It s a shame I've been sitting on this book for about two years now. A friend of mine gave me Never Eat Alone , by Keith Ferrazzi a couple years ago (thanks Rey), and it s been on my bookcase ever since. It was resting there not because I didn't want to read it, but because I already had so many others in the pipeline. I finally got around to reading it last month and I definitely recommend it. In very simple terms, Ferrazzi explains why networking is important and how to do it. From how to make call lists to planning dinners to personal branding to goal setting, it s all here. He also maintains a valuable blog .
Inevitably there will be times when you have setbacks or things don t go your way. Maybe you didn't get a job you thought you were sure to get. Maybe you lost a job unexpectedly, didn't win a contract, or lost a major client. Your car always seems to break down right after you've had some other unexpected expense. These kinds of situations immediately place us in crisis. They don t feel good, but sometimes they re what we need in order to grow. The beautiful thing about crises is that they force us to take a step back and reevaluate what s going on in our lives and rediscover what we truly want and need. When we get over that initial shock and feeling of disappointment, we might realize that maybe that job wasn't really the best for us anyway. Maybe, just maybe, that wasn't what you really wanted to spend your life doing. Maybe that friend was holding you back instead of pushing you forward. The way I deal with crises of these sorts is simple: If something doesn't go my way professionally, I try to create a situation that would be more rewarding than the situation originally planned. A while ago, I was offered a job that looked very promising. After I accepted the offer, they pushed the start date back three times, later informing me (via e-mail) that they wanted to bring me on in the near future but I should feel free to explore other options. I was extremely disappointed. I felt disrespected and angry, but decided to make the best of the situation and follow my dream of working internationally. I then flew to Santiago, Chile and had great professional and personal experiences I wouldn't have had otherwise. Later, reflecting back on the original opportunity, I realized that working for a company that avoids a start date three times and then can t pick up the phone to explain the situation is probably not where I need to spend my time. Use setbacks as an opportunity to put your goals in order and act on them. In the moment, it s difficult to look at a setback as temporary, but they are. They happen to everybody. It s how you respond to them that will determine how they affect you.
San Antonio designers and art lovers can celebrate the inauguration of its very own AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts), the professional association for designers. Although Austin, Dallas, and Houston have had their chapters for some time, design professionals in San Antonio didn’t have a place to call home until very recently.
To raise money, they are hosting one of the coolest fundraisers I’ve ever heard of. Munny Maker, will take place at 6:30 p.m. CST on Saturday, August 14, 2010 at the Finesilver Building in San Antonio, and proceeds will benefit the new chapter. Designers have been tasked with creating a munny doll to be auctioned during the event, which will include hors d’oeuvres and beverages. It looks like it will shape up to be an interesting event. Tickets are $5 for AIGA members and students, $10 pre-sale, and $15 at the door. Maybe I’ll see you there. Peace.
More Information:
Munny Maker Fundraiser Website
“A prostitute only becomes one when you hire her.”
I rarely see truly emotionally powerful advertisements in the United States. We seem to be tamer and less willing to “offend” when it comes to our messaging and imagery than our foreign counterparts. Especially when it comes to traditional, corporate advertisements, most companies think a better advertisement means a bigger logo. That’s why I love working in the socially conscious space. Movements, social issues, foundations, non-profit organizations, schools, etc. all need a voice and a platform to reach their intended audiences.
To me, my work means something. Getting people to buy a product is not my goal. I’m trying to empower my target audiences to have the ability to dream. I measure success not by the number of widgets moved, but by the number of lives positively affected. The excited look on a child’s face, the proud look of a parent, and the hopeful look of somebody who suddenly feels valued is what brings me into work every morning…every evening…every weekend.
In order to make an ad resonate with the target audience, that audience needs to feel personally addressed. They need to feel that the ad talks to them, better yet, engages them. They should feel something. I hate seeing ads littered with anecdotal facts. Percentages this, numbers that don’t mean anything. In the States, we tend to go that route because it’s safe. Facts are safe, and allow us to hide behind a tree when the critiques come. What happened to the days when you said exactly what you meant? The art of advertising comes down to engaging an audience with creative messaging that makes them stop and take notice.
When I saw this anti-prostitution campaign by Bushtail out of Bangalore, India, I stopped and said, “Man, that’s serious.” The campaign is simple, but candid shocking. We might call it offensive. They call it effective.
Advertising Agency: Bushtail, Bangalore, India
Creative Director: Jeevan Sebastian
Art Director: Deepak P.
Copywriter: Shikha Gupta
Published: May 2010