Expert (Ex-Spurt):

“An ex is a has-been, and a spurt is a drip under pressure.”

-Ferne Anderson

*Please stop taking yourself so seriously.

Last week, a group of us in the account leadership department got together for one of our periodical off-sites. Usually these begin on-premise with some sort of talk from someone influential within the agency. This time was no different.

40 of us gathered together in a spacious conference room to listen to one of our Creative Director’s talk about effective teamwork and inspiring creative (the work and our teams).  It’s been over a week now and I still can’t get the first question he asked the group out of my mind:

“Do you know what great creative looks like?” 

I answered to myself, “I don’t know where to begin.” If he would’ve called on me and asked me to answer, I would’ve rambled-off something about great creative pulling heartstrings, getting a reaction, being memorable, driving action, increasing sales, being unique, and of course being “differentiated.” That’s not right though.  

The buzzwords and industry jargon, I used above to describe great creative, only describe what great creative does. So the question remains:

“How do I know when I’m looking at great creative?”

I don’t know the answer and it pisses me off. I was raised in a blue-collar home where you busted your ass to get what you wanted, and “I don’t know” wasn’t an answer. Neither were excuses; which is why I won’t use my limited experience as one.

Ultimately, I know a lot of what I’m feeling is my own self-doubt. It’s the little monster in my head pushing me to be better, work harder, and earn my seat at the table. I’m thankful for that because; it’s what makes me “differentiated” and “unique.” So until I figure it out, I’m going to bust my ass, surround myself with great people, and keep grinding until I can tell you:

This is what great creative looks like!

creativeinspiration:

interactive video like you’ve never seen before

“Here’s an ad that you can spend the better part of your day exploring.

Being Henry is an interactive film produced for Range Rover, where you control Henry’s destiny. In the process of making choices, you’re also customizing a new, sweet Range Rover to your liking.

Watch the trailer, or go play with the film. But you should really go play with the film. Awesomely produced.”

Found Via Brandflakesforbreakfast

Super cool!

Be prepared. You know more about an assignment (& know it earlier) than our creative team will. 10 of 10 times. Immerse yourself in every detail. Consume everything and anything related to the business problem. Cram that shit in your brain until it melts. Absorb the challenge. Then rest. Don’t think. Do other things. 

Refocus. Revisit the data. Draw it out. Put pen to paper. Ask, “How would I create it?” Maybe you have an “AHA” moment. Maybe not. That’s not the point. You don’t do all of this work to find “the” solution. You do it to earn the right to an opinion.

I stumbled upon this “AHA” recently @ my job. Really made me think whether or not I really do what it takes to help my creative team. Also- does everyone at the table really have the right to comment on creative? Not sure… 

Are you in account service? Creative? What do you think? 

Holler at me on twitter: @joshuawoolery

I spent the past two day’s in a transformational workshop called, “Making Digital Work.” I’ll capture my thoughts on the workshop in a different post. For now, I’d like to focus on Social Media and how it impacted my life yesterday in an unpredictable way.

Rewind: It’s 4:45, Edward Boches is offering his closing thoughts on the workshop. My phone rings. I look down and see my sisters name on my caller ID. I immediately feel my heart collapse and fall through the floor. I knew it was my dad. I knew it in my bones.

So here I am, at an event with industry who’s-who’s and coworkers I respect greatly. I’m ready to cry. I retain composure. As I leave the conference, I’m completely focused on maintaining my cool and reminding myself that I can’t control it- roll with the punches Josh- roll.

As soon as I turn the corner, tears flow uncontrollably down my face. I start asking myself questions like: why did I move away from MN (home)? why didn’t I spend more time with him when I was home last? Were my friends really more important etc.? Would my text I sent over lunch become the last time I told him I loved him?

I get into my car, dry my eyes and check my email on my phone. I see a Facebook invitation from someone I don’t know. His name is Damien. I remember seeing the push notification from Facebook about 15 minutes before my sisters call- I ignored it b/c I had no clue who it was…

The next email was a message sent by Damien which said, “Josh, something happened to Ron. Need to get ahold of Wendy. Just got a call from someone on his cell. My cell is…”

I already knew about my dad by the time I read Damien’s message. But it made me ponder. Was Facebook really faster ? What if the people in the park who found my dad didn’t get ahold of my sister? Etc.

Fast forward: My dad is alive. It sounds as if he had a stroke. Doctors don’t know what’s wrong with him (yet).

Social is weaving its’ way into our lives in unpredictable ways. I’m thankful for this and for the people who found my dad. I’m thankful for Damien’s resourcefulness as well.

Funny enough- I checked Facebook this morning and saw my dads already on there and posting away. Way to bounce back Padre!