Latest CAREER articles

No Mas. How Deprivation Inspires Creation.

When Carrie Bradshaw wrote her columns at the end of each episode of “Sex and the City,” everyone knew she was a crap writer. Not because her writing was particularly bad, but she was getting paid millions of dollars per episode – way too much to be brilliant.

She joins a long list of less-fictional creative characters, writers, artists, poets, musicians and inventors who, when finally getting shown the bucks, begin to crumble under the weight of their coins.

You Gotta Have Style

Truth be told, not everyone is a great presenter; some are just better than others. Is it natural ability? Could be. Some people are simply born to entertain and engage audiences. Could becoming a great presenter be learned? Yes. But I do think that all great presenters have a solid base of innate talent that enables them to win over their audiences and deliver time and time again. But what is it? What do they have? What could they possibly possess that makes them that much better?

Blood, Ballsweat, and Tears for a Summer Internship

About two months ago, Rachel and I were on a bus brainstorming a strategy that would win us a summer internship. Somewhere in the mix, “Canada’s Ballsiest Interns” was born and we’re proud to say that two months later, our efforts proved to be a huge success. Today we accepted a full-time summer internship with Saatchi & Saatchi.

What I Know Now

I think most people would describe me as a driven, ambitious, competitive and downright motivated person. I’m on a mission to prove something. To someone. Anyone. I know it’s not always a healthy mentality, but I feel compelled to demonstrate my worth in this world. Whether it’s as a wife, friend, athlete, amateur chef, or at my official profession — Art Director.

Get Over Yourself and Fight For Your Talent

So, you’ve built a trendy, innovative and much-sought after creative agency, landed big-name accounts and think your newfound cache is enough to retain your top creative talent.

Think again.

Diary of a Copywriter: I like the way you move it. Not really.

Things that are awesome: maple syrup, sleeping in, kittens.

Things that aren’t that awesome: wedgies, mushy tomatoes, moving.

I don’t have a wedgie and I steer clear of mushy tomatoes, but I am moving. For love. So it’s all going to be worth it. Or so I tell myself.

Reality Check

“Do you really want to learn how to fight or do you want to go home and forget this ever happened?”

That’s what I was told when I left Mark Mikita’s Dojo in the middle of Venice Beach, California. Years of martial arts training and I got the shit kicked out of me by a witty French dude and the son of a famous actor. I felt like crap and a bit of a wanna-be. I wasn’t sure I was going to come back to this hell ever again.

You’re a Creative, So Act Like It

You’re a creative. Even if you are not an “Art Director” or “Designer,” chances are you fancy yourself a creative thinker – an idea person – a game changer – on the bleeding edge. According to Dictionary.com, creative “results from originality of thought, expression; imaginative.” That’s all of us in marketing and advertising, right? Can I assume that like me, you and your teams work tirelessly to impress your clients with your cool ideas? Your designs? Your wordsmithing? Then may I ask why so many of us drop the ball when it comes to our presentations? Why is that our presentations lack any imagination or creativity? Why do they have to be…so….so….bad?

Your Soul for a Ping-Pong Table

Can creative people think themselves to freedom?

My friend hates his job. This wouldn’t be worthy of an opening sentence anywhere, except he has a job everyone is supposed to envy, in a place everyone is suppose to love – a creative place.

Are We There Yet?

Here’s where we are as an industry: 85% of agencies have no idea how to predict where their income will come from in two years. The leadership at most agencies wouldn’t put money on which current clients might leave, or why. They are even hazy on which services will be bringing in revenue, at what margin, or even if some of those services will still be in demand in the not-too-distant future.

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