You’ll Get There

German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer believed that truth passed through three stages.

At first it is ridiculed.

Secondly, it’s violently opposed.

And then finally it is accepted as self-evident.

Sometimes, when I write this blog, it occurs to me that I’m reiterating things we already know; truths that we’ve already accepted as immutable.

I see that as a good thing, as Julian Pullan (you all know who he is by now) says “if we could only remember all the things we know we'd be brilliant everyday”

So back to Arthur, sometimes, we’ll find ourselves in the first camp.

When we see things that no-one else can see.

Just remember that, although it may initially feel like a battle to get those ideas accepted, before too long your discoveries will become common wisdom.

To me that’s a great win.

Well Deserved

When you are fortunate enough to work in a fantastic agency, it is sometimes easy to overlook the amazing accomplishments being made elsewhere in the global network.
So I'd like to congratulate Ben Taylor, Guy Parsonage and the whole Jack Morton Worldwide team in Hong Kong on being awarded 'Event Agency of the Year'
It's a fantastic achievment for them, in what has been a difficult year for everyone
It truly is a testament to their collective dynamism and total client focus

I Wanna Tell You A Story

As I write this blog, I sometimes find myself thinking of William Shakespeare.
I picture him sitting at his desk, chewing on his quill and wondering why turkey feathers taste so nasty.
I wonder where he found his inspiration, and what made him become our greatest ever writer.
The thing is, he didn’t have that many great ideas, but he was a great story-teller.
In fact, Shakespeare’s entire oeuvre has been broken down into seven basic plots:
Authenticity
Performance
Passion
Challenge
Empowerment
Liberation
Possibility
Each one of these simple prompts managed to fuel some of the most remarkable literature in history.
Which goes to show that it’s not the originality of your idea that counts, but the way you tell your story that really matters.

Be Nice Day

We spend so much of our time applying a critical eye to the world around us.
We scrutinise our colleagues’ work, we interrogate our clients’ briefs and we moan about our lot.
Too much of a culture of negativity can be toxic, and it prevents us from doing our best work.
So I’d like to propose a day when we try to see the best in everything and everyone.
Let’s build, rather than demolish.
I know we’re all feeling the pressure at the moment, but this is the time when positivity can work wonders.
Stop looking for a shadowy figure lurking around the next corner, and take a moment to think about the people and relationships that fill your day.
Remember why you like working where you are, and the people who make it all seem worthwhile.
It’ll help you achieve more, and you will find that the upbeat mentality rolls over into the next day.
And the one after that…

The Journey

In my many (many, many) years in business, I’ve had the pleasure of mentoring a whole host of people.
Along the way I’ve helped them to secure dream jobs, snag promotions and win pitches.
Others I’ve helped to start companies and make fortunes.
Although the end goal differs from person to person, the conversations usually start out the same way:
"Will you help me?"
"Of course I will, but you don't really need my help. You’re fantastic."
"I do need your help"
"Ok I'll help. But you’ll reach a point where you’ll realise you already knew most of it.”
And they always do.
But no matter how many times I join people on those journeys, it’s always worth it.

I Know This Much Is True

So the eighties revival is in full swing.
Frankie is relaxing again.
Belinda Carlisle is packing them at the Shaftesbury theatre.
And last night the recently reformed Spandau Ballet took to the O2 stage for the third time this week.
It was a fantastic show, and great to meet the band backstage.
But what really struck me, other than how well the songs stand up after nearly 25 years, was just how minimal the staging was.
Gone were all the New Romantic flourishes, and in their place was simply a band at the top of their game playing all their best loved songs.
It’s easy to get carried away with ‘putting on a show’ and forget that, ultimately, content is king.
Experiential marketing has to be prepared to offer more than "a production".
It needs a reason for being and a story to tell.
Get the balance right and, like the boys, you’ll be ......Gold.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

I realised something the other day on the way to work.
People across from me in the train were all reading papers with the usual ‘time to panic’ headlines on the front page.
That’s when it occurred to me.
Worrying must work, because 99% of the things I worry about never actually happen.
The whole point of worrying is that it’s about all the things that are beyond your control.
So if you can’t do anything to affect the outcome, wouldn’t you be better saving your energies for something more positive?
Do as much as you can.
Try as hard as you can.
Exercise control wherever you can.
If anything goes wrong, you’ll at least be able to learn from the experience.
So stop worrying.
What have you got to lose?

Hold Your Breath

Today you are going to have to do a little work.
Take a deep breath and hold it.
Hold it!
OK read on.
The average person can hold their breath underwater for around a minute.
However, the world record is an astonishing 21 minutes and 29 seconds, and was set by illusionist David Merlini in Bahrain on 26th April of this year.
It sounds impossible, and for most people it probably is.
But as unbelievable as it seems, pretty much anything can be accomplished, as long as the right person rises to the challenge.
When it comes to human endeavour, there really are no limits.
If something seems impossible, it simply means that no-one has managed it yet.
But given enough time, someone surely will.
It might as well be you.
So dream big, and you’ll be amazed by what you can achieve.

…and breath out ...

Beware Of The Toxic Pitch

Budgets are tight and the pressure’s on.
We’re all in the same boat and the waters are pretty choppy.
So we need to make sure that we’re pursuing the right opportunities, and letting the other ones go.
There are lots of pitch opportunities that come along that look great on paper.
Interesting clients, challenging projects and the scope to do something different.
But some also come with a bunch of warning signs that suggest that your time would be better spent on more fruitful endeavours.
Every business needs to identify its own rules for opting in or out.
It all comes down to making smart, informed choices.
Robert De Niro didn’t become the best actor of his generation by fluke.
He often said his success was down to “the choices”
He put as much effort into the roles he chose as he did in bringing the characters to life.
Those great roles made him a great actor, and it’s the same for agencies.
The great opportunities are out there, you just need to recognise them.

Of course, the less said about Rocky & Bullwinkle the better.

Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say

“I reckon I literally use the word ‘actually’ about 50 times a day, it's so random, basically, I’m going to stop, you know what I mean?”
Do you ever stop and listen to the way people speak?
More importantly, have you ever stopped to think about how you speak?
We all have our own quirks and foibles in the way that we speak.
The one that we all share is the use of superfluous words where none are needed.
I’d like to propose an amnesty, where the words basically, actually and literally are banned.
Make it like a swear jar, where the offending speaker has to donate money to charity.
The moment you start thinking about these words, you’ll be amazed at how often you use them.
We all want to know that when we speak, people are listening.
So chop out all the filler and don’t let dead words get in the way of what you’re trying to communicate.
My simple rule – don’t say it if you wouldn’t write it.

The View From The Top

Sometimes I think we all forget that the people at the top of our business haven’t always been there. They didn’t suddenly appear in a clap of thunder as a fully formed CEO.
Like the rest of us, they started out small and worked their way up.
Which is why I always laugh when I hear people speaking to the top brass as though in a second language.
The assumption (wrongly) seems to be that one has to speak to these guys in a certain way.
Take Josh McCall, Chairman and CEO of Jack Morton Worldwide.
He has spent enough time at the sharp, pointy end of the business to really knows what our world is like.
He joined JMW in 1984 so, been there done that as they say.
He also knows just how hard we work to get results.
Josh’s career moved on, but he hasn’t forgotten the fundamentals of our business.
If you spend all your time pre-judging what you’re going to say and what they’re likely to think, I can guarantee you’ll end up saying and doing the wrong thing.
Senior managers have enough people around them, second-guessing every move.
So why not give it to them straight and save everybody some time?

Lift Us Up Where We Belong

OK, before I start, this is not a recommendation that you clean house and start ditching people.
That would be a bad thing.
But
I would say that you need to surround yourself with people who inspire you to get better.
To do great work and accomplish more.
Think of the acrobats in Cirque de Soleil.
When it comes to performing, sometimes they do the lifting.
Other times they allow someone else to lift them.
We should all strive to lift those around us.
Rather than knock them down.
We should also be lifted by those around us.
Of course, it’s easier to criticise, but who does that really help in the long run?

Be Specific

Have you ever listened to the wannabes on any of the TV talent shows talk about their career aspirations?
It’s easy to spot the ones who will go nowhere – they’re the ones who talk about wanting to be rich, famous or successful.
If you really want to achieve your goals, you need to be specific about what they are.
It’s not enough to say “I want to be rich.”
You need to know exactly how you’re going to go about accomplishing it.
Think about it, do you want a car, or a three-series BMW in blue?
If you choose the latter, you’re far more likely to get it, because the specifics give you something to focus on.
Look at the contestants on Mastermind.
The successful ones have a really narrow field of expertise, which means they have their eyes on the prize.

Beware The Banana Skin

Outside of cartoons and unimaginative comedy films, has anyone ever actually slipped on a banana skin?
In all the ‘no win no fee’ Claims Direct ads, that’s never been one of the personal injury scenarios they’ve recreated.
I only ask because it’s become such a familiar cliché and we all expect it to work.
But in fact it doesn't.
One quick experiment later and there’s a big mess in my street, but no-one lying on the pavement seeing stars.
There are so many “industry rules” and “it’s never been done befores” that block innovation
Before embracing them, why not put them to the test?
I love the question we use at Jack Morton.
We can’t do it, but how would we do it if we could?

Taking The Lead

Teams and tribes – they all depend on a leader to give them order, direction and motivation.
If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in the position to lead, grab that responsibility with both hands.
As I’ve said before leadership is all about inspiration, not control.
Most of us work in a pretty meritocratic environment, which means that everyone has a chance to apply their talents.
So no-one needs a leader who second guesses every decision and takes responsibility for every element of the project.
You don’t need to be the best player on the team.
Sir Alex Ferguson wouldn’t last five minutes on the pitch.
But he knows how to bring the best out of everyone in his team.
Your job is to inspire and motivate.
That way, everyone gets the chance to shine.

I Love It When A Plan Comes Together

Maybe it was the sunshine.
Maybe it was the moonlight.
( I could blame it on the boogie)
Or maybe it was the Haka I posted yesterday.
No matter.
The pitch I was part of yesterday morning was fantastic.
Everything came together in the best way and by late afternoon we’d already heard the good news.
So how did we get it so right, that the clients couldn't wait to tell us?
We had a great idea that was smart, simple and stunning.
We did our homework, so we could speak convincingly about the solution we developed.
We didn’t take ourselves too seriously, which is vital when you’re spending that much time with each other.
And on the day, we looked and felt like a real team.
The kind of people anyone would want to work with.
For all the books, seminars and training courses on how to pitch effectively, sometimes it’s as simple as those four elements.
So thanks to everyone who played a part and three cheers for the client with vision.
Have a great weekend.

Guess Who’s Pitching This Morning?

I don’t mind admitting that I have a fondness for sequels.
Bigger, better... more.
Seriously, what’s not to love?
This post is a sequel of sorts.
I wrote back in August about the Haka, and I suggested finding one that works for you before you go into your next pitch.
So here’s mine, and funnily enough, it’s taken from a sequel
(The Matrix Reloaded).
When I first heard this I thought it would make a great pre-pitch speech, then forgot all about it for a while. .
Obviously, it’s modified slightly for Jack Morton and personal relevance – it’s been a while since I waged war on our mechanical overlords.
(to be delivered in the style of Lawrence Fishburne's Morpheus)
I stand here before you now truly unafraid!
Why?
Because I believe something you do not?
No!
I stand here without fear because I remember.
I remember that I am here not because of the path that lay before me, but because of the path that lies behind me!
I remember that for 70 years we have pitched and won.
I remember that for 70 years they have sent agencies to beat us.
We are still here!
Today let us send a message.
Let us raise the roof
Let us tremble these walls of earth, steel and stone!
Today let us make them remember that Jack Morton is here.
Let's go get 'em!

Putting The Work In Networking

The next time you’re at an industry event ask yourself whether you’re networking or notworking.
A room full of people means countless opportunities to make connections, arrange meetings and sell your company’s capabilities.
It doesn’t mean standing in the corner inspecting your shoes or waiting for the waiter to pass by with another tray of nibbles.
A lot of people mistakenly think that an evening ‘networking’ is like catching up with friends over a drink.
It’s not.
It’s like pitching and speed-dating rolled into one.
It’s hard work, and if it’s not then you’re doing it wrong.
On the 6th Anniversary of his election to Governor its appropriate to mention Arnold Schwarzenegger.
When he first went to Hollywood with the dream of becoming an actor, the 240 pound former Mr Universe understood the importance of networking.
He treated it like any other job, he did it very day, he dressed for it, he arranged meetings, and made sure he was ready to talk himself up to anyone who could help him achieve his goal, he was relentless.
I think Arnold and I are similar in a lot of ways.
I’ll be back.

Life In The Spotlight

Its human nature – we all love that moment when the spotlight finds us.
Our moment to shine.
It feels like the entire world is on its feet applauding.
Or is that just me?
But as great as it feels to be in the spotlight, we should all be wary of spending too much time there.
It actually gets a little tiring and tedious to be centre-stage the whole time, not to mention sweaty.
If you constantly need to be in the spotlight, you’ll start making bad decisions and stepping on the toes of the other team members who should be taking their turn in its beam.
Spotlights move around, searching for the next star.
Don’t worry, it’ll find its way back to you in its own good time.
And if you take some time out of the spotlight, you’re less likely to be blinded to everything else that’s going on.

Open The Door

There’s a very old joke about the gynaecologist who time off to decorate his kitchen.. ......through the letterbox.
Sorry
Now, poor taste aside, there’s a lesson here.
We all tend to view the world as if through a letterbox.
The “letterbox” of our own experience.
Sure we get better at what we’re doing, but we restrict ourselves to a narrow field of experience.
How amazing would it be if we actually opened the door and got a fuller picture of the world around us?
The theory of consequential action suggests that if we change one thing we change everything
Reading a different paper, trying something else on the menu (I can recommend the soup) taking a different route to the office or even running a project with a new team, .
They all serve to broaden our horizons and give us more room to spread our wings.

Jack’s Got Talent

Don’t worry; Simon Cowell hasn’t developed a new TV format.
It’s just something I was reminded of the other day, when I took part in a company-wide virtual meeting and web dialogue.
Not only was it a great opportunity to use our amazing Virtual Experience Platform but It was fantastic to get connected to colleagues across our business.
It demonstrated just what a smart, talented and passionate bunch of people we have at Jack Morton.
Wherever they are in the world - London, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Sydney – they’re all doing amazing things with inspiring clients.
Now, more than ever, it’s essential that we operate as a holistic, unified group.
That’s where our future success lies.

The Life Blood Of Any Agency?

If I had a pound for every time I heard new business described as the lifeblood of the agency, I’d have enough money to buy a new book of clichés.
Everyone says it, but if actions speak louder than words, hardly anyone really believes it.
Half the time, agencies don’t even have a dedicated new business team.
Instead, the role falls to an account director who has “new business responsibility”, on top of all the other things they need to do.
We’re all responsible for sales, I can’t deny that.
And everyone has to fully commit to getting behind the new business agenda.
But if you want to keep the pipeline going and win more pitches, you have to invest in the discipline
It needs to be someone’s job, not just a task to be fitted around their other job.
Sales, like most other agency disciplines, such as creative, planning or production, requires a specific skill set.
I don’t need to tell you how competitive it is out there at the moment.
Without a dedicated sales team you’re just trying to get your life blood from a stone.

Bookshelves, Not Books

If I asked you to name the most published book in the world, chances are you’d pick the Bible, a Harry Potter doorstep, or maybe one of Dan Brown’s turgid A-B-C symbology thrillers.
But you’d be wrong.
In fact, the IKEA catalogue is the most published book, which boasted an astonishing print run of 196 million copies in 2008.
But it’s worth remembering that IKEA didn't set out to conquer the publishing world, it was just a happy accident that they stumbled into.
In the grand scheme of things it’s an entirely irrelevant by-product of their actual successes.
If IKEA had gone to market intending to become the world’s biggest publisher, they probably wouldn’t have achieved this landmark accomplishment.
The key is to focus on being the best you can be at the thing that you do.
Spend time honing your craft and make that your sole objective.
Anything else is a bonus.