Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Attitude & Aptitude, Brand Suicide, Culture, Food, Innovation, Marketing Fail
I’ve written about cultural appropriation before.
I’ve talked about how there is an element of it that [I think] is good for humanity, if handled the right – and respectful – way.
This isn’t one of those times …
Yes … Nanchos and a Yorkshire pudding.
Let’s say that again.
NACHOS.
YORKSHIRE PUDDING.
What sort of sick and twisted individual thought that was OK?
Even the people behind the ‘premium heated, mixed nuts’ on Delta, aren’t that insane.
I should point out I saw this at a Toby Carvery in Slough, so I suppose I shouldn’t be too surprised … but if I thought the French selling ‘hamburger ice cream’ was an act of war, then this should be all out nuclear attack.
And no, I didn’t buy it.
I didn’t even think about it.
Which means the one bit of good news in this sorry tale, is I might be maturing – at least where bad food is concerned.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Attitude & Aptitude, China, Chinese Culture, Creativity, Culture, Home, Jill, My Fatherhood, Otis, Wieden+Kennedy
So I’m back.
I survived and no one died.
I have to say that while I love China, Beijing is not my favourite place in the World.
It’s also one of the most user-unfriendly … with everything located miles apart and the heat being utterly oppressive.
But that country still has my heart.
Every time I go there, I leave with an ache.
It will forever be a very special place to me.
Not just because Otis was born there.
Or that – in some ways – it changed my career forever.
Or my wife found a group of people that gave her a greater sense of community than she’d had in decades.
Nor even the fact I was there at one of the pivotal times in its modern history.
It’s just because in all the crazy of the country, I felt I found my spiritual home.
I appreciate that sounds mental.
Even my Chinese friends can’t work out why I love it so much.
But I do.
The people are warm, fascinating and interesting.
The culture is rich with history, modernity, complexity and beauty.
The hunger and ambition is unparalleled with anywhere I’ve been to prior or since.
I love the sense of connection and isolation that China makes me feel about myself.
That sense of returning to a place I truly felt was home for 7 wonderful years while also realizing that period might as well have been 10,000 years ago given how quick the country has changed.
And while I acknowledge there are some very questionable decisions being made by the leaders right now – decisions that undermine the potential of millions – the people within the country have been nothing but kind and compassionate to me and my family and for that, they will always have my heart.
Wherever my family are will always be the definition of home for me.
But China is the one place where that rule has some flexibility in it.
Which is the greatest compliment I could ever give a country, though if I still dislike Beijing.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Attitude & Aptitude, Comment, Confidence, Culture, Daddyhood, Empathy, Goodbye America, Goodbye China, Jill, London, Love, My Fatherhood, Otis
A few weeks ago, Otis – my son – graduated from preschool.
I’ve got to be honest, I don’t quite get the preschool graduation thing.
Yes it’s a sort-of school, but it’s basically long playtime where you get to piss about with your mates – which is a bit like working in adland, but with less alcohol. Hopefully.
Anyway, whatever it is, Otis graduated which means the next stage is him embarking on his journey of real education.
I can’t believe it.
It seems only 5 minutes ago he was born.
But there he was … graduating for the first time in his life.
I don’t mind telling you I look at my little boy with such pride and love.
He has gone through a lot …
Living in 3 radically different countries – exemplified by the above photo shows him born in Shanghai, starting preschool in LA and finishing it all in London – saying goodbye to people of huge significance in his life, having to start things over again and again, watching his Dad crumble after seeing his beloved mum die, going through an operation … and yet through it all, he has approached life with a sense of optimism, mischief, happiness and curiosity that would put many older people to shame.
Part of this is because he’s just a loving and compassionate kid. Part of this is because he has family who bloody adore him. But part of this is the insane kindness and generosity that people around the world have shown him simply because they have watched him grow through my billions of social media pics.
The reality is Otis has brought more to my life than I could ever have imagined.
Not just in terms of love and happiness … but also in terms of lessons for life.
He has made everything unquestionably richer for both his amazing Mum and me and so as I tried not to cry as I watched him get his significant – but utterly pointless – certificate, I felt insanely proud of him.
Not for what he has achieved, but for who he is.
Congratulations Otis, you’re an epic little boy.