Everyone Needs a Mentor

MentoringMaybe it’s the transitory nature of business these days or the the strict focus on business/clients and profitability, but finding and being a mentor is still invaluable to our industry and an enriching part of our humanity.

Early on, there were no formal mentoring programs where I began, but there were a lot of smart, fascinating people who were willing to talk about their work, their thought processes, and their clients. I’d watch how they presented, how they worked with clients, and how they handled themselves and their craft. There was much to study and absorb.

Slowly, I struck up conversations with them and developed relationships with my secret mentors, and it wasn’t just people from the creative side. I got to know senior account directors and media planners. Even the crusty, old guy in the studio was a source of wisdom and experience.

That’s one of the great things about our business: There’s always something new to learn if you’re open to it. I’d encourage people who are breaking into the business to poke your nose into a veteran’s office or cube and get to know them. Show some enthusiasm. That’s how you start a relationship. Later you might ask his or her opinion about your work or for career advice.

You don’t have to act on all you learn and hear, but you might walk away with a piece of knowledge you didn’t show up to work with. You can use what you learn from others to help chart your own course.

If you’re a veteran, show some patience and interest with the newbies. Don’t forget we were all newbies once upon a time. Spend more time chatting with your next generation, and get to know their work, life, and expectations. Your thinking and work will benefit from their freshness. Think of it as a reverse form of mentoring.

Give it a try. Ignore your e-mails and silence your Blackberries for a few minutes and reach out. It’s well worth the effort for everyone.

John Kistner is a freelance Creative Director/Writer/Closet Cartoonist. You can check out his handiwork here.

Defining Moral Advertising Techniques

Naked Advertising

 

To draw attention, controversial practices such as injecting sexual images will be condemned by most but it is relevant to the product or service being advertised, chances are they will be allowed to do so. Apparently, there are a lot of advertising and promotional practices used today that have had their share of being hit for their uncanny means of attracting attention.

It cannot be discounted that a lot of people have used these techniques to use controversy as an added value as far as attention grabbing is concerned. Some may not like it and even deem it as a dirty tactic. But in the world of business today, you just have to pull out all the stops even if it may be pointing towards risking morality issues we know of today.

“Naked people are wonderful, of course, but they have to be relevant to the product. You could have a naked person advertising shower gel or a cream, but not a woman in a bikini draped across a car.”

(Source) BBC News

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Unique Business Names to Make Marketing Easier

Weird Business Names

The creative part of people today depends on how well they can put together their company name and expound on that. We find unique names that can include out of nowhere names like perhaps Fizz or even Friendster. But with the proper implementation of marketing practices, you will be surprised at the impact that they can have when you talk about making them a household name.

We have seen a lot of them from past years. Names such as Carrier, Sony and Nokia were virtual unknowns back in the days. But thanks to the proper advertising and promotional campaigns, they are big names in the business today.

With that in mind, you can just imagine at how one crazy name can make a difference. Support that and build on it and you may find yourself counting your money before you even blink.

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