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He’s away on his birthday treat at the mo, but today Marcus turns 38 and because I love the shed dwelling genius, I thought I’d mark the event with his very own post offering love and best wishes.
I know, it’s so bloody generous, but hey, that’s the kinda guy I am.
Filed under: Comment
I travel overseas quite a lot.
And whilst sometimes I might moan about constantly being on a plane … I know I am incredibly fortunate.
I remember as a kid watching British Airways ads that featured businessmen getting on planes and wondering what sort of job they must do.
Of course the logical answer would be ‘pilot’ but I was too thick to realise that.
In all seriousness, I used to look at these commercials and think only the most important of person would have to fly as part of their job.
Fast forward 30 years and I realise that is all a crock of poo.
Last year I did over 170 flights and the year before that, around 180.
Sure some were Singapore-Malaysia … the equivalent of Nottingham to Derby … but there were quite a few that had DVT potential, ha.
The purpose of this post isn’t to say I am Mr International Man [especially as part of the reason I fly so much is that Jill and I have a ‘no more than 5 nights apart rule’ which means I have to come and go quite frequently, especially when talking about my US travels – sorry environment] it’s actually about the beauty of the passport.
I got my first passport when I was 6 months old.
Given kids grow up in no time, I’ve always wondered the sense of having a ‘baby passport’ but my parents wanted me to have one as they were taking me to see the family in Italy.
Since then, I’ve had a passport all my life.
Before I started cynic, the average 10 year passport would last me … oooooooh, about 10 years … however for the last 7-8 years, I’ve been going go through them in the space of every 18 months.
Again, some of this ‘speed’ is because there are countries that require a full page to be taken up with their particular visa … Australia, HK, China, India etc … however it’s fair to say I travel quite a bit.
The thing is, there is a magic moment when I get a new passport …
It’s at the point where the envelope has arrived holding my old and new document, and I can reach in and literally hold past and potential in my hands.
Looking through the pages of the old one – with its top right hand corner snipped off – takes me back. It lets me remember all I’ve done, seen and experienced.
You’d be amazed how many times I’m shocked about where I’ve been or how many times I’ve visited. It’s almost embarrassing to admit, but quite a few of the countries all blend into one another – especially when my duration is just 1 day and the only things I get to see are the drive from the airport to the meeting.
Then there’s the new passport.
Pristine. Untouched. The spine without a single crease.
You open it and flick through every page …
BLANK
Nothing is there … except possibilities.
Sure you know you’re going to have to go through the rigmarole of getting all the VISA’s put back in … but for that moment its ‘pure’.
In 18 months how will it look?
Yep, a bit dog-eared and faded, but what about inside?
Where will I have been? What will I have seen, experienced, learnt?
A used passport is travel DNA … proof of the life you’ve lived or the life you haven’t … and whilst my working life in Asia has had moments of utter frustration, that has been punctuated by some astounding times of excitement, fulfilment and learning of which underpinning it all, is a little red book that has got me into all sorts of places and situations.
Wherever you are, whatever you do, however successful you are … I assure you of one thing … travel helps make sense of life and countries like Singapore should stop their National Service and mandate people to go on International [Travel] Service instead, because not only do I think it would help their societies and culture, but it might help make the World a better and more productive place as well.
Only last week I said the A[P]SOTW results would be published this Wednesday – but because we have just won a big piece of business [screw you multinationals with your bland ideas and ‘single approach’ proprietary process, ha!] I have to put it back to Friday.
Apologies … but my bank manager thanks you for your understanding.
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… with the amount of booze, rich food and ‘stimulants’ they take, the answer is probably yes – infact I’m surprised Clearasil doesn’t sponsor Cannes but that’s – as usual – not related whatsoever to the point of this post.
What IS the point is the very nice guys at IHAVEANIDEA have organised ‘portfolio night’ where basically the next generation of overpaid, coke snortin’, youtube plagiarists can get up close and personal with the individuals who – through audacious lying, cheating and blackmailing – have already cemented their arses into that enviable position and have little or no desire to give it up … especially to a bunch of talented and hungry pricks who will remind them how once-upon-a-time, they too were bristling with fresh perspectives and ideas until the gravy train took hold and made them care more about their holiday home in Tuscany than doing work that leaves a positive and powerful legacy.
Maybe.
In all seriousness, portfolio night is a bloody great idea … not just because it gives one-on-one face time with people who can offer real advice [as well as real jobs] … but because it helps you meet others in a similar position, something I genuinely believe can help improve your skills, perspectives and standards in a much quicker time frame than if you were to do it on your own.
What’s especially nice is this year Singapore and Malaysia are taking part …
Now whilst certain people think Asia is a hotbed of scam – there are certain people/agencies out there who are actively opposed to that kind of ‘fame creation’ and as they are also going to be at the events, you can be sure you’ll be getting advice from people who’ve made it with real clients, not just by paying for an ad to appear at 3am on some crappy regional channel for a local distributor of some big-name brand who would freak if they ever saw it because it’s not true to who they are, who they want to be or who they should be.
Anyway, it’s taking part all over the World next month so if you want to take a big step into controlling your life rather than having life control you, may I suggest you buy a ticket by GOING HERE.
Hey, IHAVEANIDEA, fancy doing one for the planning community as well … I reckon there could be quite a big take up and I/we’d definitely be up for helping out.
[PS: If you think the photo on the top is bad, be grateful I didn’t use this.]
Filed under: Comment
… so with that in mind, what does it say about WPP that they’ve gone and done something very similar to their corporate car crash, Enfactico, for LG Electronics?
One word answers please.