Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Age, Agency Culture, Attitude & Aptitude, Birthday, Comment, Communication Strategy, Creativity
I cannot believe it is the end of June.
How did that happen so fast?
The problem with the year going so quickly is that so is my mortality.
When you’re in your thirties or forties … hearing someone has died at 73 seems centuries away, but when you’ve just turned 52, it seems like a week.
I’ve written how much turning 50 has affected me before.
From looking wistfully at photos of people who look a bit like my son, albeit much older … through to how much I love my wife … to finally appreciating a good garden … to talking about my career.
The reality is, if you’re still in adland at my age – or probably any industry – you definitely feel you’re approaching the end of your journey.
And you are …
That doesn’t mean you don’t have a shit-ton to offer or that you’re not doing exciting work … the reality is the industry has always valued ‘new’ over experience – or even creativity for that matter – so it’s just how it goes.
However from a pure ego perspective, it can still sting a little … especially when many of the people getting the acclaim have not done anything of note, other than play the self-publicity game very, very well.
Repeatedly shouting their reframed arguments, judgement on others work or modern takes on old behaviours and then – just as you’re about to turn into a bitter bastard – you realise that’s probably what the previous generation of adfolk thought about you and your mouth – and suddenly things look very different.
And as much as that revelation is a metaphorical kick in the face brings, it also is pretty liberating.
Because while it’s nice to be noticed – and there’s some people out there doing things that truly deserve to be because they’re trying to take the possibilities of creativity to new places, from POCC to Ivy Huang at Tencent to Mr Hoon Kim at Gentle Monster [and I know I’m biased given he’s a client of mine] to the usual suspects like Nils etc to name but a few – the reality is not being defined by your job or your title or your employer is far better for your health, happiness and creativity … and yet that is the opposite of what the industry promotes.
Your value is based on your title.
Your talent is linked to who you work for.
Your reputation is decided by how well known you are rather than what you’ve done.
I get it. I felt that way for a time. But it’s also a bit insane.
I cannot tell you how differently people listened to what I said when I was at Wieden than when I was at Cynic, despite that on many occasions, I was saying EXACTLY the same thing. It happens now with Metallica. People who wouldn’t give me the time of day before suddenly think what I spout has value because some heavy metal musicians treat me as their cat litter tray. But the reality is success is as much down to good fortune as it is talent – even though talent is still very important – so to play to what you think someone wants you to be rather than who you actually are only ends up undermining you.
You may not realise that till later, but at one point you’ll look in the mirror and know.
Let’s be honest, turning 52 is pretty pants.
Even more so when you find a photo of yourself at 22.
Yep, that’s really me … from my passport photo.
Hair, youth and serial killer stare.
But at 52 you ache.
You look older than god.
And you’re made to feel the industry you’ve pretty much given your working life to, is trying to leave you behind purely based on your age.
And despite me having so much fun and doing so much exciting stuff with bands, I still adore adland.
I may not like where it is going or what it now values, but it’s given – and continues to give me – so much and I’ll always be grateful for that.
And while my time in the industry is different to what it once was, it still gives me so much … with the latest gift being the realisation their issue with older people is their problem not mine.
Filed under: Advertising, Agency Culture, Attitude & Aptitude, Authenticity, China, Chinese Culture, Colenso, Comment, Creative Development, Creativity, Culture, Effectiveness, Emotion, EvilGenius, Focus Groups, Insight, Marketing, Marketing Fail, Mischief, Perspective, Planners, Planning, Point Of View, Prejudice, Relationships, Relevance, Research, Resonance, Strategy, Wieden+Kennedy
I’ve written about this subject before, but one of the biggest issues I think is facing marketing strategy these days is the obsession with corporate logic.
The quest to create frameworks and messaging that ultimates dictates and demands order, consistency and control. Not to help clients build the brand, but to help clients feel safe and comfortable.
And while that may all sound great in theory, the reality is – as the owner of the store with the horn discovered – that it often backfires magnificently.
Because great strategy isn’t logical, its logic born from the ability to make sense of the ridiculousness of reality.
Whether that is amateur artists buying a Mona Lisa painting when they really want the frame or
And the beauty of that is it liberates the possibilities of creativity …
Whether that is an actor who lets the paparazzi see them every night to avoid being photographed by them to the Chinese Government adding a mini ‘scratch card’ on till receipts to get customers to ask for it so it forces the seller to put it through the till and the government can ensure they get their tax through to a beer that is an act of love.
I’ve been talking about the power of devious strategy for years … and while I’m not claiming it is anything extraordinary, when you compare it to what so many think passes for good – I’d choose it any day of the week.
Not just because it leads to better work, but because creative ridiculousness is becoming a far more powerful way to drive commercial effectiveness than corporate-appeasing, logic.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Attitude & Aptitude, Comment, Communication Strategy, Creative Brief, Creative Development, Creativity, Education, Insight, Internet, Northern, Planners, Planning, Point Of View
Ad blogging was once a rich, vibrant community.
It was amazing how much people looked out for each other.
A lot was driven by Russell Davies … but the effect of it was something pretty special.
I met a lot of people because of that community … some, still even come on here.
Occasionally.
But when you compare it to the toxic, ego-filled bullshit of ad twitter … I can’t help but feel the blogging community was a much more valuable and positive resource for adland.
Especially if you were a junior.
While there are many positives of social media, learning the strategy discipline through 280 letter tweets is not really going to drive the craft forward.
Nowadays there seems to be only 2 people still blogging.
Martin and me.
Or said another way …
Nowadays, only Martin writes a blog that has real value and depth for the industry and discipline.
One of the people I am saddest at having stopped blogging is Andrew Hovells. Better known as Northern Planner.
I’ve written about him a lot in the past.
From how much I respect him to how much I liked trolling him by sending him to see Queen in concert, when he absolutely hates the band.
But I revisited his blog recently and there’s just so, so much amazing stuff on there.
Stuff for people curious about planning.
Stuff for people just starting planning.
Stuff for people having a career in planning.
Stuff for people leading work and teams in planning.
Stuff for every level and need in planning.
And while there are many other resources for this sort information on the internet, Northern Planner’s is especially good for 3 reasons:
1. It comes from someone who could have worked at pretty much any of the best agencies in London, but didn’t and instead chose to stay ‘oop North’ and bring the planning discipline to a part of England that [i] didn’t have it and [ii] needed a lot of convincing to see it’s value. Not only did he achieve that – and validate the discipline for more people in the region to become a part of it – his work gave the supposed London ‘superstars’ a run for their money.
[He also turned down coming to cynic, which still devastates me, because he would have made such a difference to us. But it also shows how smart he is. Unfortunately]
2. He doesn’t give you a process to follow, he gives you a way to look at the discipline and the roles within it. Meaning you’re developing your own planning style and voice … not regurgitating someone else’s.
3. All of it is free. Every last bit of it.
Given the amount of amateurs ‘flogging’ their questionable, superficial and inauthentic courses that don’t have the right to even be in the same universe – let alone industry – as Andrew’s generous, considered and carefully explained lessons and insights … I know who I recommend people spend their time learning from.
I really miss Northern and his blog.
But the planning community should be missing it even more.
Filed under: Advertising, Attitude & Aptitude, Comment, Creative Development, Creativity, Culture, Marketing, Marketing Fail, Relationships, Respect, Trust, Truth
Recently there has been a number of cases where we’ve sadly seen companies take creative ideas from one agency and have them made, without acknowledging the original creator, by someone else.
We saw it with the Coinbase Superbowl spot and I saw it with an ex-client of mine.
What is especially amusing is that when these people are called out, their first inclination is to try and bluff it out … despite you being able to prove it was your work thanks to specific dates, presentation materials and information about who was in attendance.
In my case, the individual in question literally asked “what’s your problem?”
With a comment like that, they were either being deliberately ignorant or, well you get it …
So we launched legal action against them.
At the time, some said this was sour grapes.
That we were being petty and alienating future business as it would make companies want to keep away from us.
But they were wrong.
Because this was never about the specific piece of work they took from us had gave to someone else – while not paying or acknowledge us for the origination, it was about respecting relationships and valuing what you do.
It’s fine to have differences of opinion.
It’s fine to realise a relationship – regardless how long and fruitful it has been – should end.
But that doesn’t mean you can act like the relationship never happened and you can do whatever you want with the things you did together.
Creativity is hard enough without all the commercial obstacles it needs us to jump over.
Brand assets.
Processes.
Eco-systems.
Appropriation.
Corporate politics.
Pre-testing.
Post-testing.
Measurement criteria.
Short timelines.
The last thing the industry needs is to have to start worrying about the integrity of the people you’re working with/for … which is why we took legal action, because our view was if we didn’t, we would be complicit to it when it happens again in the future.
Maybe not to us. But to someone.
And for the record, while they didn’t let it go to court, we were recompensed fully and it never did us any harm in winning other business. Quite the opposite in fact.
Now doing this doesn’t mean you have to it with public fanfare and maximum embarrassment, we didn’t – though I should point out I think what Kristen did with CoinBase was both brilliant and utterly justified – but it also doesn’t mean you should just forget about it and put it down to ‘experience’.
Whatever way you look at it, this is NOT how business works and nor should it.
Look, we all make mistakes.
Some can be bloody massive ones.
Hell, I’ve made bloody millions.
But how you deal with those reveals who you really are and sadly, the industry is seeing quite a few people who don’t seem to believe this sort of behaviour is in any way wrong.
Sure this attitude might work for them in the short term.
Sure they can try and deflect and deny blame for as long as they like.
But while I was going to end this post about the more transparent the relationship, the better the work … I decided it would be better to end with two [paraphrased] pieces of advice I got from Dave Luhr, the now retired Chief Operating officer of Wieden+Kennedy.
For those people who know who I’m talking about, you will hopefully hear his voice as you read it … though in conversations with me, he would always start with “Campbell …”
“Anyone who thinks they were successful by themselves is an asshole”.
“No one does their best work for assholes”.
Filed under: Attitude & Aptitude, Colenso, Comment, Creativity, New Zealand, Planners
Before I start, I need to acknowledge it’s the luckiest cat in the World’s 15th birthday today.
She may use me, mock me and begrudge me – but I love her.
So happy birthday Rosie, I look forward to hearing your complaints when I get home.
OK, so let me begin this post by saying that Henry is alive and well.
I know that subject line makes it sound like he’s died, but it just worked with the photo at the top of this post.
I know … I know …
Anyway, today is a bittersweet day for me … the Colenso planning department and Colenso as a whole … because gorgeous Henry leaves us.
Actually, he’s doing more than that, he’s leaving the industry.
I’m going to ignore that a little over a year from me joining, he’s off. I’m going to forget he has loved Colenso for years and left Adam & Eve in London to come here. I’m going to forget all that and put it down to him supporting Huddersfield Town and being devastated his [ex] boss is a Nottingham Forest fan who saw them beat his team in the play-off final to the Premiership.
Yeah, that’s it … must be.
OK … OK … it’s not, but even with the forced clarity of reality, it’s still hugely important we celebrate that this wonderful strategist is going on a career adventure.
Career adventures are often devalued.
Seen as walking away from the foundations you have built.
But that’s bollocks on so many levels … especially when you’re a planner who can use many of their skills in new ways with new industries.
Sure, it’s sad for us that Henry wants to explore, but the reality is I’m also very happy for him, for two simple reasons …
1. He’s going to test and stretch his talent in new ways, which is awesome.
2. Whatever way you look at it, Henry is brilliant.
In fact, Henry is so brilliant he was a big part I took the job.
When I was chatting to Colenso, I got to meet Henry and we had many chats and I immediately was taken by his brains, character and chops.
Yes he’s obsessed with war facts and puts the ‘hype’ in hypochondriac … but he’s also caring, compassionate, diligent, smart and a real leader.
That last one is particularly important as it is banded about a lot in this industry … but where Henry is concerned, it’s the perfect description.
He cares about others.
He wants the best for others.
He supports others in their quests and goals.
He leads by example in all he does.
That last one is the difference.
Anyone can say they care, but the true test of integrity is how you operate … both in the shadows and in the spotlight.
Henry is so honourable he even paid me back the $8000 I accidentally sent him when I was a fucking idiot …
OK, that bit may show he is prone to stupidity, but you get what I mean.
All this is my way of saying that today we lose a special human, not just a great strategist.
And while – from a personal perspective – I wish he wasn’t going and I’ll miss him like hell … I am proud and excited for him.
I’ve written a lot how I believe the role of a boss is to help your people see, seize and be seen for opportunities they may otherwise not consider a possibility. And while in Henry’s case, I had nothing to do with it, I still feel a thrill that he’s off to explore what he can become.
Of course I’m in no doubt he will be brilliant, but I hope once he realises it, he see’s this next step as simply the beginning of many more – and bigger – steps. Taking him to places far beyond where he is and where he is going.
I hope he understands that.
I’ll make sure he can’t forget it.
So to you Henry …
It’s been a pleasure and honour to have you in my life.
Not just professionally, but personally.
Thank you for everything … you helped this agency and department in ways that will be felt and remembered for a very long time.
But not as long as you’ll be remembered for the person you are.
Go be brilliant but please don’t talk ‘war facts’ till at least week 4.