The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]

thanks Rob, and you know why.

Hi Robert! I have been faithfully following your blog ever since we had the collaboration between Professor Mark Chong’s (I owe him a big debt!)class and Sony. First, I would like to thank you for granting us that opportunity to be of a contribution towards a commercial project. It was definitely an eye-opener and it has pathed the way for me to learn more about strategic planning. I love the fact that you ascribe strongly to the power of observation where we could discover insights to connect with people on a “different” level, rather than just bombarding them ad nauseum with crap! You mentioned, a few times throughout different postings, that you like people who have lived life. Does that tend to have a correlation with age? For example, an older person probably has lived life more than a younger person? I am just perplexed at how one, without having an appropriate coressponding age, could convince another as having lived life? Does that mean, somehow, that younger candidates stand a lower chance for jobs slated in planning? Please enlighten. =) Thanks!

Hi Age … yes, I did think of you when I was writing this.

And Charles, please don’t think I am making myself out to be some revolutionary – far from it – at the heart of what I do is idealism: the desire to do what is right for the masses because I still believe that they can then make everything right for my clients. It’s about mutual admiration and respect, not one-sided arrogance and greed.

Finally Darryl, I think Hari has answered most of what I would say. Age [the number, not the blogger, ha!] has little to do with it – sure the older you are, the more experiences you could have had [but even that’s not a certainty] but it’s more about your attitude to life and how you go about living it.

I’m not suggesting I only would hire a teenage drop out who has been a drug addict and convicted criminal … just I like people who have tried stuff – things that have worked out, things that failed, things that seemed like a good idea at the time – travel, music, film, comedy, ANYTHING other than just living a life where the World was 50 feet square from where you sleep at night.

Does that help? Probably not …

Put it this way, Bazza – a planner who works for us – was especially appealing because at age 16, he decided he wanted to meet the CEO/Leaders of any company/organisation that was impacting his life. [He still can’t tell us why he wanted to do this, he just did]

Anyway, at SIXTEEN, he wrote letters to a whole host of people including Steve Jobs, Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandella and Tony Blair … and you know what, he met them all.

Every one of them.

And they paid for his flight.

Then he got a job at Apple, as a global ‘insight guy’ … not because he said what Jobs wanted to hear, but because he said what Jobs was interested to hear.

Sure, that is an extreme view of living a life – but it is certainly a life less ordinary and his age had nothing to do with what he achieved, cheekiness and downright ‘balls’ was the conduit to his success.

I so wish you hadn’t written WOW at the end of your comment – you’ll see why tomorrow, ha!

You’re so right Fred, it is about living your life – but having your eyes, ears and brain open to other people’s viewpoints and experiences so that you can broaden your mind [rather than copy their views] and form better opinions about what is going on in your – and everyone elses – lives.

As for Bazza … he’s South African so he is naturally bolshy, haha!

Does this mean I am cool?

Marcus, I am glad you like this post – though I have noticed you are becoming the man of few words … what is going on???

And Barry, you know I love you, but you met a bunch of heads of state, a consumer electronics visionary and a couple of popstars – it wasn’t exactly Jemma Jameson was it – so bad luck, you are still not officially ‘cool’ – just a top, smart bloke who is rather height challenged.

You’ve made me sound like a bloody dwarf.

You are not a dwarf Bazza … if you were, you’d be in a David Lynch movie rather than working for us!

jenna jameson is a girl with big tits who gets her kit off – not worthy of wow. actually, maybe she is if “wow factor” is actually an indicator of old, tired, boring and way out of date.

Nothing, nothing. Everything is fine. What do you want me to go on about? I’ll go on about it. Jesus.

Jemma may have fake boobies and get her kit off at the drop of a hat, but I’m sorry Lauren, you can’t call her old, her breasts were brand new just last week.

ha! nice one pete…

youre the princess diana of advertising

Darn, wish i’d met Bazza now.

I agree with the sentiment, and I think thats why people respect you (all).

I remember in A levels, I helped to put on a charity event (a talent night for teachers). The girl organising it couldnt get anyone to sign up. So I made a poster which loudly stated that “Teachers were chickens” and put it up all over the staff areas…

Not only did it get a couple of people signed up, but it got teacher to actively help us organise is. It was so successful that we had to break fire safety rules, and people climbed on the roof to watch it.

Now thats courage…

Oh, and I totally relate to leaving your job before getting your bonus.

When I resigned from HHCL [to chase a woman I’d met all the way to Australia] Rupert Howell looked at me in total shock, with the main astonishment being focused on 2 areas …

1. Why would I leave my job and country for a woman who I’d only known 6 weeks. [Which was a fair question I guess.]

2. Why I would want to leave just a few months away from bonus time. [Which was another fair question I guess.]

However, unlike you Charles, principals weren’t the reason I left, it was raging hormones! ha.

I know some dubious things about Mr Roberts from when I worked at Saatchis.

Sisomo as a principle makes sense. Though it does strike me as being a little obvious.

Rob – you really chased a woman and quit your job? Nice.

I think thats what happened with his speech Will.

It sounded nice and polished and convincing, then 10 minutes later your brain goes, ‘hang on a minute…’

Rob – exactly.

And I bet your mum makes a better cup of tea than him.

Isnt Sisomo a brand of coffee maker?

Still, would be good to hear some more comments from the Cynic lot on my blog!

The more I get the more likely I am to be invited back!

ta!

Rob, I can’t think of a better reason than a woman for throwing it all in and upping sticks. Ironically I was trying to get the hell away from a woman at HHCL. On reflection I should have toughed it out a couple more weeks and scooped the lolly 🙂

Not everything you write on this Blog I agree with, but for frankness it’s the undisputed champ. Now that’s WOW refreshing if Coke are stuck for words. Reminds me of a much loved Liptons Tea campaign in Australia come to think of it. Refreshing honesty.

NP – I really appreciate your comment and I’m not trying to be all modest, it means a lot because I think you’re a top, smart bloke and even when you don’t agree with my views [just like Charles and everyone else who comes here], I know you’ll tell me why that is the case and I really appreciate it.

My view is that a blog shouldn’t be some mutual-appreciation society, it should be a forum to express opinions / views / thoughts … and as long as it is done with the right intentions [unlike lifeinthemiddle’s ‘blogwash’ monstrosity] then all of us should be happy.

Finally … and you may not like this bit … I am glad you are happy where you are working, I am glad you feel you can be true to yourself, I am glad the dialogue is free and easy, I am glad that you are sort of ‘falling upstairs’ interms of developing your skills through instinct, experience and mistakes – I just feel you are someone who could make a massive impact wherever you work and I just wish you were at a place that gave you all those comforts whilst also scaring you [interms of learning] and exposing you to clients and issues that would allow you to shine on a brighter stage. I appreciate this is not maybe what you want … but this industry is devoid of talent [I literally am gobsmacked when I see the standard of International Adland Director] and people like you need to be brought to the front, because you’ve got something to say and people do actually want to listen.

OK, that might have come out patronising and it certainly wasn’t meant to be, I just want you to know I reckon you are far smarter than you probably think and I hope you continue to shine and challenge wherever you go.

Fuck, I think I’d better stop before you tell me to piss off. I do hope you take this in the manner it is meant because it is said for the right reasons AND because you disagree with me at times, ha!

PS: Charles, was the woman you were trying to get away from Lou?

given you all but gave np a blowjob in your complimentary prose, i am assuming this is another person you want on the dd list! stop spending my fucking bonus.

In Andy’s case, he’ll rush off to avoid paying his allimony, ha!

And NP hasn’t even come back to the blog so all these compliments could be in vain. Typical. Ha.

No, I wont say her name, she was an Austrian creative. Massively intelligent, hip and creative girl but one flaw that I couldn’t tolerate, she knows what that is. Funny thing was they fired her after I bailed out. If only they’d BLEEDIN’ TOLD ME of their intentions. Ah well c’est la vie … 🙂

Angela, if that’s what helps you get past your ‘career mistake’, then that’s OK with me, ha. Now come back in from the cold.