It’s been nearly 2 years since our economy self-imploded. So how far have we come since then?
As far as our industry goes, it would appear that things are headed in the right direction. After a horrible 2009, hiring seems to be picking up across the board and clients seem a tiny bit less terrified than they were a year ago.
But when you look at the national numbers, they seem to paint a different picture. Unemployment is high, home values are still way down, banks aren’t lending money and consumers aren’t …

I took this picture earlier today.
If you’ve got a labor dispute, you’re not going to win any sympathy sitting on your ass.  Especially underneath an umbrella.
- John Hugins

A couple of years ago, it was raining like hell (does it rain in hell?) and I was, as usual, late to catch a plane.
I called for a taxi that never came. But, lucky me, there an empty cab just passed next to the agency’s building. I jumped in.
-         To the airport, please.
-         Sure… May I ask if you work in this building?
-         Yes.
-         In the agency?
There were at least 15 different companies in the building.
-         Yes.
Then, the driver started to talk about advertising. He knew everything about my agency, …

In the past month I’ve worked on banner ads, websites, emails, online video tutorials, landing pages, direct mail packages, product packaging and a few TV commercials.
I’ve been pretty busy, for sure.
It makes me think back to the mid-90s when I was wondering what I should do with the rest of my life.
I remember thinking at the time that it would be fun to work in advertising. I was fortunate enough to make that dream happen.
As I look at the stack of briefs on my desk, I wonder—do I actually still …

Don’t go to college unless you want to be a doctor or something like that.
I always thought it would be a lot cooler to be under educated than over. Don’t be the guy who went to Harvard and now works at Starbucks. Getting a good job without a college education is easier than actually going to college. And you’ll look like a driven, no bullshit motherfucker for doing so. I went to Florida International University. I know. No one’s ever heard of it. My diploma has been useless for my …

Some phone calls that really happened with some friends of mine when I worked in Europe.
ARREST WHAT?
A supplier called the agency.
-          Euro RSCG, good morning.
-          Hello, who’s speaking, please?
-          That’s Euro RSCG.
-          Euro “Arrest” what?
-          RSCG.
-          I am sorry, I have to send an invoice to your company, but I can’t understand its name.
-          That’s Euro…
-          Ok…
-          R…S…C…G.
-          “Areas as Cee”…?
-          It’s R, from Rita. S, from Salt, C, from Car and G, from Giraffe.
-          Oh, now I got it! Thank you very much.
A few days after, the invoice arrived …

The following is an interesting thread on LinkedIn that should be required reading for all Marketers (i.e. Clients), Account People and Creative Headhunters.
All except our gracious host, of course – he already knows this stuff.
Would somebody please explain to me the difference between a copywriter and a digital copywriter? Does the latter possess some kind of special talent?
- Craig Cooper

You walk into my office (okay, cubiclette). You direct me to your website. Your work is great. It makes me laugh, cry, cringe, etc.
You walk out, head home and wait for the call.
And you wait.
And wait.
I don’t call.
You’re confused.
But you wait some more.
I still don’t call.
Now you’re a little angry.
So you decide to call.
“I don’t understand. I thought you loved my work. I went to the best portfolio school. I interned at the coolest agency.”
“But do you care?”
“Huh?”
“Do you actually care about the work? Do you care about the clients? …

I ask creatives (usually younger ones) all the time to see their work. And not just because I’m looking to hire someone. I do it out of curiosity. I am genuinely interested in seeing what people have done. I find it inspiring to see what others come up with. To see how their minds work.
So, it is with great surprise, that I am often greeted with an ‘I don’t really have my site updated’ response to this question. Or “I’m not really looking right now, so I haven’t focused on …

Yes, as you surf the web instead of working, you’re learning a skill. It could be how to repress your urge to go to the bathroom. It could be how to look at NSFW videos without getting caught. Even if your job is doing copy for coupons or pole signs, you are learning or honing a skill. Now, all you have to do is figure out what kind of skill you’re learning and bottle it. Market yourself according to those unique skills because they are like a fingerprint. I’m sure …