A few weeks ago, I wrote this post about the silver jubilee anniversary of my Dad dying.
I got a lot of lovely messages from lots of people, but I also got this from my cousin, Neil.
I have not seen or spoken to my cousin since my Mum’s funeral, back in 2015.
Not because of any drama or scandal … just because these things happen, especially when you move countries every few years.
But that day, he wrote to me and I was thrilled.
Not just because that was lovely, but because of how he remembered – and how he will forever be connected – to Dad.
Which, to me, was exemplified by his very last sentence … because anyone who knew him would remember Dad doing exactly that sort of thing.
Except me.
Because I’d forgotten.
So Neil’s note let me feel my Dad’s cheeky mischief again.
Something that in the loss of him, I’d somehow lost.
Which let me feel he was close again despite it being 25 long years.
And what a warm and wonderful feeling that was.
What a gift.
So thank you cuz. And thank you Dad.
A positive reason to remember the silver jubilee.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Attitude & Aptitude, China, Chinese Culture, Wieden+Kennedy, Youth
I want to write about something I’ve been thinking a lot about recently.
I turn 54 this year and if truth be told, the life I have is more than I ever could have imagined.
While I’ve worked hard for it, I also accept that I’ve had more than my share of luck.
Right place, right time.
Meeting people I should never have met.
Having some disproportionally believe in me.
Mates who went on to become important in their job.
Basically, a bunch of stuff you can’t really plan for … though if I have any skill, it’s been to be able to run with it and invest in it rather than stop.
Which basically translates to working hard, staying in touch, always being interested in stuff and constantly looking or thinking for new ways to help them win better – even when they don’t want it – hahaha.
It’s a work ethic that frankly was driven by survival and ambition.
Survival … because I knew I couldn’t win on brains – especially having not gone to university – but I could compete on effort. And ambition … because I knew I wanted to see what was possible, even though I didn’t have a plan and didn’t have any idea what ‘the goal’ could be, would be or should be.
I say all this because recently I got asked what advice I would give to someone starting out who doesn’t know what to do and I realised I didn’t really have an answer. Part of it is because my context is about as different as it could be for someone starting out … but also because I wouldn’t want to give advice, I’d like to listen why they feel they don’t know what to do.
But that said, I think their attitude is kind-of brilliant.
Of course I appreciate they don’t feel that way – quite the opposite – but that’s more because of what society and social media has done to make them feel that if they don’t have a plan, then they’re lost … and not only is that shit, I think being open to stuff is the best way to approach life.
That’s not just because we no longer will have one career for our whole lives, but because if you’re open to everything, then anything can happen.
Frankly that last point is one of the driving forces behind everything I’ve done and hope to do … and while I appreciate there’s privilege in that approach and attitude, it is also about openness and comfort with a degree of uncomfortableness.
But I get it is scary.
It’s hard to think of things you may lose … but as I’ve said many times, the other way to look at it is in terms of what you will gain, and literally everything in my life – bar my relationship with Paul – is because of this.
That doesn’t mean it’s for everyone, but it might be for more people than who actually do it – but don’t because they are paralysed in this grip of feeling they should have certainty for their life when the real power is to embrace the lack of it.
I say all this because I was recently on a podcast about this subject called Work Without Borders.
It was a real thrill for me because it was founded by an old Wieden Shanghai colleague – Flora – and her friend, Calvin, which meant I got to talk about very special times in China and beyond.
Listening back to it, I realise how fortunate I have been.
From having parents and family who backed me and encouraged me, to companies being willing to take a chance on me … which is why I hope anyone who listens to it doesn’t think I am suggesting they should be like me, but to be be open to whatever the fuck speaks to them.
And while I appreciate some may be in situations where they have responsibilities that directly influences what they can/can’t do – which means what happens may be different to what they hoped it would be – I believe they will still end up with experiences and lessons they wouldn’t get if they simply followed what everyone had blindly – or meticulously – done before.
You may ask how I can say that … and it’s relatively simple.
Because what companies called ‘the great resignation’ was actually ‘the great reset‘.
Where millions realised the path they had been made to feel was the only path they could follow, was taking them to the exact same place as everyone else.
A place of conformity and pressure rather than curiosity and possibility.
And while there are no guarantees in life, fulfilment is born from openness, not closed mindedness which is why I will always love this quote by Peter Ustinov:
“People who reach the top of the tree are those who haven’t got the qualifications to detain them at the bottom”.
How good is that? God I love it.
Which is why if you’re worried because you don’t have a plan – remember this.
Some people have advantages.
Some people have a plan.
Some people have luck.
But we’re all making it up. Every single one of us.
So while clarity can be a powerful beast, not having it doesn’t also mean it’s bad.
In fact, if you embrace it, you may just find it can take you to even more amazing places.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Attitude & Aptitude, Context, Craft, Creative Brief, Creative Development, Creativity, Cynic
Once upon a time – when we had cynic – we were approached by a car company to work on a secret project for them.
Or so they said.
As we spent more time together, we discovered what they wanted was to see if we could help them stand out from the competition when their cars were literally rebadged cars from another manufacturer [under licence] and there was almost no distinctive feature whatsoever.
Originally, we thought that was an interesting situation in itself, but the more ideas we presented, the more we realised, ‘what they wanted’ … and ‘what they were willing to do’, were very different indeed.
So one day, exasperated, we showed them a campaign that looked just like every other campaign, except we removed every element of background. For all intents and purposes, it was the car driving around a white space. And while that sounds weird – and shit – it actually had this hypnotic effect.
Familiar and new.
Clinical and intimate.
Boring and interesting.
It was strangely bizarre, and while the client never made it – in fact we told them we didn’t want to play with them, shortly after this – that work still messes with my mind for the feelings it gave me.
Mainly because on face value, it shouldn’t have made me feel anything.
But then, if it didn’t have that effect, then Andy and Rudi wouldn’t have come up with it.
I’ve thought about that campaign every now and then for literally years, and then I saw this:
Suddenly it all made sense.
Why that idea felt comfortable while also igniting confusion.
But a confusion that was addictive and infectious.
And all because what we’d done was create a campaign that was generally the same as every other car ad campaign, but with one distinct element removed … meaning it felt psychologically very different, which meant it felt very emotionally different.
Which is why this piece I saw recently from Nils also hit home.
I love this.
I admit, it’s something I’ve been a part of countless time, but it’s always felt part of a conversation of curiosity rather than part of a designated creative process.
So seeing it written down was really good and powerful.
And to me, this kind-of captures the difference between making advertising and creativity.
When we make advertising, too often we think of it as an entire package … where everything needs to communicate a singular message that has been designed to present the product or brand in the most favourable light. But when we think in terms of creativity, it’s more about igniting feelings and emotions – things that stick deep within and make you think.
And that’s what we did with that ad we presented to the crazy client … we made something that was creatively psychological rather than advertisingly logical … exemplified by the fact that while I’ve seen a lot of car ads in the past week, I can’t remember any of them. But I can remember how a car ad we put together 20+ years ago made me feel.
Sometimes, the worst ideas open the door to some of the best.
So be careful before you kill things … you might be destroying your chance to do something that you’ll never be able to shake.
Thank you Mario.
Thank you Nils.
And thank you Andy and Rudi, who caused this whole mindfuck for me, over 20 years ago.
Hello. I’m back.
And yes, I know you think my trip was basically a paid holiday – but I was actually working.
I know you don’t believe it, but that’s your issue not mine … ha.
Talking of issues not of your own making, a mate recently sent me this:
For those of you who don’t know who Chris Luxon is, he’s the NZ Prime Minister.
Without wanting to get into too much politics, he’s the leader of the National [Conservative] party … a ‘businessman’ … and was so desperate for the ‘top job’, he willingly formed an alliance leaders from parties whose views are, let’s say, less open or compassionate than the image the rest of the world has of NZ following Jacinda’s role as PM.
So basically, think Kiwi Boris … with less charisma and, to be fair, less lies.
I think.
I hope.
Now the fact he and his party got into government means many people here didn’t like Jacinda, Chris Hipkins [who replaced her] or Labour as a whole … and while their campaign was designed to raise tensions on issues such as immigration, environment and economy – as it seems is the approach for all National/Conservative/Republican parties around the world – the reality is he and National got elected fair and square.
Which is why this ad – and its real apparently – is both alarming and brilliant.
Alarming, because it is a new level of political aggression that is making more and more countries feel and behave like they’re in open civil war. And brilliant, because it’s a level of devious, underhand, once-you’ve-seen-it-you-can’t-forget-it evil, that you tend not to see from a Liberal/Labour party.
Well, I say that, but I don’t know who actually is behind it … but it’s safe to say it’s unlikely to be anyone associated with Chris Luxon or National.
Now I have no idea if this has been done before nor do I know if there is one also aimed at Labour’s leader, but given there is an old adage that states ‘Democrats want to be right but Republican’s want to win’ … whoever is behind this seems to have decided if you can’t beat them, join them.
Once upon a time, NZ did a tourism campaign called 100% Pure.
It was – and still is – the best tourism campaign of all time.
And while that is long gone, it seems it’s being revived under the new moniker of 100% Hate.
Which, I hope, is not the sort of porn you’ll see if you click on the Luxon link.
Better post tomorrow. Maybe. Hopefully. Unlikely.