The world coming together in tough times..

A silver lining to the god awful state our economy is in? Just been reading Tara missrogue Hunt’s article on Whuffie  - hacking the economy blues with social capital, and also noticed the amazing Estonia clean up which happened last year when 10,000 tons of illegally dumped waste was removed from the beautiful Estonian landscape in just 5 hours with 40,000 volunteers.  Something which would have taken the government 3 years to do!!  Check out the video here

I am a Spontaneous Idealist..

As part of my ongoing search for self awareness, I have been taking a few personlity type tests - and this site tells me I am a Spontaneous Idealist.  Which I love!  How exciting!  I then read the part about how SI types love and it fit me to a tee – but not great news if I want a committed long term relationship to have children in!  (but I knew that anyway..)

Take a look..

When you are in love, you easily outperform all other personality types in terms of enthusiasm and panache. Then your commitment knows no limits. You go out of your way in your eagerness to express your affection, and in your happiness, you are ready to embrace the entire world. When watching your attempts to flirt, one can’t help but think about a puppy dancing happily around its new playmate. Then for you simply nothing exists but your newfound love. „Hold your horses!“ – “Discretion is the better part of valor!” – “All that glitters is not gold!” – these worldly wisdoms are nothing but a waste of time.

With the entire spontaneity of your personality type, you instinctively immerse yourself in your emotions because you are sure that this time you have found the perfect partner. And you want everything here and now. You can probably go through as many divorces and separations as you want, but you are never going to learn from experience and at the age of 70 – and with shining eyes – you are still ready to walk down the aisle. Your friends may sometimes have a problem watching this, but they can only shake their heads in exasperation, and hope and pray, because in those moments you won’t accept advice from anyone. Then it would be easier to get in the way of a Tsunami.

In a long-term partnership you are a charming, affectionate, and unconventional partner, always good for a surprise, always there if you are needed, always ready for a loving compliment. As generous as you are with your feelings, so do you love to spend money and lavish your partner with gifts – sometimes even causing the very security minded and conservative types in the relationship to get a little weak in the knees. Should they now be happy that you abducted them to a luxury hotel for a romantic weekend, or should they be concerned whether there will be a problem when the next rent payment becomes due? Everyday things only interest you peripherally anyway; sometimes you walk with a downright childish confidence through life believing that the universe, fate or some other supreme powers are going to make sure that at the end everything will work out. So, why worry and save? It is interesting that this sometimes even works!

Therapy is getting to a stage now where all of my instincts are being addressed and challenged - and I have been told I need to “get real” but I like living life with renewed vigour and positivity! And I do believe that everything will work out well in the end.  I suppose I could do with being a little more grounded, and push myself to see things through, even when the initial excitement has waned.

Lots of thinking to do at the moment  – I lost my job in January, and am considering a move.. I think I need to start afresh, leave all the mess of the last 6 months behind me and do what’s right for me..  whatever that is..  I do have an opportunity in the pipeline – so watch this space… exciting times ahead.

Thinking Differently, the fight against apathy

I feel compelled to write this, as it seems society suffers from a general malaise of apathy, and it very often permeates into our industry and fustrates the hell out of me.  However, as always, I want to focus on the positive, and the great things that happen when passion and positivity prevail and when you tap into the part of your brain that defies conventions, ignores “the way we always do it” and creates something entirely different.

I have two examples of this. One is the fantastic idea, developed by the genius of our digital guru’s, that I had the absolute pleasure of presenting at an important pitch a while ago.  I can’t talk in detail about this idea yet – but watch this space. They were expecting a normal ttl campaign, and we totally blew them away with our thinking – that’s a great feeling.

The other is this campaign for lotus

Love it or hate it – the idea is certainly different – and creates standout.  I personally think that this is too much of a stunt, and not sufficiently grounded in either the aspirations of the target audience, nor fully emmerses the audience in the personality of the brand – but its a step in the right direction..

So the moral of the story today kids – when you’re thinking “it’ll do” or “at least this will get it off my desk” STOP! – take the time to push for something amazing, and although that takes a lot more effort – it’ll be well worth it in the end..

Dog shoots man in the bum!

http://news.uk.msn.com/odd-news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=11333607#toolbar

Dog shoots man in freak accident

A hunter was shot in the bottom by his dog when it jumped into his boat and landed on his gun’s trigger.

Matthew Marcum was preparing to set out on an expedition in Portland, Oregan, when the accident happened.

Recovering after hospital treatment Mr Marcum said he held no grudge against three-year-old Labrador, Drake, who he described as “a good dog”.

My eyes are open.. I am reborn..

Ok, slightly overdramatic title (but hey- thats me!) but thats how I feel right now.   Seriously, I have been through so much change over the past couple of months its amazing!  I have been seeing a therapist to get my head around why I jilted the man I once loved who I was engaged to, and as a result of that, it feels as though I know who I am now, I have a better sense of self, and starting to become more aware of the world around me, and how I am perceived.  Maybe its a combination of that and getting older – one more year to go and then I hit the big 30.  Its a fantastic life changing experience, that I would recommend to anyone..  although at times its very hard, and you wish you could go back to blissful ignorance, but on the whole.. bring it on!

The future of the web | Video on TED.com

Scary, exciting and inspiring..

more about "The future of the web | Video on TED.com", posted with vodpod

Endings and New Beginnings..

It’s my last day at my current job on Friday – to be honest, I haven’t been there long, but I’ll still be sad to leave certain people behind. It’s all a bit surreal – doesn’t really feel like I am leaving yet – sure it will when I pack up my desk..

Starting at a great agency in July as their New Business Director – can’t wait. In the meantime I have a few weeks off and have planned a last minute holiday which leaves on Monday to Turkey!! Going with my folks so it’ll be nice and relaxing and hopefully I’ll come back nice and brown.

I know its been ages since I have written anything – I will get back up to speed after I have recharged my batteries.

Speak soon

Foo Fighters

Went to see the Foos at Wembley last Friday – it was amazing, but during the day, as we were so far up the stands in seats, the sound didn’t carry very well, and the only screens were fragmented on the side of the stage.  When the sun went down though everyone livened up in the seats and the atmosphere improved.  Overall it was amazing, but wish we’d had standing tickets..

Dave Grohl is god, and Taylor sang one song which was pretty good.  Fav quote of the day “you’re not a bad singer for a Drummer” – Dave Grohl

Calling all Northern Mad Men

There’s been lots of talk of the lack of a Manchester / Northern scene in the ad/design industry so lets create one. Here’s a space to share ideas, tips, clients to avoid, raise the bar creatively. Lets share our passion for what we do. Not just the agency owners and senior management, but anyone who works in an agency – we all have the power to bring about change and learn and teach.

So jump in, invite your friends from other agencies. There’s no need to say which agency you are from unless you want to, and this isn’t endorsed by any particular agency as a PR excercise.. who knows we may even be able to organise p*ss ups , err I mean meetings in real life!! ooooo…

Rangers fans invade Manchester

Scary stuff.. I was out last night for a New Business debate at the Circle and was really scared walking to and from my car – never seen or heard anything like it..

Here is an extract from an email I just received from a friend of mine who works in Manchester

“To give you an idea of what town is like today – see the attached!

Its insane – I work x10 steps away from St Peters Square and its just as
mad, if not worse (the little streets around it are rammed too)!!!

The streets between exchange square, st peters sq and picadilly gardens
are filled with VERY drunkered rangers fans…its a sea of blue fans,
broken glass, vodka bottles and beer cans!

I was v late this morning simply because there was a swarm of thousands
of plastered fans staggering the streets!

I’m actually scared to leave my building…when I popped out for lunch,
I struggled to get back and I couldn’t get through the barrier (the area
is sectioned off just by my works door) – saw blokes weeing everywhere,
fans passed out, had to step over cans and bottles in my new shoeshies &
thought I was going to get trampled on! “

Update – they are now turning the streets of Manchester into rivers of piss..