a Job...Please Read This.
Before I jump right into the somewhat crass post that is coming, let me just say that I too have dreams. Specifically, when I was 20 years old, I wrote "What do I need to do to get to New York?" on a note card. Since then, I've worked my ass off, took a leap of faith, and am now living and working in New. York. City.
Coming from Middle America and going to college in the midst of an awesome and self-contained, albeit smaller, advertising community, a lot of people talk about moving to New York. Let's be honest, if you work in advertising, it's Mecca. Everyone wonders at least once if they could hack it in the ad city...but few people actually make the move.
Let me also say, that I am oh so appreciative to all the people that gave me advice or helped me in my job search before and after I moved here. Now, down to brass tacks.
Having completed the journey less than a year ago, I feel it is my duty to pass along what I've learned. To anyone that is looking to make the leap to New York, here's what you need to know Before you ask me for a job:
While advertising is a particularly "who you know" industry, don't schmooze.
It is probably a testament to my upbringing, but I wholeheartedly believe that if you work your ass off, the right people will notice and things will fall into place. A connection may get your foot in the door, but that's all it will get you. People will notice pretty quickly if you're just a smooth talker that doesn't really like to get her hands dirty. Work hard. Be efficient. Be a perfectionist because your work reflects on you. Do good work every single day and someone will notice.
**And after that first one notices, they'll tell other people how awesome you are...and thusly your network of people that know you work your ass off has begun**
People are selfish - ask for advice.
I'll be the first to admit I've cyber-stalked my heroes on LinkedIn or dreamt of the day I might corner Dan Wieden and beg for a job...But that's not really the way to get what you want. Inherently, people are selfish. Particularly people that have already "made it" in the ad industry. But, something selfish people like to do is talk about themselves. Tell their war stories, talk about how when they were looking for their first job they had to walk 4 miles uphill both ways to chisel their resume into a stone tablet. People like to talk about themselves - so let them. Glean every single piece of information and insight you can off the people you meet. Ask them how to start, how not to start, what their day is like, what they hate about their job, whatever. Just start a conversation. I promise you'll get a lot further than if you come right out with the question you're dying to ask (you know, the canIhaveajobplease one). Who knows, maybe your conversation will turn into a job, but at the very least you'll end up with one more person in your "network".
People are busy - don't waste my time. Or ask me to waste anyone else's time.
Not to seem too self-important, but people (particularly in New York) are busy. We work 10 hour days when we're not busy and most days making it to the gym and finding some semblance of dinner after work is all we can manage. Thusly, if you're going to try to use me to better/start your career, read the first two items on this list & then try not to waste my time. By all means be audacious & follow-up. If you don't hear a response, wait a week and email again. But don't ask me to set up an informational with one of my bosses. Don't give me a list of dates and times when it is convenient for you to meet and let me accommodate your schedule. Recognize that people are busy and value their time. It'll go a long way - plus it's very good practice for your entire career.
Do your homework.
For the love of pete, do your homework before you start the networking conversation. Know the agency you're asking to have your resume sent to. Know who you're talking to. I can't tell you how many people have said to me "Can you pass my resume on? I want to work in digital." Welp, my agency doesn't do digital. Sorry 'bout it. And don't say things like "I want to work in account management, or planning, or production, or creative" - those are very different things... You might be a very smart person, but statements that make you seem ignorant to the industry you're trying to join makes me less likely to help you do just that. You don't have to know everything, but do some research - it shows you really do care enough to invest some energy.
Last, but not least - for the love of Christ - remember the first rule of networking.
Before you ask anyone to pass along your resume, know this: when I do, I am vouching for you. My wagon is hitched to yours. If you turn out to be a sucky sucky schmoozer, my reputation will suffer because I'm the one who brought you into this place. Some people will pass your resume along anyway, but when you're on the lower end of the totem pole, any amount of clout or bonus points you can hoard are precious. Wasting that by going to bat for someone you went to college with, but actually think is a worthless tool-bag, will not work in your favor. Which is why it is ultra important to use items 1-4 in this blog post. If you get to know me, ask my advice, respect my time, and do some homework I might willingly go to bat for you.
With all of that said - do email/tweet/linkedin me or any of your heroes. Ask questions. Start a conversation - you never know who we might know that could help you get to where you want to be.
Coming from Middle America and going to college in the midst of an awesome and self-contained, albeit smaller, advertising community, a lot of people talk about moving to New York. Let's be honest, if you work in advertising, it's Mecca. Everyone wonders at least once if they could hack it in the ad city...but few people actually make the move.
Let me also say, that I am oh so appreciative to all the people that gave me advice or helped me in my job search before and after I moved here. Now, down to brass tacks.
Having completed the journey less than a year ago, I feel it is my duty to pass along what I've learned. To anyone that is looking to make the leap to New York, here's what you need to know Before you ask me for a job:
While advertising is a particularly "who you know" industry, don't schmooze.
It is probably a testament to my upbringing, but I wholeheartedly believe that if you work your ass off, the right people will notice and things will fall into place. A connection may get your foot in the door, but that's all it will get you. People will notice pretty quickly if you're just a smooth talker that doesn't really like to get her hands dirty. Work hard. Be efficient. Be a perfectionist because your work reflects on you. Do good work every single day and someone will notice.
**And after that first one notices, they'll tell other people how awesome you are...and thusly your network of people that know you work your ass off has begun**
People are selfish - ask for advice.
I'll be the first to admit I've cyber-stalked my heroes on LinkedIn or dreamt of the day I might corner Dan Wieden and beg for a job...But that's not really the way to get what you want. Inherently, people are selfish. Particularly people that have already "made it" in the ad industry. But, something selfish people like to do is talk about themselves. Tell their war stories, talk about how when they were looking for their first job they had to walk 4 miles uphill both ways to chisel their resume into a stone tablet. People like to talk about themselves - so let them. Glean every single piece of information and insight you can off the people you meet. Ask them how to start, how not to start, what their day is like, what they hate about their job, whatever. Just start a conversation. I promise you'll get a lot further than if you come right out with the question you're dying to ask (you know, the canIhaveajobplease one). Who knows, maybe your conversation will turn into a job, but at the very least you'll end up with one more person in your "network".
People are busy - don't waste my time. Or ask me to waste anyone else's time.
Not to seem too self-important, but people (particularly in New York) are busy. We work 10 hour days when we're not busy and most days making it to the gym and finding some semblance of dinner after work is all we can manage. Thusly, if you're going to try to use me to better/start your career, read the first two items on this list & then try not to waste my time. By all means be audacious & follow-up. If you don't hear a response, wait a week and email again. But don't ask me to set up an informational with one of my bosses. Don't give me a list of dates and times when it is convenient for you to meet and let me accommodate your schedule. Recognize that people are busy and value their time. It'll go a long way - plus it's very good practice for your entire career.
Do your homework.
For the love of pete, do your homework before you start the networking conversation. Know the agency you're asking to have your resume sent to. Know who you're talking to. I can't tell you how many people have said to me "Can you pass my resume on? I want to work in digital." Welp, my agency doesn't do digital. Sorry 'bout it. And don't say things like "I want to work in account management, or planning, or production, or creative" - those are very different things... You might be a very smart person, but statements that make you seem ignorant to the industry you're trying to join makes me less likely to help you do just that. You don't have to know everything, but do some research - it shows you really do care enough to invest some energy.
Last, but not least - for the love of Christ - remember the first rule of networking.
Before you ask anyone to pass along your resume, know this: when I do, I am vouching for you. My wagon is hitched to yours. If you turn out to be a sucky sucky schmoozer, my reputation will suffer because I'm the one who brought you into this place. Some people will pass your resume along anyway, but when you're on the lower end of the totem pole, any amount of clout or bonus points you can hoard are precious. Wasting that by going to bat for someone you went to college with, but actually think is a worthless tool-bag, will not work in your favor. Which is why it is ultra important to use items 1-4 in this blog post. If you get to know me, ask my advice, respect my time, and do some homework I might willingly go to bat for you.
With all of that said - do email/tweet/linkedin me or any of your heroes. Ask questions. Start a conversation - you never know who we might know that could help you get to where you want to be.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
After Some Serious Neglect... Some Wisdom
It appears the dear geniuses behind Poison Gas Blog (Yes, even Eleanor Rigby) have been quite busy of late. We'll try harder, we promise. Until we supply you with some real insight, some wisdom:
“You can turn a page and, before you really comprehend it, there’s a feeling. There’s a
vibration. If it’s the wrong vibration for what you want to convey, what follows is going to
fight it-an uphill battle against the original impression you made.” - Bill Bernbach
“You can turn a page and, before you really comprehend it, there’s a feeling. There’s a
vibration. If it’s the wrong vibration for what you want to convey, what follows is going to
fight it-an uphill battle against the original impression you made.” - Bill Bernbach
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Wonderful ad... not so wonderful product
Lately, I've had a bit more time on my hands which is allowing me to view television commercials more organically instead of hearing about the good (or bad) ones from AdAge.com and AdRants.com.
Now, there is one I can't get enough of. Seriously. If the TV is on and I hear the music I will rush over so I can watch it.
The Vancouver- based company Plentyoffish.com is the largest free dating website. In the past couple days it has gotten a lot of backlash because the founder admitted the website had been hacked into and tons of its user names and passwords were stolen. Even before this, I read a lot of user-reviews on how their customer service was lacking and they couldn't contact the company with issues the users were having and the concern for their privacy. Ha.
I understand that no matter how well done your advertising is, it won't make up for a bad product. So, if you are on the hunt for a dating website- I'd spend a little money and checkout match.com or eHarmony. However, in the name of advertising, I love plentyoffish.com's two television spots. Click to view: "Find Your Other Half" and "Your Other Half is Waiting".
The direction is beautiful. Everything from the scenarios chosen to the lighting- it works perfectly. There is virtually no copy in these ads until the very end so the visuals have to work for themselves. The whole commercial is tied together by the string of copy "Find Your Other Half" and "Your Other Half is Waiting" respective to the spot shown. Both of the spots are so similar to each other with many of the same shots but, then very different. A split screen combination of a man and woman "facing" each other going about their day- similar, but different.
At the beginning of this post I said the music always catches my attention. The song featured on both spots is "After All That, It's Come to This" by the up and coming Australian band Amos the Transparent. I liked this so much, after seeing these spots a few times, I had to Google the song and then I ended up buying the entire album off iTunes instantly. Music in advertisements can be indifferent to the spot or they can make or break an ad. In my opinion, these spots are visually fantastic enough that there are a few other songs that could replace this one and they would still be great. This song, however, really seals the deal for me. The selection of the song is perfect where the visuals blend with the lyrics effortlessly.
I wish I could give a shout-out to the smart people out there that created my new favorite commercials that I can't get enough of but, I can't figure out who did them. I'm pretty good on the Googles, but this one is a mystery to me. Whoever you are, great job. I'm in love.
Now, there is one I can't get enough of. Seriously. If the TV is on and I hear the music I will rush over so I can watch it.
The Vancouver- based company Plentyoffish.com is the largest free dating website. In the past couple days it has gotten a lot of backlash because the founder admitted the website had been hacked into and tons of its user names and passwords were stolen. Even before this, I read a lot of user-reviews on how their customer service was lacking and they couldn't contact the company with issues the users were having and the concern for their privacy. Ha.
I understand that no matter how well done your advertising is, it won't make up for a bad product. So, if you are on the hunt for a dating website- I'd spend a little money and checkout match.com or eHarmony. However, in the name of advertising, I love plentyoffish.com's two television spots. Click to view: "Find Your Other Half" and "Your Other Half is Waiting".
The direction is beautiful. Everything from the scenarios chosen to the lighting- it works perfectly. There is virtually no copy in these ads until the very end so the visuals have to work for themselves. The whole commercial is tied together by the string of copy "Find Your Other Half" and "Your Other Half is Waiting" respective to the spot shown. Both of the spots are so similar to each other with many of the same shots but, then very different. A split screen combination of a man and woman "facing" each other going about their day- similar, but different.
At the beginning of this post I said the music always catches my attention. The song featured on both spots is "After All That, It's Come to This" by the up and coming Australian band Amos the Transparent. I liked this so much, after seeing these spots a few times, I had to Google the song and then I ended up buying the entire album off iTunes instantly. Music in advertisements can be indifferent to the spot or they can make or break an ad. In my opinion, these spots are visually fantastic enough that there are a few other songs that could replace this one and they would still be great. This song, however, really seals the deal for me. The selection of the song is perfect where the visuals blend with the lyrics effortlessly.
I wish I could give a shout-out to the smart people out there that created my new favorite commercials that I can't get enough of but, I can't figure out who did them. I'm pretty good on the Googles, but this one is a mystery to me. Whoever you are, great job. I'm in love.
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