Filed under: Advertising, Agency Culture, Attitude & Aptitude, Authenticity, Cannes, Chaos, Comment, Creativity, Culture, Data, Emotion, Empathy, Experience, Honesty, Insight, Martin Weigel, Planning, Point Of View, R/GA, Relevance, Resonance, WeigelCampbell, Wieden+Kennedy
I saw an article [the one above] recently that reinforced the importance of creativity and culture in building brands and business.
Of course I’m preaching to the choir, but I get very frustrated hearing companies – and even people who claim they’re in the business of creativity – act as if they’re ‘lesser’ tools to data.
Now don’t get me wrong, data is important and can be used very creatively – and I’m very fortunate to have worked with a few people who have proved this day after day after day – but so few companies talk about it in these terms, instead celebrating data in terms of its rational certainty which, as we all know, is total bollocks because it’s dependent on where the data has come from, who is interpreting it and whether they see it as giving solutions or understanding.
In the context of the article above, data would have probably have said Americans won’t eat sushi.
There would be a huge amount of evidence to reinforce that and many companies would have simply walked away.
But where you would think big business has the brains and tools to find ways around obstacles, the reality is often they’re paralysed by structure, politics and blinkers – not to mention, have the scale to mean they can just move on to the next thing without really having to think about it.
Until someone else does it.
And often, that someone else is someone smaller.
Someone without the structure, politics, blinkers or scale to just accept impossible.
Someone who embraces culture and creativity because they need to survive.
Someone open enough to create rules rather than just follow tradition.
Data didn’t create NIKE.
Data didn’t create Tesla.
Data didn’t create the California roll.
Somewhere along the line they played an important part, but that’s all they did – a part.
Yes, it’s important.
Yes, it can make a huge difference.
But thinking it can do it all on its own is the biggest lie being sold in the industry right now.
Culture and creativity are incredibly powerful forces.
They’re not just checkboxes of a process.
They’re not just a process.
They are living, breathing entities with the ability to change expected outcomes and create new ways of looking at the world.
In these speed-obsessed times, too many view understanding culture and exploring creativity as commercially ineffective because they require nurturing, love and space … however when done right, they can combine in such a way to redefine the rules everyone plays by and make the big players – who think they have all the answers – desperately trying to play catch up.
More than that, it can create the foundation where your business attracts audiences rather than has to continually chase them because you’re building a brand of distinction rather than another commoditised company of alleged disruption.
Again, none of this is meant to be anti-data just a reminder culture and creativity are – at the very least – equal forces of commercial power and should be respected that way, because a year on from the talk Martin and I gave at Cannes for WARC, it is obvious there is still an inherent need to remember chaos creates what order can’t.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Agency Culture, America, Attitude & Aptitude, Authenticity, Black Lives Matter, Confidence, Creativity, Culture, Cynic, Diversity, Emotion, Empathy, Equality, Experience, Honesty, Insight, Perspective, Planners, Planning, R/GA, Relevance, Resonance, Shanghai, Wieden+Kennedy
My last day at R/GA was great.
That might sound weird, but it was.
Part of it was because I started the morning with the brilliant Brixton Finishing School listening to a bunch of students answering a brief I gave them with passion, mischief and possibility and part of it was because I got to spend significant time with my brilliant planning gang to say goodbye.
But there was another reason, which is that the first thing I did when my life at R/GA was over – literally within 30 minutes of being officially made unemployed – I was doing an interview with Faisal Ahmend about diversity and inclusion in adland.
And while it is an issue I am very, very passionate about …
And while I continue to feel the industry only gives a superficial response to it …
And while my headphones and wifi makes me sound like I’m Darth Vader speaking from a tin box with intermittent wifi …
…. even I’m slightly suprised how upbeat I sound on such a significant day in my career.
But then, as I said in the post that announced it, not only was I glad this happened to me rather than a person of colour, a woman or a youngster starting out in their career – who are often the first victims in these situations – the reality is the last time this happened to me, it led to the most exciting and creative time of my career and so I felt no reason to feel anything other than optimistic about the future.
Now I admit with hindsight, that may have been naive of me – especially with all the shit going on in the World with pandemics and political fighting, not to mention my old, old, old, old, age – however based on all that has happened to me since that I announced I’d been made redundant, my hunch has been proved to be right.
So far. Hahahaha
Normally I hate listening or reading things I say.
I spend the whole time slapping my head either muttering, “why did I say that?” … “why didn’t I say that?” … or “why am I jumping about and rambling like I’m a loon?”
However this one is a bit different.
Sure there’s things I wish I rephrased.
Sure there’s things that I might have got slightly wrong.
But at the end of the day, I say the one thing that I feel had to be said … the one thing to counter the excuse I continually hear why there is not more diversity in adland today.
When asked how do I find the people to add diversity to my team, I respond …
“You don’t have to ‘find them’, they’re everywhere … you just have to want them.”
You can listen to it here.
You can listen to far more intelligent and articulate people here.
And, as usual, I huge thank you to all the people who have – and continue to – help me on my journey to being a much, much better human. Especially Maya, Breanna, Chelsea, Lani, Hannah, Amar, Omar, Erika, David, Sue, Jorge, Karrelle, Jason, Tahaab, Charinee, Leon, Debi, Tina, Kate, PQ, Rodi, Jay, Akua, Yaya and Bayyina.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Agency Culture, Attitude & Aptitude, Authenticity, Comment, Confidence, Context, Creativity, Culture, Management, Professionalism, R/GA, Relevance, Resonance
I’m back.
OK, I know I’ve written a few posts in the 3 weeks I’ve been away, but I’m officially back.
And I want to say a big thank you to everyone who reached out after my news.
I appreciate it very much and can assure you I’m fine.
For now, hahaha.
I was overwhelmed by the generosity I received and I actually have a bunch of news to announce soon, however I need a little longer before I can do that due to the usual dotting i’s and crossing t’s – but, as some of you already know, one of the reasons has to do with this …
More of that soon, so until then, let’s get on with now shall we?
I should point I wrote this post a while ago.
So long ago, I had a full time job.
But it is important I point out the title of this post is not a euphemism for ‘self-love’.
No.
It’s about the feelings many people are going through as they start to realistically think about returning to work.
By which I mean an actual office rather than in their own home.
I don’t know about you, I’m a bit nervous.
As I’ve written before, the situation with COVID has been a very different experience to us than it has to many, many people.
I absolutely recognise my privilege in that statement.
I would happily not have had this time if people had not had to suffer.
I truly mean that.
But working from home has had a profound effect on me.
I sleep longer.
I am not doing 2+ hours of commute a day.
I am here for lunch and dinner with my family.
I am being much, much more effective in what I do.
I love being able to wake up, put on some shorts and a t-shirt and walk into the room that has now become my office.
Seamless.
But the idea of going to an office is making me nervous.
Any office.
Not just because the COVID rates are on the rise again, but for other reasons too …
Will I be able to function once I’ve given up all the lovely things I’ve discovered?
Will wearing long trousers and not eating a packet of Quavers everyday undermine my effectiveness?
Will it affect the energy and fight I have for the work I do?
Then someone sent me the image below and I realised that working from home hasn’t made me a lesser version of myself, it’s revealed how I truly like to work and I feel much better about myself.
And before anyone says it, yes, this is an extremely long post of utter bollocks just so I could use this image.
Sue me.
Filed under: Agency Culture, Attitude & Aptitude, Authenticity, Corona Virus, Culture, Cynic, Diversity, Emotion, Experience, Imagination, Immaturity, Innovation, Insight, Love, Loyalty, Management, Planners, Planners Making A Complete Tit Of Themselves And Bless, Planning, Point Of View, Positioning, R/GA, Relationships, Relevance, Resonance, Wieden+Kennedy
So if the title of the post didn’t give you a clue.
And if the photo above didn’t make what this post is about, obvious.
Today is my last day at R/GA.
Sadly my role has been made redundant. Thanks a lot COVID!!
And while it’s sad, I am glad it’s a senior, white, male who is being impacted rather than someone young or female or a person of colour who are often the ones who get hit first across the industry.
But while there will plenty of things I’ll miss, the biggest will be my team.
I’ve always been so lucky with the planners I’ve worked with and this lot are no exception.
They’re great. A talented bunch of creative fools who made me laugh, debate and rethink stuff every single day.
They were an honour to work with and they will continue to be epic in all they do.
They better be, because I’ll be watching them. Closely.
So thank you Lachlan, Nic, Rach, Anna, Joel, Amar, Erika, Laureen, Bassot, Ed, Megan, Nicole, Divya, Arda, Amelia, Severine, Marissa, Insa, Toby, Ben … and the others who helped make my time – and the gang – so much fun, including Anne, Valia, Eduardo and Michael.
So what next?
Well there’s a bunch of things.
We bought a house which we still need to move into.
I have my projects with the Metal Masters I need to deal with.
And I recently got an assignment with the Chilli’s, by which I mean the band rather than the food – which will be fascinating. Or headache inducing. I’ll let you know which, later.
Then I’ve registered a company I now need to work out what the hell I’m going to do with. I’ve got some ideas and I’ve even got some backers, but I owe it to my family to give it a bit more thought rather than just run full-speed to wherever my excitement orders me to go.
But for right now, all I’m going to do is take a couple of weeks off to enjoy being with the family and no zoom calls – which means you also get a week or two off – so all that leaves me to say is thank you to R/GA for the adventure and the airmiles … my team for their brilliance and their trouble making and … my wife, son, cat, clients and mates for their love, support and sarcasm.
Last thing.
Let’s be honest, these situations suck.
If people had the choice between having a job and not, the job is pretty much always going to win, especially at my age.
However not only am I absolutely fine, I’m strangely optimistic.
There are many reasons for this, but the main one is the last time this happened to me, it resulted in some of the best times of my career.
From starting and selling cynic and Sunshine to then working at Wieden+Kennedy and R/GA through to living, exploring and working all around the World.
Or said another way … when my role was made redundant, it was instrumental in helping me do stuff at the highest levels of creativity, culture and client all around the World.
From helping launch brands like Spotify in Japan to partnering with NIKE to create sport culture in China to inspiring Virgin Atlantic to build an airport lounge that people want to miss their plane to stay in to finding ways to redefine the rules of luxury which led to SKP-S building an experience specifically designed to look/feel like life on Mars to helping Metallica do all manner of weird and wonderful stuff from connecting deeper with fans to opening new ways to connect with the band. And a bunch of other stuff, from the small to the huge to the ridiculous.
I absolutely, unapologetically, love this stuff with all I’ve got.
Now whether any of this can happen again is anyone’s guess, but it is possible … and given the challenges and competitive nature of the world today, I feel my history of provocative and intriguing creativity to help brands around the world define their position in culture – and business – still gives me a strong and valuable role to play.
I guess this is all my convoluted way of saying if you’re an agency or a company – anywhere in the World – who is ambitious to grow or change or reimagine who you are or considering new markets [ie: Asia/China] or stuck on a mindfuck of a problem or want advice on building a cohesive, potent strategy gang or just want to win better … then give me a shout, because whether it’s about leading something, collaborating on something or just chatting about something … I’m going to be officially available for all of this very soon and I’d bloody love it.
Right, now my Gwyneth Paltrow Oscar speech is out the way, see you in a few weeks.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Authenticity, Comment, Confidence, Content, Context, Creative Brief, Creative Development, Creativity, Culture, Emotion, Empathy, Home, Honesty, Insight, Mischief, Planners, Point Of View, Pretentious Rubbish, R/GA, Relevance, Research, Resonance
When I was at R/GA, I hired this brilliant planner called Joel.
It was weird how we met because it all started at a Google Firestarter meeting I was talking at.
At the end of my presentation, it was opened up to the audience for questions.
I couldn’t see who was asking anything as the lights from the stage were shining straight into my eyes. Anyway, there was one question that shone out from the rest of the questions of the night – basically challenging the London bubble of planning – and while I didn’t know who asked it, I wanted to find who did to say I liked it.
Alas I never found out who did.
A few days later, I got a message on LinkedIn from the person who asked the question.
His name was Joel.
I invited him for a coffee later that week and suddenly the person who asked the best question of the night was asking the best questions of the day.
But what made them extra good was he wasn’t doing it to show off or stand out, he was doing it because he was interested in the topics and interested to hear my perspective.
We talked about his background, his ambitions and then he did the one thing that almost guaranteed I wanted to hire him.
He called comprehensive school, ‘big school’.
BIG SCHOOL.
I hadn’t heard that since I was a kid in Nottingham and immediately I loved Joel for it. Because for all the time he had spent in London, he had not lost his Bradford realness … and then it became clear why he asked the question about the London bubble, why he was asking questions why culture rarely reflected how marketing department express it and why was the ad industry more interested in convenience than authenticity.
How could I not hire someone like that?
So I did.
And he never disappointed because apart from being culturally, creatively and strategically talented – with an obsessive focus on what life is really like for people, especially outside of London rather than the cliched, London bullshit a lot of marketing likes to portray – his greatest trait was he always wanted to learn.
Always.
Now don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t always the model student … he would push back, he would challenge, he would question … but what he doesn’t know is that was when I was the happiest working with him, because it meant he was believing his words rather than just following others.
And while we always have to be careful we don’t blindly think whatever we believe is the right answer, having confidence and conviction in your gut and your talent is an often underplayed, undervalued, under-encouraged skill in a strategist … which is why I was so happy to see when I left R/GA, Joel had a mug made with my face and my words on it.
Not because he missed my ugly face and lack of vocabulary, but to remind him to trust his smarts, his instincts and his authenticity … but never to be a prick about it.
If I was proud of him before. I am even prouder of him now.