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

I’ve just had drinks with Andy and we were discussing this dartboard. God I want one.
Funny how we don’t tend to feel that way about Geldof.
I think it’s because when he did Live Aid, he was taking on an issue that no one had bothered about previously.
I also like the fact he didn’t suddenly try and launch a comeback album off the back of it. He did release music, but it never had any fanfare or a sticker that said “By Live Aid’s Bob Geldof”.

PS; Andy is snoring like a wild boar on my couch at the moment.

He did mention he was seeing you – Oh God, I know oh-so-well how loudly that bugger snores, especially when he’s drunk.

Buy some ear plugs, kick him out or stay in a hotel or your night is well and truly buggered. On the bright side, think of how grateful his wife is finally getting a proper nights sleep without him.

The Geldof thing is interesting – and I agree, I think he has inherent cred because of the LIVE AID event [when no one else was seemingly interested in taking on the famine issue] as well as how he handled the whole Paula Yates / Michael Hutchence fiasco.

Remember this is the man who took on the daughter of his ex-wife and her lover after they both died, because he said ‘family should always be together’.

That’s a genuine act of love, compassion and humanity – something very few probably could do, let alone would do – so I think the public regard him as always having the ‘best of intentions’ even though he is also a very successful businessman in other areas of his life.

Funny thing is that in America, Geldof is not liked much at all.

The American value system is built on the concept of ‘if you work hard, you will move ahead’ … so in the minds of many Americans [certainly not all] anyone who needs charity is lazy and should get off their arse. Geldof – for being a loud-mouthed, opinionated bloke – is frowned upon because many regard him as helping people who haven’t helped themselves, regardless of the situation/country/infrastructute they find themselves in.

Bono was clever enough to see this issue because rather than ask for random acts of charity, he sold them ‘brand badge value’ – where the ‘donation’ is secondary to the product purchase [which is why Moto, Gap, Apple etc are so important] and the image of being a ‘good, caring citizen’ … even though they had to be offered an exclusive item of value to get them interested.

It’s a smart move and I do respect it, I just wish he didn’t come across as so fucking self-serving because even though Geldof has said Bono is doing it for the right reasons, it somehow seems he isn’t. At least to me …

Then there’s the brands who are part of RED because it serves as a valuable profit earning strategy for them. ‘The Gap’ particulary make me laugh given they are one of the worst exploiters of 3rd World slave labour in the World.

Maybe I should start ‘BLUE’ – a collabritive against 3rd World Exploitation. I wonder how many brands would support that so readily eh!

I know I am coming across as a cynical shit, and I know any help is better than no help, but when so much money is spent on the ‘image’ of the charity rather than addressing the problem [accepting that unfortunately ‘charity’ has to be image attractive for many people to want to take part] it sort of makes me abit ill. Especially when faceless, bland corporations suddenly act like they are all oh-so-caring when in every other aspect of their life, they express a wholly different message.

Great post Rob, you are at your best when you’re angry and cynical!

I read an interesting piece related to this a while back comparing the red VS yellow (live strong) campaigns.

Here: http://www.thirdwayblog.com/post-types/commentary/how-does-bonos-red-campaign-compare-to-lance-armstrongs-yellow-livestrong-bracelet.html

i like the post, but your comment above is even better!! it’s the kind of cultural insight that i wish i had, rather than just my blind idealism which says that everything bono does is based on egotistical whoremongering. this doesn’t mean he doesn’t still make me cringe, but he is actually thinking in an intelligent and thoughtful way.

I know a couple of ex-bosses I’d like to see on that dart board.

Morning

What are Marcus and Charles doing up at this time?

What’s going on?

Yeah I’ve seen the Red Nose thing with Geldof and Bono and yet again, I think it demonstrates my point about Bono [and U2 in general] always seemingly having one eye on their ego [and need to feel they are ‘cool’]

Geldof just takes the piss out of himself – but still gets the chance to convey some social passion – Bono just sits there like a nobend, trying desperately to be associated with people who have – or genuinely want to – make a positive difference to society in some way.

Hell, I can’t even listen to Rattle & Hum without thinking there was one eye on breaking into the Black Music market. There is a genuine problem with this – and I don’t know if it’s me or them, ha!

I got up early so I could hassle Marcus. Puts a spring in my stride 🙂

Thank you Rob, what a lovely piece of advise. I will be saving my snot ridden tissues up and will send them to per FedEx. They all look so lovely.

I’m feeling that way already.

That’s actually a very nice way to position bedding!

I feel ya Rob. 2nd day getting back into fulltime work, the cold weather is kicking in…

dear God my bed… I die a little inside everytime I get out of it in the mornings. Thank God for public holiday tomorrow!!!!!

Need…more….coffee. God I’m tired.

More subtle than the “Bono must die” t shirt sported by one of Hadouken…

I agree though.

Hi Everyone,

Rob – I have become addicted to reading a range of blogs of late, but yours is top of my list. Posts like this one are why. I feel like I am posting way too late, but finally felt compelled to speak.

I like U2, but have to separate the person, Bono, from the music. It is a shame Bono can’t separate himself/ his ego from good deeds. Having worked for a charity (and seen how hard it is to get enough budget to make a positive difference, and to get the message out to the public), I am all for celebs speaking out about causes. Lets face it, a celeb has a lot more clout than I do to get an opinion out there.

However, it sad that initiatives like Red, are trying to make the world a better place by getting people to spend money to buy crap they don’t really need for a good cause. Cut out the middle man I say.

NP – love what you said about charity workers – & good to see you blogging again.

Jade

I prefer pool. Maybe it’s because I resemble a cue ball.

Freddie … if Arnie managed to do it, I am sure bloody Bono can. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Jade – first of all a bit fat welcome.

I am concious my blog may seem to some, like one massive clique [which it isn’t] so I’m over the moon you’ve posted.

Of course you are right – celeb endorsement can be a massive factor in actually raising enough funds to actually DO something significant rather than continually working around the edges – however the issue is whether that celeb has cred [in the issue they are talking about] because otherwise it is no more relevant to the masses as a star endorsing a watch brand or a car.

Infact with the use of celeb endorsement in a lot of adlands output, it may actually be harming the power of celeb association with charities.

I have no issue with RED in the sense it is trying to do something – I am just sad it is more about image that cause … but then as I said in an earlier post, maybe Bono did that on purpose. Doesn’t seem to be working though does it?

My astoundingly wonderful, brilliant, visionary, inspirational old boss [Chris Jaques] always wanted to run a Worldwide charity [and he still might] because he said that they could be helping alot more people if managed properly – and I have to say he is right. The sad fact is a very high proportion of charity funds go to bloody Management Consultants to help the organisation work out how best use the money given so many countries in need of aid are ‘governed’ by institutions more focused on their needs than anyone elses.

Bono and Oprah make me ill because there’s always that sneaky suspicion they have one eye on the cameras to make sure they look good … whereas Geldof just got his hands dirty. Maybe it’s all perception [though I know Geldof definitely lives it] but it is a dangerous issue because I am sure RED has turned away lots of people simply because of Bono’s close association with the charity.

Could be worse … American Idol have launched a ‘Idol Gives Back’ campaign – a blatant attempt to try and not be all about vacuous imagery. Again I am glad they are doing something, but it smacks of an ‘add on’ rather than a central cause.

Oh and one final thing – Midge Ure, the man who helped Geldof come up with and write the Band Aid song ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ never gets mentioned. He acknoweldges that he left alot to Geldof because of his powerful, forceful character – but like Paul Newman – his contribution and sense of purpose should never be forgotten or ignored.

PS: Please don’t give me any more wonderful compliments. Don’t get me wrong, I love them … it’s just I am going to be called horrible names by Freddie, Andy and Billy as they are worried it’ll all go to my head – which it will, ha.

Glad you like the blog, now post some more!

Its sad really that Midge gets little respect for his work.

Re: Idol Gives Back – Read Bleak House by Dickens…

I take it you mean in terms of Midge Ure’s contribution to charity rather than music, raincoats, pencil moustaches and grey guitars.

Well, Vienna is a great album.

Freddie – Is this to do with the email you sent me earlier? It’s a good strategic move – well it would be if I controlled budgets, ha!

Lets get Sanjay to start a blog then we can both bathe him in compliments. It might work!

Poor Sanjay – doesn’t know what’s about to hit him.

Oh – there’s an update on [RED]. Apprentely they have actually raised US$25 million and [here’s the bit I like] the corporate sponsors have seen incremental sales and profit increases.

It sort of proves my point of why these companies got involved in this project in the first place. It’s about sales/profit under the guise of aid and compassion.

Anyway, you can read the article by going here …

http://www.thirdwayblog.com/post-types/commentary/how-does-bonos-red-campaign-compare-to-lance-armstrongs-yellow-livestrong-bracelet.html

They seem quite pro-RED but then in principal, so am I – it’s how it is being executed and the stronghold of the characters and egos that are getting [and seemingly demanding] the most attention that bugs me.

Hello Jade … well I am glad the likes of Marcus, NP, Mr M and Lauren [to name but a few] haven’t put you off – they would me!

I totally agree that we tend to live in a society where everything is ALL or NOTHING – and yet in reality, very few things [if any] have ever actually been able to go on [if any] and achieve success without some element of compromise.

I think the issue is where does the compromise come in.

It seems some organisations are willing to almost sell their mothers to achieve some element of glory [whatever that ‘glory’ is] whereas others are too restrictive with their ideals and so end up achieving a fraction of what could have been done.

The problem is there is no simple answer to this – it is a fluid situation, dictated by a constantly moving World – however the way I work is to surround myself with people who are smarter than me who share the same philosophies and passions – even if they have different ways of getting there.

What this does is ensure we have a common goal but can explore different ways of achieving it without ever over-diluting the values we hold dear. And by this, I don’t just mean we do it interms of helping my clients brands, but also helping our agencies brand as well. My issue is that too many charities hire consultants [which I appreciate are important in some areas] but don’t appreciate how they don’t look at the ‘grey’ areas and just focus on the black and white. While this could be argued that it leads to a more efficient ‘output’ – it tends to lose those little things that creates the unification of passion and drive that the most succesful organisations [not just charities] have to thrive.

I have to say I think Anita Roddick is another person who deserves praise because she understood the fundamental human needs as well as the monetry ones.

She could of simply created a charity that gave money to the homeless but she appreciated there is a need for them to have pride, confidence and esteem in what they do. By setting up the BIG ISSUE and letting people feel they are doing something to help themselves out of their situation is genius – not just interms of addressing a major problem, but attacking the root of it and helping heal wounds rather than just put a plaster on them.

Social responsibility is a massive thing – however too many companies do it without really having a passion for it. It’s too often about making them and their shareholders feel better about sleeping at night.

Sure, every penny helps, but I believe greater things happen when you want to make a change rather than just doing it for business/tax reasons. [You can tell when a company really believes, their actions express it far more than their words – TESCO’s for example … is, in my view, the most community focused, creative company in the World. Compare that to The Gap – no contest and yet it is the Gap who shout out the most!]

With all this in mind – I am hopeful I can reveal something very, very exciting [at least in principal] in the next few months. It will hopefully prove to your company that you were right and they were very, very wrong.

Where’s Andy? Where’s Fred?
We have a potential Oprah Davies alert. I repeat, we have a potential Oprah Davies alert.

Billy … behave!

And yes Rob, CSR is no longer a ‘frivolous’ business strategy, its an accepted and valuable part of running a business – it’s just a shame that in practice, too many companies treat it with a rather flippant attitude … especially compared to how certain organisations lived by its values in the past. [Ford Motor Company for example. Once a shining beacon of helping communities thrive – now just focused on those lucky enough [or unfortunate enough – as the case may be] to ownn shares in them]

Good luck Jade!

Thanks, thats a nice story. I agree though, its sad when those things surprise us. The fact that you felt that an old lady would instinctively feel she is going to be mugged says a lot as well about how we think.

Cloth bags are the way. As is charging for plastic bags. No better way to make people bring their old bags than to charge for new ones.

Hi Jade … feel free to use my blog to talk about anything – everyone else does, ha! I have actually written a post about ‘random acts of kindness’ … I must get round to posting it because I think Mr M raised a top point we often forget. Finally Jade, where are you actually based? Just interested … and good luck with the passion, but if you have to fight for it, maybe its not really there. Hope you prove me wrong!

You didn’t swear … you remained dignified. A friend of mine went to Dubai, not sure where she is, but she’s a great person and planner. I love the Middle East, like Asia it is a complete case of having to re-learn ”common sense”, ha. I had some work there a while back for the Government and have to say their ‘can do’ attitude was amazing – the luxury of having untold billions eh, ha! Maybe I have done posts I’ve forgotton because you and Lauren seem very certain. Maybe I need sleep … actually I DEFINITELY need sleep, Ha. Finally, ALL people who live away from their real ‘country of origin’ become overly patriotic – hense my argument with errrm, Winston Churchill in my ‘Proud To Be British’ post last week. I’m in Oz next week, I’ll give it your love. Right, bed for me – keep writing and let us know how your ‘passion’ meeting goes/went.

You are a naughty boy NP. I might have to teach you a lesson by haunting you darling. Prepare to have the willies put into you. Fnarr Fnarr

You poor bugger Jade … I have been there and it’s horrid. To change a company doesn’t need many people – but it does need them to be senior enough to infiltrate the rest of the organisation.

Oh by the way, I love the way you say people are ‘jaded’ – it sounds like you’ve personally given them a massive [and by the sounds of it, well deserved] whack!

Going to bed now – great to meet you today. [I say that because once Andy is back, it is quite likely we’ll never hear from you again! Ha]

You’d love Dubai Age … it’s where ‘impossible’ really is nothing!

So by that reckoning, you can’t see the majority of the photos on this blog then, ha!

YAY Lauren is back … where the hell have you been woman?

I quite like the idea of this being a social meeting place – but then I haven’t met all of you yet, so maybe what I am inadvertently doing is actually causing hell in certain people’s lives.