Drew Francis » creative director

Burn out

drew — Tue, 04 May 2010 12:30:18 +0000

Let me first say I’m not burned out. I actually got a good energy boost from some new people that have joined us at the office. That got me thinking about how do we stop it. I think I’ve written on this topic before. I really dont have any answers. I was hoping that some of you creatives out there may have some. What do you do when you don’t think you have anything left. I hope the people that work with me never get that way or I’m in trouble. I do like it that they don’t try to please me. They actually don’t know what I’ll like so that makes it real easy. Here is what I do.

Lost. Lost has rescued me from burn out many a times. I think part of it is that I never liked the show. I only got into it because of peer pressure. So I guess what I do some times to get out of my burn out is to watch other people. My title is creative director So many times I tell my self hey, I only direct creatives I don’t actually have to be creative. I dont really know if that’s true but that’s how it is. I also take pictures. I do that because no one pays me to do it. You know it’s all coming back to me. I have spoken about it before. So really what do you do?

Homeless shelter fish fry and more

drew — Sun, 02 May 2010 13:48:59 +0000

Giving some time. So yesterday Jared and I went to Brother Bryan to help with a fish fry that my church was putting on. I have to admit I wasn’t looking forward to do it. I had just finished moving Hannah which gave me just enough time to eat lunch then head back. The thing that my church has done is made me uncomfortable. That has been great for my spiritual life. It was a great time. If you would like to know more about what Brother Bryan does just click the link. I said I would start May 1 and this is my answer to why that didn’t happen.

We will return to new music Fridays, office talk, creative and stuff I don’t know anything about. There are a ton of goings on and I’m trying now to put it all together. This is what Erin and I have been doing at work lately

SLNation – Episode 5 from Student Life on Vimeo.

How many trees had to die?

drew — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:48:22 +0000

Let me first say I know nothing about mailing or the habits of people when it comes to mail. I have no expertise in how it should be done and can only tell you what I’ve read and what I can imagine. I got an email from a colleague that sent me a tweet of someone who is part of the shock and awe campaign that is going on right now. They asked is it necessary to receive a tree a week? That’s a hard question. If it didnt work would we do it or if we had other methods would it work better. Just the fact that we were able to track you down through twitter should give some indication that there may be a better way, one that allows us to know you. Why don’t we add that field to our data. Yes, I’m suggesting we add a twitter field along with our email field. This person follows around eighty people that may follow another 90 people wich may follow 300 people and so and and so on.

On the cover of fastcompany this week is Ashton Kutcher also known as @aplusk Great article on new media advertising. Everyone is talking about it but not all are doing it . I think it may be fear of losing the gray haired dude who calls it some type of mojo. But how may trees have to die?I’ve actually been thinking a lot about this. But how do y0u concentrate on the product along with the means of letting people know about it? If I ask that question does that mean we are doing too much? I’ll let my boss figure that one out. What am I supposed to do?

Peace

Drew

Just do your job

drew — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:57:36 +0000

“Galloway: But my feeling is that if this case is handled in the same fast-food, slick-ass ‘ Persian Bazaar manner with which you seem to handle everything else, something’s gonna get missed. And I wouldn’t be doing my job if I allowed Dawson and Downey to spend any more time in prison than absolutely necessary, because their attorney had pre-determined the path of least resistance.”

I wonder how many times i’ve been frustrated with having to do something over. I don’t really know now why I was so frustrated. True, I can understand doing something over but not being given the amount of time you need to accomplish that task. But if you are given the time. If you are compensated for your time does it matter if you do a job once or twice or a hundred times.

Have you ever encountered someone who when asked to do something over asks “You know I’ll have to start over?” I’m not saying I’ve encountered that recently but it does happen. I think I’ve learned over the years that I don’t work at the pleasure of myself. My name is not on the wall as some would say. So is it better to do the job fast or the best? I think most would say best until they have to do that task over again. That may be why I try set someone up for success. I usually blame myself when something is missed or done incorrectly. I think it’s a failure on my part. Sometimes though I want to just say “Do your Job.”

Peace

Drew

Merging-departments

drew — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:52:22 +0000

Over the past 10 years I’ve had to do a couple of things that I know nothing about. Actually that can go back to college where I had a different job every year and sometimes 2. Ive been a fitness instructor, an actor, runner for a law firm, I did account receivables and much much more. Last year which was just a couple days ago I was asked to take on another part of the company. I had to do that when we put creative and technical together. It wasn’t easy but it was something. So here we are at the start of new adventure. With this one merger the males were quickly outnumbered. Conversation about films have been replaced with the bachelor conversation and I love it. All we need is to hire a black female video director and we may have a hat trick. Any way I’m looking forward to it. So how am I going to do this? I don’t really know yet. Here’s what I think.

I think inspiration counts. I dont want to be a dude that feels that his mark has to be on everything. I hope that I can inspire people to do more than I could ever do.

I think there is something about being challenged by your peers even when they don’t exactly what you do.

I think them knowing that they have a direct line to you ahead of others is a real good thing. I had meant to let the team know that. They can pull me out of a meeting or stop me in the hall. They have access. (that sounds bigger than it is)

Ok. I’ve already broken a rule and updated my blog during work hours.

Peace

drew

We all work for someone

drew — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:00:48 +0000

The older you get I think the more we all realize that we work for someone. Even if you own your own business you work for the client, the customer, the eh. It can be some what demoralizing when you come to that realization. I work for someone. When you work for someone your realize that your’s and the person you work for may have different goals, dreams, aspirations. You may have complete different philosophies about life, politics, family and yes even church. I’ve tried to make a happy balance between the two. Me and the person I work for. I try not to answer emails on the weekend unless it affect what happens Monday at 8:30. I try after 8 o’clock not to exchange calls and emails. You bought my service not my life, right. It’s not easy. You find that the longer you work for anywhere the more parts of your life are intertwined with your own. Sometimes I succeed sometime I don’t. But I am trying. This philosophy if you call it that works great when you are doing some thing you may not agree with. We all work for someone. This seems like a bit of downer but its more of a “Take your life back” You work so you can live you don’t live for your work.

Peace in the middle east

Pimping ain’t easy

drew — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:03:43 +0000

And the hits keep coming. Not only am I in the process of hiring one person but I have a second one that is pretty much a big deal. I’m in the middle of looking for a graphic designer to complete the team. I said this before but I’ll say it again. I hate this process. I know that you are trying pimp yourself out during those times. You will do anything and learn anything. My heart does break for you that I have something that you want but there is a line behind you that also wants what you want. I do believe its a crap shoot. The odds are a little better but a crap shoot none the less. You can interview, have an awesome resume go to the best school and turn out to be crazy. It takes having a couple come through your life to know what I mean. It’s pretty shocking the first time it happens to you. You wonder what you did wrong. That’s probably why I take more time just shooting the breeze during an interview. If I can get along with you then things are going to be ok. I also try to have a second person in the room just in case my crazy meter aint working. So here are 5 steps on how to Pimp your self if you are planning on applying to student life well let’s just say to interview with me.

1. Don’t wear a tie. I know that its respectful. I know you were probably taught to over dress rather than under dress. If you are going to wear a tie at least look hip about it. Your paisley purple tie doesn’t make it happen. If you drop off your resume in person you would be able to see the culture.

2. Always, always research on what we do. Nothing irks me more than someone asking “So what type of work will I be doing?”

3. When I ask if you have any questions, come up with one. We have sat here listening to you talk you’ve got to want to know something.

4. When I say “tell me about your self” and you ask “What do you want to know?” It is to give you an opportunity to tell me not only about yourself but you get to tell me the things you think are important about you. I dont do it to try to stump you.

5. I know you are nervous but I’m going to try to make it as fun as possible. Take a deep breathe and have fun.

Ok so these are hard and fast rules. These are ways to work here for me. Try them don’t try them.

Peace in the middle east

New Music- John Mayer

drew — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:07:06 +0000

I don’t know when I became a John Mayer fan. I think it was actually during the chappelle show when he did a guest appearance. I like him and I like this album. I once again bought and LP off of Itunes. This one wasn’t as cool as the Jay-z album but it was good. It had a couple of videos and of course the lyrics. Ok this is going to be real short. I may give a little write up later but for now give it a listen give it a try.

I’m going to let this speak for him. One of my favorite michael jackson songs.

My New Love

drew — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:44:35 +0000

Ok. Nothing about work here. Today starts my get some stuff done day. In honor of that I’ll start by talking about my new favorite show. Modern Family. What i like about it is they way it looks at our messed up family lives and say “you are not alone” I was an avid watcher of Married with Children and what I liked about the family was that no matter how much you saw them go at it they truly loved each other. (yeah I know its a show but you get my point) Kind of like the Osbourne family.

This show came out of no where for me. One day while flipping through some hulu stuff I thought I should give it a try. I ended up watching all the episodes they had. Here is what the show consist of a : A father that divorced his wife to marry a Latin princess who already had a quirky kid. His daughter is married to the typical american dad persona (he’s made to look stupid but has a big heart). Her brother is gay and is married to a dude and they just adopted a kid. Typical huh. Give it a shot you may be surprised.

Peace in the Middle east

Not reading email + Throwing something together = being unprepared for meeting

drew — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:46:58 +0000

So I’ve noticed that I have spoken about pop culture in about a week. There will be a new music Friday this week but it seems I’ve been on this work kinda kick lately. Maybe its the added responsibility. I dont know. Its just where I am right now.

So yesterday. I was asked about a week ago to come to a meeting and pitch along with others some ideas for a new project we are working. With this being part of my job I gladly accepted. That was about the end of me thinking about it. We had a follow up email to ask about what time. I gave what time I could attend and said meeting was even reschedule to accommodate me. That was my second opportunity to engage. There were follow up emails giving instructions. I once again did not read. Then came the day of the meeting. When we are talking about lesson ideas I sometimes like trying to think up with those right before the meeting. This though is different. You have to search and look and dream. I blew it and it showed. Never throw that kinda stuff together. This goes back to how a meeting should be run. From the moment I started talking I knew I was in trouble especially when you see people who had thought about it working. I suck. Because of my guilt I bought the staff breakfast. A kind of hey please like me and because they are pretty awesome . They continue to take up my slack. I have a list for being ready for a meeting.

1. Read all correspondence

2. Prepare to prepare for a meeting

3. Know when you can’t contribute.

4. Don’t be afraid to say you are not ready.

5. You are to be a help not a hindrence

6. Don’t be stupid.

Peace

Meetings (persudae or defend)

drew — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:18:53 +0000

I think its hard to actually get anything accomplished in a meeting. I don’t know if that’s universal. NO. I think it is. Here is what happens in a lot of meetings I’m in. Ever person has a certain agenda. We don’t always know what that agenda is. So we spend most of the time trying to persuade or defend our agenda. That happened to me recently. Two people were engaged in discussion where I do think they both were speaking different languages. It was like the tower of babble you know. Right after the fall or Pentecost. So, the rest of us also not knowing what language this was just kinda waited until the dust cleared. Two people trying to persuade and defend. The funny thing is I don’t think either person was necessarily wrong. Both had great points and both wanted the other person to understand.

I don’t have a list of things to remember. Well I do have one. Let your agenda be known. You may find that when each person does that you start with what you all hope to accomplish from this meeting. I do work with one guy that is very good at that. He starts his meetings with “here is what I hope to accomplish with this meeting” From the start we are all on the same page. Good job you. I may bring you a cookie today.

Peace