My Take On Social Media In 2 Mins

Using only an iPhone 4 and 1 hour of my day, I created this YouTube video as part of my submission for the #TigerBloodIntern interview

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW THE VIDEO

Social Media in 2 mins using only an iPhone 4

ENJOY

3 thoughts on creativity from an aspiring Mad Man

Because so much changes in a year, I’ve compiled a few thoughts on my first at OgilvyOne.

1 – Don’t strain yourself for big ideas

Big ideas do exist. I’ve seen them. They litter the walls, halls and even the stalls of our office. And as a young writer, they’re shoved in your face from the moment you arrive. This is of course daunting. And without guidance it can often shock you into buying every copywriting book around. At least that’s how I dealt with it. But there is also another way.

Relax. It sounds simple, but even today I find it hard not to stress about a new brief. And to be honest, I doubt if I’ll ever not. Even the great man himself (David Ogilvy) once said “The first thought that runs through my mind whenever a new brief falls on my desk is that I’m not going to be able to do it”. That is why my first thought on creativity is so important. So repeat after me…

Read, rest and repeat.

Then get off your chair and do something that takes you away from your work. Play pool, go to lunch, watch TV. Your brain is digesting and it needs time to think. And worrying over a brief only reduces your ability to think. You can trust me on that as well.

2 – Be an early bird not a night owl

Yes, this line has been stolen from our recent internal campaign. But it’s rather playful and it gets my message across. I get to the office around 8.30-9 a.m. which is about 2 hours before most of the staff do, 4 hours before my Creative Director. This is far from a jab at my fellow colleagues - each to their own and without everyone else I would be lost. And I don’t do this to score points or get noticed. I do it because it’s quiet. I can think and be with my thoughts. It’s often why when it gets noisy I lock myself in a boardroom to brainstorm with a white-board.

I’ve also learnt from a master. Taking your lunch at 12 means you get quiet time in the office when you return at 1. These are the precious moments in my job where peace and serenity are warmly welcome. You are probably thinking that this contrasts my first creative thought, above, but both are valid points. You need quiet time and distractions in order to think. You just require them at set times during the creative process.

Quiet time is for after you have digested the brief. Distractions are for after you have a brief in. Simple.

3 - Get down with the lingo

Finally, a few buzz words and catch phrases to help you navigate the office

        A – Final Approval: Basically means order dinner to the office, you’re staying past midnight.

        B – I pulled it out of my arse: Every creative in the business uses this term. My reasoning is that it’s an excuse to share an idea you think is amazing, that you know no one else will like. It allows you to retract it if the general opinion is crap. After all, your arse is only ever full of s**t.

        C – OE: This is the outer envelope for a Direct Mail or DM. The most important platform in marketing. NEVER EVER LEAVE IT OFF A CONCEPT. Your Creative Director will throttle you. The same goes for a P.S. (see below)

        D – P.S. Apart from the headline of a letter, and of course the OE, this is the single most important thing you can add. Research has shown that over 80% of readers only look at this, the OE and your headline, so make it count. And I’m not going to reference where I got this statistic because 4/5 statistics are made up.

        E – Concept: This one’s pretty obvious. Every idea needs legs that carry it beyond the face of the product. Ergo, you’re not selling a watch your selling the concept of time.

        F – USP: Unique selling point. Something, anything, your product has that no one else has. Basic marketing. And one more thing while I’m at it, sell benefits as USPs not features.

        G – Always think of the opposite: Ah, this is one of my favorites. It means that if you have an idea or a concept, turn it on its head and it’ll probably work harder. There are a few great examples out there but my favorite is the following. American Express does not have a pin, annoyingly, they always make you sign. This is often seen as a down side because it’s slow. If you turn it on its head, however, it can be used as a USP. Write a line such as “I am not a number” and you’ve singled out American Express as prestigious and exclusive, exactly what the brand is.

H – A blank page: This can be the most daunting thing to any creative, however, draw several black boxes on it and fill them with shit ideas. Then draw more on another page and do the same. Keep doing this until you have three out of 100 ideas that could work. Then go back to your blank page and develop these three out of their boxes and into something great. (Our Worldwide Creative Director taught me that one. Thanks Khai Meng)

So there you have it. There’s a lot more to it than that of course. So hold your breath. More to come soon. For now, go and digest.

The year dot plus one

Yes, I'm officially back. Aged one (and 23). I feel it's about time I continued writing my blog. After all it's almost a year since life began for me and as you do at such a young age, I've forgotten almost everything I learnt and achieved. Hence, onward and upward.






And boy has the world changed in just one year. I've worked my way into my dream job, forced the girl of my dreams into a solid commitment and jumped on the "I'm writing a novel" bandwagon, not to mention I also learnt the difference between than and then.






So, I'll see you all very soon, back here in the usual place. Let's see what this year holds.

PS: Yes, I'm attempting to write a book. All judgement, laughter and banter accepted.


- I write, therefore I am.

iPhones, girlfriends and flip-flops are all banned on planes

Did you know that among the list of things you’re not allowed to take on planes there’s lithium batteries (found in almost every Apple item since the first ever iPod), aerosol cans (just like the ones they sell in duty free before you fly) and sharp objects. Before you start asking if that includes pens, toothpicks, hair clips or just about a thousand other items you've probably carried onto a plane, it doesn’t. Apparently only knives and scissors are dangerous when it comes to airplanes.

What’s even stranger is that on Delta Airlines you are not allowed pocket knives, now does that mean you can take any knife that won't fit in your pocket? That leaves a lot of knives on the list. Confusing, no? Well, the real confusing thing is that there are several lesser known items that have been left off that really need to be added. I’ve compiled a short list of a few I think we can all agree should never be allowed on a plane.

For example; babies, which are a three fold problem on planes. They smell, they make loud noises and as soon as they reach 3 they end up kicking your seat for the duration of your flight. How about non in-ear headphones? You’ve all experienced this I am sure. There's that one guy with his music blasting way to loud for his own good, let alone the guy sitting 10 rows back from him. I mean the only positive note, sorry for the pun, is that he is going to lose his hearing within 2 years. So at least you can rest easy knowing that Karma is going to kick his ass. And these items are just the beginning. We might as well just throw the following in, after all, I’m sure we can all agree they should be banned; Flip-flops, smelly foods, flasks, FARTING (I mean come on, we’re all in a confined shared space, whoever it is just stop) BO (you know who you are) and last but def not least KELLY PESCOD. Yes that’s right, I've incriminated my own girlfriend, but then she's probably as bad as taking SARS or Uranium rods onto a plane. Even mentioning the word plane can set this poor girl off.

She’s the real reason I’m not so eager to travel back to the UK. It's not the weather, tax or Chavs that litter the streets, it’s the anguish of spending over a day locked in a 2x4 box with the world’s worst flyer.

So be aware when you next fly of the dangers that lurk at over 30,000 feet. The worst is blond, 5ft 5 and most likely popping sleeping pills. 

Anything can be art, even a blog!

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/2250468/HKBlogart

The story so far.......

I'd like to say it's been easy and that you can leave Uni with a solid degree, or two, several years of experience and a pocket full of tenacity (what dreams are made of) to find yourself swamped with job offers. But this just isn't the case.

There are those that fall into jobs, but more often than not it’s because they know someone who knows someone or their Daddy's the boss. However, it's just not how the world works. And these folks never really last, trust me.

I've spent the last 7 months in Hong Kong, since the start of this blog, networking, interning, groveling, taking part in a world's greatest salesperson competition and even crying on occasion. And I can say with 100% conviction that I have not enjoyed every minute of it at all, far from it. I've enjoyed the majority of moments, but I've also never felt so lost and alone during several others.

Despite all that has happened though, I have made it and today I am more then happy.

I would encourage all those that have a dream to follow it no matter where it takes you or how hard the path is along the way. Reaching a goal, no matter how small, always makes up for the crap you’re undoubtedly going to have to face. As a great man once said "Being very good is no good. You have to be very, very, very, very, very good" (DO).

This is not the end of my blog, as the title states, "life begins at 23". I merely have the opening chapter to my memoirs.

Neglected Blog

I am very sorry for the neglected nature of my blog in recent months. I promised I would update every week. However, I have been busy. lol.

There is good news to come. I promise that!

More stories, and a re-blogging will commence soon.