I’m not a huge Oprah fan, but I absolutely do admire her ambition, vision, and rise to the top of the world from very humble beginnings. She fought for it. She deserves it.
I also admire the way she changed her show from being one of many, like Ricky Lake and Jerry Springer, that got down [...]
“I’m giving this six months,” said the client. “If it doesn’t work, I’m pulling the plug.”
Just outside the boardroom door I could see an office filled with employees. Two of them were friends of mine, and one of those was a new dad. I knew how much they depended on this job – and [...]
Some phrases strike fear in my heart, for I know they forecast pain and suffering in my future. These include:
You’ll just feel a little pressure. (Dentist)
Your brakes need work. (Mechanic)
That’s the creative challenge. (Client or account exec.)
I learned very early on in this industry that when someone says “creative challenge,” they don’t mean: [...]
I’m hoping you can help me figure out an ad that’s been intriguing me for the past month or so. It runs in The Coast (Halifax’s alternative weekly newspaper) and has a visual of a plump, ripe banana, but the peel has been pulled back to reveal that the fruit inside is battered and bruised. [...]
(Or, don’t forget your briefs.)
I never seem to be prepared for the most obvious of questions. While giving a presentation a couple of weeks ago,
The right briefs keep your project under control and looking great
one of the attendees asked me “What is the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the past year?”
I should [...]
I’ve written my fair share of tag lines/slogans in my career. But the one I’m best known for is: “Land the plane!” (Frequently comes out as “Just land the &*^%ing plane!”)
If you haven’t had the pleasure of hearing me mutter/scream/plead this phrase, allow me to share its origins. Then you’ll know exactly what I’m [...]
While digging through one of my reference books recently, I found this age-old clipping that used to hang over my desk. It still cracks me up today as much as it did back in the 80s when I found it originally.
How to translate A.E.
By Rob Resnick
As any creative person knows, what an account executive says [...]
Imagine this scenario. You have a new client who needs a communication solution for project X.
You just happen to have one handy because a while ago, you did a project for this client’s direct competition and still have some of the presented, yet rejected, ideas kicking around.
Here’s the ethical dilemma:
Are you justified in [...]
It’s a gut-wrenching moment: the writer or art director/designer you hired just delivered the piece you’ve been waiting for – and you hate it.
Now what do you do?
Your first instinct might be to pull the job and immediately give it to somebody else. Or you might think you have to roll up your sleeves and [...]
Have you ever been to the purse department in the Macy’s in New York? Sweet jeebus – it goes on forever. On my first trip to the Big Apple I walked in the door thinking I was going to buy myself a New York purse, only to stagger out, empty handed, vowing to never try [...]