Category Archives: Uncategorized

How do you keep an idea alive?

“It always seems impossible until it is done.” Nelson Mandela Ideas. Endlessly swimming against the tide of opinion, trying to survive. Keith Reinhard, Chairman Emeritus of DDB recently wrote about a 5 minute rule they have in a company in Silicon Valley. Basically, the way it works is after an idea is expressed you spendContinue reading “How do you keep an idea alive?”

Don’t worry, I can explain everything.

“Here we are, trapped in the amber of the moment. There is no why.” Kurt Vonnegut Apologies. But I have to do this. It’s time for a rant. There is a book by Tom Wolfe called The Painted Word. It a slim volume of about a 100 pages first published in 1975. When it cameContinue reading “Don’t worry, I can explain everything.”

You can’t be right but you can be interesting.

“You must try harder. It is not easy to become sane.” ― George Orwell, 1984 There seems to be a belief that we are about to find an answer in our business. Our industry is looking for certainty even perhaps comfort. There is a tendency to hold onto the latest technology or system like it is someContinue reading “You can’t be right but you can be interesting.”

Keep pulling the trigger until you see the f*****s smoke.

“Our business is infested with idiots who try to impress by using pretentious jargon.” David Ogilvy There is a great contradiction in the communications business. It can be found in two words. Communications business. Communications are by their very purpose designed to be clear and simple. Free from jargon and cloudiness. They cut to theContinue reading “Keep pulling the trigger until you see the f*****s smoke.”

Cannes. A Cathedral of confidence?

“All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.” Mark Twain. It is a strange thing flying 30 hours to France to be welcomed by a thick Russian accent. My driver, Ivan, was a tour guide originally from Vladivostok now living in Nice. I am not sure Russians makeContinue reading “Cannes. A Cathedral of confidence?”