When I was 10 I dreamed of being a point guard in the NBA.
When I was 13 I dreamed of becoming a Fighter Pilot.

When I was 16 I dreamed of becoming a actor.
When I was 18 I dreamed of success.

Our dreams change.

Dream

It’s quite common to find someone with a dream. Yet, it’s quite rare to find someone who has actually put forth their best effort to accomplish it.

A wise-man once said,

All those who have achieved great things have also been great dreamers.

Their dreams may have shifted over time. But none-the-less they’ve always kept dreaming. The only difference between them and everyone else is the fact that when they wake up from their dream they don’t see a difference.

A presentation or speech can make the world of difference in your career. It’s your moment to share with a group of captivated listeners your story, message, dreams or share your passion. It’s the grown-up professional show and tell. It’s the way knowledge and expertise can be shared around the world in the matter of hours. With organizations like TED in existence, were living in an age where our voice is our message. Where we are able to present facts and fiction to the masses without being a journalist.

All it takes is one speech to make an impact.

Professionally and Personally.

You see, to be an extremely successful ad man you must know how to handle a crowd and captivate an audience. The gentlemen below do just that with some of the most thought provoking and persuading talks I’ve yet to come across. You will see that some of these talks are from the past ten years while others are more twenty years old. Listen to these talks and take not one word for granted.

Let’s get into it shall we…

Don Draper - The Carousel: Kodak Pitch

Yes, it’s fiction. Yet, it’s beautiful.

If you think you know how to command a room, take a look at this clip. Don Draper makes one of the greatest presentations in television history. He takes his own life and  mixes it with a fresh concept elevated to perfection using nothing but raw emotion. The fearless combination of story telling and passion results in the tears of his colleagues.

While this is fiction, you can make this a reality. Every time you present. Every time you share a new concept.

Add a little emotion swirled with passion and see what happens. It might just leave your audience in tears.

Lesson: Every time you pitch. Strive for tears.

David Ogilvy – We Sell or Else

This presentation is given by the King of Madison Avenue himself, David Ogilvy. He discusses two different worlds; direct response advertising and general advertising. He goes on to explain how at the time of the video these two worlds were on a  collision course. These days, many marketers would argue that these two worlds David speaks of have indeed joined under the umbrella we call traditional advertising.

The whole situation sounds quite similar to the whole social media vs. traditional media, doesn’t it?

He also educates the audience with valuable insight regarding TV commercials and direct mail. Direct mail was the approach he used to turn his company into one of the greatest agencies in the world. This talk demonstrates not only his entrepreneurial spirit but also the importance of persistence in business.

Lesson: Don’t bunt. Aim out of the ball park.

Seth Godin – Ideas that spread, Win

This is one of my favourite presentations because of the variety of lessons you can learn from watching it. The first thing to notice is how Seth Godin commands the stage. He stays calm throughout and presents his ideas with a variety of different tones. Listen close to the transitions in his voice when it comes to his tone and speed. He does it with perfection to deliver a powerful message and tell captivating stories.

Lesson: Ideas that spread, win.

Leo Burnett - When To Take My Name Off the Door

I could go into detail and describe the reason why I love this video. Sure, I could share my aspirations and dreams right here in this copy. Instead, I’ll share with you a snippet from Derek Walkers post on Ad Age:

The advertising industry is not perfect by far, but it is one of the few places where people can live their dream and be passionate. Yes, it needs to evolve to address the changes in society and technology but why would anyone put himself/herself through what we are facing in this industry and not be passionate?

I would rather work with a group of passionate people than work with a group of intellectuals. A passionate person very seldom settles or accepts less than hi best effort.

I e-mailed the link to Leo Burnett’s speech to as many advertising professionals (black, white, brown, yellow, male or female) as I could. We need to know it is OK to be passionate.

No. Let me rephrase that.

Being passionate is one of the requirements for being successful in the advertising industry.

Get the picture?

Four!

As a kid I thought golf was a game for sissies. It was a game for the people who weren’t talented enough to play a “real sport” but had enough cash in their bank accounts to pay the green fees. I had the opportunity to watch the Tiger Woods era begin as well as most recently watch the era find its way into the bunker.

Still, the game didn’t interest me in the slightest.

Watching Tiger, Mike Weir, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh win Masters with what looked like ease made the game look simple. It made the game look as if anyone could go out there aim the ball and hit AT LEAST par or birdie on every single hole. HA!…Did the world ever have news for me.

As I got closer and closer to graduation I quickly realized not only that golf was a solid game but also a past-time that is seen quite often in the business world. Yet, still knowing all of this I believed that I could go out on the course and hit at least par on every hole. This mindset stuck for a few good years until earlier this year when I was invited to a charity golf tournament.

First swing goes a few yards, maybe 150.. Feeling pretty confident.

Next swing sails straight into the bush.

So did the next one.

And the next one.

And I quickly learned that this game is not as easy as it looks. On top of that I learned that golf is a game that takes patience and finesse. After losing more than 45 balls on the course – I definitely knew it was time to spend a few hours with a golf pro and on the driving range. Finally I learned to never underestimate the difficulty of another persons craft without trying it. They’ve done it for years. That’s why they make it look easy.

Traits to be Successful

The following applies to adwomen just the same…

Push it to the limit

A successful ad man works hard. He gets up out of bed with a goal in mind and goes to bed thinking about todays performance. He’s the guy in the office who doesn’t complain about his colleagues, work load or boss. And while he continues to push it to the limit in the office as his colleagues all recognize that he does in fact work hard – Not realizing, he plays hard just the same.

Confident not cocky

A successful adman understands his strengths but also recognizes his weaknesses. At the end of the day, he’s an individual who is confident rather than cocky. You see, cocky doesn’t want to learn – confident simply wants to build on what they already know.

Surrounded by a solid entourage

Having a solid entourage inside and outside of the office is essential to finding success. You aren’t going to develop a solid network just by sitting around on the computer however. Sure, the internet presents a great opportunity to take your relationships to another level. But still, to create a solid entourage you have to be willing to go further than the online bubble.

Give more than you receive

A successful ad man is aware of the circumstances surrounding him. He recognizes when his colleagues are on the verge of drowning in paper work and lends a hand wherever he can. Even when they’re extremely busy a successful ad man knows how to make time to give others a helping hand. Whether that takes place in the office our outside of the agency walls – A successful ad man does whatever he can to help others.

Recognizes his passion & love

A successful adman knows exactly what he wants to become and knows exactly what makes him tick. He understand what drives him everyday and is the guy in the office with a list of goals. They never come to the office with a goal of being difficult – they come to the office with a goal of doing something great. In times of stress and disorder they’re the ones who able to stay calm and carry on…

A true renaissance man

A successful ad man should push himself to reach his full and highest potential. The agency world is simply to competitive to allow yourself to be just another guy at the office. A renaissance man is a person who is skilled in multiple fields or multiple disciplines, and who has a broad base of knowledge. Many ad men work themselves to death doing the day-to-day job and are shocked when they’re let go. The difference between these guys and the ones still employed is the passion to become a  renaissance man. It’s those individuals who work on their leadership skills, presentation skills, their personality and other attributes that find long-term success.

Values emotional and physical health

A successful adman understands the importance of maintaining a strong mind and body. They value time on a treadmill just as much as they value time reading an article in the Harvard Business Review. When they walk into the office they’re able to separate their home-life from work-life while also keeping their partner happy. The key here is happiness. A successful ad man knows what makes them happy and seeks it daily.

Defeat Procrastination and Embrace Productivity

Procrastination is a huge difference maker in regards to who is going to find success and who is not. It’s a complex psychological behaviour that affects everyone in some degree. A successful ad man doesn’t allow the drama in the office to throw him off his course. Nor does he allow the constant interruptions keep him from accomplishing his goal.

“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.” - Abraham Lincoln

They make important decisions quickly

A successful ad man is quick on their feet and can make a decision with a combination of instinct and logic. Similar to the way no one likes a person who takes hours to figure out what they’ll order at a restaurant, no one likes it when someone is unable to make a quick decision.

Success by their definition

If you ask the universe what is the definition of success – it will spit back at you with one word: money. Money brings great things, don’t get me wrong. But to define success solely on monetary gain is a one way street to failure. A successful ad man knows that they must define success on their own terms.

I’m currently sitting at Starbucks in a little part of town that I honestly couldn’t point out on a map. I just know there’s a sign that reads “free wireless” and on a day like today, that’s all it takes to get me in the door. Since ordering my coffee and sitting down in this uncomfortable chair I’ve seen more cultures walk by than I knew existed in Halifax. Ok, I’m kidding. I knew they existed. I just didn’t expect to see a diverse crowd within one hour of people watching.

One thing they taught us in International Marketing was that when communicating with individuals of other cultures you have to be aware of communication differences. This may be a bit extreme but does anyone remember when Nike launched the shoe that resembled “Allah” in the Middle East?

Let’s just say it didn’t go over to well.

My point is that, with the world becoming more and more diverse – marketers have to consider cultural differences. We have to get a better understanding of how things will translate to other cultures. A lady who grows up in a super religious family may view an advertisement differently then someone who claims to be agnostic.

Now, this isn’t exactly the same situation but it might. I came across this ad just a few minutes ago and I want you to be the judge on what your first instinct tells you it’s trying to promote. It’s an advertisement developed by a company in India – It may be related to culture…it might just be me…

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind?

I know what mine was.

Before & After....

Think of the most difficult person you have ever had to work with in your entire life. Now, think back to how you coped with this individual and the raw emotions that encompassed your body. If you’re like most people, you wanted to strangle that difficult individual but being a normal person you decided to go-along with what they were saying – just because.

This is completely normal.

However, sometimes we react to difficult people in a way that results in more headaches than we expect. This takes place when we disagree or upset an individual with a “my-way or the high-way” mindset. If you’re dealing with someone like this you need to be equipped with some tactics – Here are 10…

Stay Cool

This is one of the hardest things for a lot of individuals. We often times allow our emotions to get the best of us and make some decisions that we’ll soon regret. It sometimes just takes a quick walk around the office to get your mind straight or even a few minutes dissecting a few good blog posts. Be in control of your emotions and you’ll be in control of the situation.

Carry On

As the saying goes – “Stay calm and carry on.” When someone is being difficult you have no other option but to get over it. You can continue to argue, don’t get me wrong. But 9 times out of 10, that’s only going to make things worse. It’s better to state your point and if the difficult individual keeps on giving resisitence – forget it. Carry on.

Focus on the Solution

Difficult individuals tend to come up from the shadows most frequently in the midst of a problem. Rather than be a part of the solution they create a larger problem and force you to grow a few grey hairs. Throughout this process, you must remember to not focus on the difficulties being placed in front of you by this individual, but instead, focus on the solution.

Build the Relationship

No matter what industry you’re a part of – you’re in the people business. Your customers are people, your colleagues are people and your superiors are people. Building relationships will help you develop the trust of these individuals. Once you develop trust you will be able to demonstrate your expertise and allow them to rely on you for solutions. If your people don’t trust you or believe in your expertise – you will find yourself dealing with “difficult” people more often than not.

Get other opinions

If a person is constantly difficult and nothing else is working, get the opinion of someone else. A third unbiased opinion will show which side is “right” or offer a new solution all together. Collaboration can be very effective when dealing with difficult individuals. It allows a flow of new ideas and can offer support to the solution that makes the most sense.

Get in their Shoes

This is especially true when referring to your superiors and clients. If you’re dealing with a difficult client, it’s important to understand what their ultimate goal is compared to yours. Sure you should be both on the same page but often times that is not the case. A client could be trying to improve sales while limiting their risk after their boss gave them a harsh monthly review. It’s important to always look at things from their perspective. For me, this simple concept has saved me tons of headache.

Suck it up

Sometimes you just cant win. If you’re dealing with a difficult boss, you really need to just suck it up. Sure, you can quit (highly recommend) but if you’re stuck in a position for financial reasons – Suck it up.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T

No matter how angry this person may make you. Always show respect. There is nothing less professional than an individual raising their voice over an issue that could be handled in a library just the same. It’s not only about being professional in this case. It’s about being an adult. You should handle the situation in a respectful manner no matter how upset you are.

Don’t take it Personal

This is something that new graduates have a hard time understanding. Coming from a generation where ribbons were given out to people who came in 7th place, any type of criticism can trigger strong emotions. We must remember that it’s only business and that if someone disagrees with you, you need to either (1) explain why you’re correct better or (2) reanalyze the situation because you could in fact be wrong.

Check your Ego at the Door

There is no room for huge egos in the business world. If a client is upset with something you’ve done and is being very difficult, you need to check your ego and deal with it. You cant just push it to the side because “you’re smarter” than the client. You need to look at the situation from their perspective and if you’re in fact wrong – apologize.

photo credit: -stamina-

In 2006, Will Smith played the character of Chris Gardner in the award-winning movie,

The Pursuit of Happyness.

Throughout the movie we watch as a struggling salesman does everything he can to reach his dreams. His dreams of providing a quality of life to his children and ultimately finding pure and true happiness.

While the movie may last over an hour. The underlying concept can be shown with a few words and an image.

The Roadmap to Happiness

Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.
- Benjamin Disraeli

Not happy with a job? – Get a new one.

Not happy with a boss? – Get a new one.

Not happy with a client? – Get a new one.

If you’re not happy – Do something new.

This isn’t rocket science.

image via – FFFound

R.I.P. - One Trick Pony

In the early 1980s a circus owner went coast to coast with a dark haired pony and dusty brown german shepherd. The animals would play together throughout the day until it was time to get to work. During the show, the dog showed a variety of mindblowing tricks as the pony simply ran around the track. However, at the end of the show the pony would stand up on it’s back legs and hop from one side of the tent to the other while balancing a ball on its head. The crowd went wild.

Week after week.

State after state.

Crowds always burst into roars of amazement during the grande finale.

The next year, the circus master would hit the road again to amuse and entertain the masses. The dog would learn a few more tricks but the Pony would once again attempt to please the audience with it’s grand finale. The show would take place but instead of the crowd shrieking in excitement for the Grande Finale – a lack of enthusiasm graced the crowd.

You see, the crowd loved the Pony – but were slowly becoming tired of the trick. While the Ponies segment became less and less exhilarating, the dog continued to add value. The dog was constantly improving its act while the Pony was relying on its past successes.

Another year rolled around and this time the Grand Finale was boo’d in every single state. The dog was embraced and was truly a crowd pleaser. Kids would line up to pet the dog and feed him scraps. The Pony on the other hand was found eating hay and attracting flies.

After the last show the circus master realized the Pony cost more than the dog to feed and drew a much smaller crowd. In 24 hours the Pony was shot. The circus master bought another dog and created one a show that sold out for years.

Moral of the story – Don’t be a one trick pony. Improve, improve, improve. If you don’t someone will beat you at your own game or you’ll be axed.

photo credit: Ageless North Shore

The Entourage

An entourage consists of an ad mans closest and loyal friends. These friendships are an important aspect in every ad mans life. The value can be seen through the individuals personal and professional development. Your entourage will have your back when its up against the wall and buy you a round of beer when you lose that two million dollar contract.

And yes, a girlfriend and family are great for showing you compassion and love. But an entourage offers you a group of individuals you can trust and lean on when even these people seem to be against you. Not only that, but these individuals will rub off on you in more ways than you can imagine.

For a good portion of your life, this group will consist of some your biggest supporters. Friends who will praise you when you’re doing well and let you know when you’ve screwed things up. There is no room for sugar coating the facts when it comes to this group. They should always offer you the best advice they can give and in return expect nothing less.

What makes a solid Entourage

Diversity

You want an entourage that is solid and simply the best damn group of individuals you can find. You want individuals who are similar to you but not clones. Nothing is wrong with a diverse group of individuals, it will allow different perspectives and insight on life’s many challenges. A diverse group also provides enlightening conversations and gives opportunity to meet individuals you never would have before.

Loyalty

There are several things that are common in a solid entourage. One of the most important elements however, is this thing called loyalty. Typically, an entourage has two or more guys who have known each other from their high-school days. They’ve seen it all with one another. From their first hook-ups to their first born.Even if these guys don’t have as much in common as they once did, their commitment to one another can be considered forever.

Sugar-coated

Loyalty becomes a necessity within an entourage due to the fact that conversations have to be straight forward with one another and not sugar coat the truth. Often times in a close group of friends, things are said that result in heated conversations. My best advice is that If you cant handle the truth, you don’t want an entourage – you want a mother.

Non-Judgmental

Your entourage should accept you for who you are and never expect you to change for their own benefit. And when someone in the group does in fact change, the group needs to accept it or walk away from the friendship entirely. Most often, this concept is simply a fact of life and better known as maturity. If the changes in an individual are detrimental to your development it is on you to remember you’re not stuck, friendship is a choice.

Supportive

It is often seen in an entourage that some members become jealous of their friends success. Thus, they rebel against the group solely because of their own internal insecurities and turn the entourage against one another. This should not be present in your entourage and even with the slightest of jealousy, the group should make a conscious decision to handle it appropriately.

The support of an entourage needs to extend from a personal level to a professional level. When an individual is promoted, there should be a celebration. When an individual has a kid, there should be a celebration. Whenever a milestone takes place an ad mans entourage should be there to support him with a round of drinks or box of cigars (if none of these hold your interest, guys night out will do).

Finally, your entourage needs to bring the best out of you. But don’t take my word for it,

“My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.”
– Henry Ford

Search Engine Optimization

This is one thing you do online that cannot damage your brand. Well, unless you go around spamming people. But for the most part this is a risk free process that can drive your client tons of business. From keywords to link-building, a digital marketer needs to understand the ins and outs of search engine optimization. If you’re looking to touch up on your own SEO skills here are some links that will do the trick,

• The SEO Hierarchy of Needs
• Twenty Hardcore SEO Tips
• 12 Easy Mistakes that Newcomers make when trying SEO

HTML/CSS

This is some of the oldest code you can find on the web. HTML has been around since the Dinosaurs and having a good understanding of its purpose and role will give you an edge over someone who doesn’t. With that said, you don’t have to be a full fledged programmer but at least know the difference between  a header and a heading.

Pay Per Click

Pay per click marketing is one of the biggest leeches in a marketing budget. It will suck the living life out of your budget if it isn’t conducted properly. It is essential to not only know how it works, but also how to analysis the data. The process itself is quite simple. The challenge is ensuring that the process yields results.

• The top 5 mistakes newcomers make when conducting PPC marketing
• Six Habits of Highly Effective PPC Managers
• 9 Tips to Write Effective Google AdWords Copy

Email Marketing

E-mail marketing is far from dead. This marketing concept is still an effective way to drive sales and retain customers. Understanding the importance of a captivating subject line isn’t where this skill ends. A digital marketer should understand that a pretty email isn’t necessarily the best option. They must have a solid understanding of the best practices and at least know the difference between a good and bad campaign.

Social Media

Social Media has become the hottest thing on the market since square watermelons. Having an understanding of social media shouldn’t end at being able to recognize the most popular mediums and the difference between a page and group on facebook. The understanding must go deeper into a level of insight and comprehension of how individuals are interacting with one another online.

It is also important because if you don’t think your clients are googling you, guess again. Not only is it necessary to have a grasp of social media as a marketing tool but also on a personal branding level. People are googling their dates, friends, teachers and you can bet your bottom dollar theyre searching their suppliers and if you’re on a job-hunt, potential applicants.

Marketing Skills

Marketing 101 has become a lost art it seems in the marketing world. Tons of us are too busy trying to do the cool stuff that were getting away from the fundamental goals of marketing. The goal is quite simple, sell or persuade. Attempting to do something just because it’s cool doesn’t make sense from a marketing perspective. Every company in the world doesn’t have to be on twitter and Facebook. Some businesses have a business model perfect for social media and others do not. It’s not rocket science but it seems that many of us are forgetting this point.

Don’t tell a client to spend $15k on augmented reality when the concept itself hasn’t been embraced by a wide range of consumers. Come on people. Let’s remember marketing is about business more than it’s about art. The moment you lose sight of that, you lose sight of your job.

photo credit: Lucy Boynton