Great Surprises

Something that we have to do here in the creative department is try to discover new ways to entertain people.  Well not so much new ways but new expressions. This past year we created a character. Well not so much a new character but a new expression on that character. There was some nervousness about that character.  I had my reservations but this was one of those instances where I don’t “legislate from the bench”  I encounter many ideas that I may not be a fan of but I think its my job to also read where I think the public is. This could also be prime example of where market research would be a very good thing. We don’t really do some much of that here its more of a gut feeling or we use our experiences or we ask one dude. The one dude thing doesn’t really constitute a sampling but hey we are still here. Anyway in honor of thanksgiving I now present to you Edwin.

Edwin’s Corner – Happy Thanks Givings Craft from Student Life on Vimeo.

Praise Creatives

Praising creatives. Doesn’t seem like something you should have to do…. Aren’t these the people that have so much energy and ego that they don’t need some halfhearted thank you. I’m starting to find out that they are the most in need feedback.  I think whether its positive or negative they need something.

I tried something the other day in a meeting. It’s something I’ve done with my boss about the people I work with and I’ve done just for my own satisfaction.  I came in before a meeting and decided to make a top ten list of the great accomplishments that we had last week. Well because of my tardiness in starting this project I was only able to get out six. I know we had more but I wanted to be specific and I didn’t want it to look like everyone got a participation award.  When I was a program director I used to do something called a game ball. It was done pretty much in the same manner.  Anyway I went around the room and talked about the great things we did last week. I did take some shots at THE MAN which isn’t always the best thing to do but I was on a roll.  So how do you praise a creative?  I’ve got three ways for that.

Way #1  Try to be specific.  Don’t just give a hey you did great last week.  They would probably ask, “With what?”

Way #2  Be immediate.  You don’t have to wait until some special moment. If you think they did great on something that you are     looking at say it.

Way #3  Believe it.  Don’t just do it out of rote learning where you don’t really know why you are doing it.  Really believe the things you are saying.

Peace

Do you call yourself creative?

I took a small break to collect myself. That’s only part of the story. The other part of the story is that I went through a pretty stressful week before that and for some reason I continued trying to keep up on my self-imposed writing frequency.  Anyway I figured I should regroup myself. Well I’m regrouped.

I ask that question (The one in the subject line) because I work around people who say that all the time “I’m not creative so can you come up with something.”  I don’t think that’s their fault. Here is what I think, creatives have long ridiculed the so called non-creative so much that they feel that their opinion doesn’t matter.  I am here to apologize to anyone who’s been told “you’re not a designer or you’re not creative” You can be the ultimate creative in the business world and the only place your stuff will show up is in communication arts magazine and be the most uncreative (hope that’s a word)  person and have a product line like the snuggie and have it take off.  You never know where inspiration will take you. We also do create for the non-creative world. If they can’t understand it what good is it? I could be wrong on this part. As I wrote that I questioned myself.

Here are three things

1. Inspiration can come from anyone or anything

2. Being creative shouldn’t have rules

3. Design is in everything.

Have a good Monday.

Creative Trust

I’ve been really thinking about this a lot. Especially with the new responsibilities I have.  I think it is one thing to trust your own judgement, his is something that I’m still working on, but to trust another person’s creativity is a whole different story.  It may be the toughest thing that any leadership has with a creative.  How much trust do you put in the creative brain trust of your company.   Here’s a quote for you ” The freedom to make mistakes provides the best environment for creativity”- anonymous  I don’t have a video on this but just some questions.

1. How trusting are you if you lead a team?

2. Do feel that if you don’t do it, it can’t be done or done right?

3.  Do you always have to add something to someone else’s work regardless of if it makes a difference?

4. Do you try to make something work rather than asking someone to start over?

5. Do you really trust your staff?

New Music Friday-Brett Dennen

The album pictured isn’t actually the album that I’m listening to. The album I have is called Hope for the Hopeless by Brett Dennen.  I think that was the first thing that attracted me to this guy the title of the album.  I know nothing about him other than what Jeremy Maxfield, a dude at my office knew about him. Which was more about how the artist made him feel. and if you knew Jeremy you would know that his music is…. lets say a little… well he likes Phish so well yeah.  Anyway. Brett. he has a kind of a folk kinda thing going on . Real smooth though. There is a song called Heaven that has the word of album title in it. I’ve been listening to it in my office for the last couple of weeks and its that song that really has a cool message.  He explains what that message is in the video bellow so enjoy.

Working with a team

Over the past 10 years I’ve formed my own way of dealing with a team. When I first started leading a group of people I really sucked at it. I was pretty much an ass (sorry mom). Nothing worked. I’ve only saw people being jerks so I figured that was how you did it. Well I was wrong. Here are a couple things I learned.

Ten things I learned about being a boss

1. You have to be willing to air your mistakes.
2. Building a family atmosphere is ok. Means you may fight but you don’t talk outside the family. ( this may be the mob)
3. Be willing to defend them when they are in the right and ready to correct when they are in the wrong.
4. Know how to give praise.
5. Don’t lie. You’d think this was an understood.
6. Make a safe place for people to make mistakes.
7. Build leaders.
8. Be willing to stay late and come in early for your team.
9. Contribute to tasks don’t just administer.
10. Have fun. Your attitude can change the mood of an entire team.

That’s what I have from my short years in leadership. These guys here make it real easy.

Tinkering with Perception

I wonder what things I need to rebrand? I’ve been working on myself for the past year. Its not an easy task. When people already have a perception of you its hard to change that. I’ve got some ways to go but I think it’s working. Take the time to watch this week’s video. What are things you can reintroduce about yourself?

from TED

From unlikely beginnings as a classics teacher to his current job as Vice Chairman of Ogilvy Group, Rory Sutherland has created his own brand of the Cinderella story. He joined Ogilvy & Mather’s planning department in 1988, and became a junior copywriter, working on Microsoft’s account in its pre-Windows days. An early fan of the Internet, he was among the first in the traditional ad world to see the potential in these relatively unknown technologies.

An immediate understanding of the possibilities of digital technology and the Internet powered Sutherland’s meteoric rise. He continues to provide insight into advertising in the age of the Internet and social media through his blog at Campaign’s Brand Republic site, his column “The Wiki Man” at The Spectator and his busy Twitter account.

“Rory is the original advocate of ’360-degree branding,’ a persuasive and charismatic speaker and has a tremendous knack for making ideas come to life in an easily digestible way. He has been walking the walk longer than anyone.”

Gary Leih, Ogilvy Group Chairman

Fridays at the office

Well so I was at the office past my flex time and decided to take some photos.  Let me present to you my two Producers. They are a lot smarter than I which is why we keep them around. That’s Travis on the left and Erin on the right. Happy Saturday. Do something fun today.  Oh and Sundays are creativity education so check it out.  peace.