Latest CAREER articles

Breaking Free

Fresh out of university, with face full of freckles and a head full of dreams, I landed at JFK to explore America for the first time.

I’d fixed myself up with a job at a summer camp on the shores of Lake George in upstate New York. It was Friday the Thirteenth, but without all the unpleasantness.

It looked amazing – majestic maple trees, quaint log cabins, warm clear water and American girls who loved my English accent – my own little American Dream. But, like a psychopath in a hockey mask, there was something ugly lurking beneath the surface.

Anger Management

Today, I am f***ing pissed. Yup. You could say it’s one of those days. And normally, I would not write when I’m mad. But I was trying to work through it and finish a post on another topic and it wasn’t going anywhere. Why? Because I’m pissed.

If you’ve working in advertising for over two weeks, you have no doubt gotten angry, mad or frustrated. That’s where I am right now. And I thought I would take this opportunity to write about working through anger. Maybe it will be therapeutic for me. Maybe for you. Let’s find out.

Mighty Mighty You Are Not Alone

This week marked a monumental half-way-there point for me. A date that I was sure wouldn’t come for some time, if ever. After what felt like months of interviewing, preparing, and not sleeping with anticipation I finally arrived at the front gates of The Coca-Cola Company. Bright-eyed and dead serious about posting up under a Freestyle machine (if you’re unfamiliar with this glorious contraption, Google it immediately), I had no doubts the summer would be epic. I was joined by two classmates from the VCU Brandcenter to make up the first-ever class of creative strategy interns within Coca-Cola’s esteemed Content Excellence group.

You’re So Funny

How many times have you heard that? Just because you’re funny in casual conversation or are able to recite Spicoli quotes in the perfect timber does not mean you can get up on stage and make an audience laugh for a 15-minute set. Ask any comic and they will tell you, it’s harder than it looks. Louis CK’s first stand up experience was two minutes; it went so badly he stayed away from the stage for two years. Marc Maron, another veteran comic once said, “I got two laughs my first time out – but that was enough to have me come back”.

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.

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