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Riding Shotgun With An Idea / Dave Chapelle

“Sometimes the offering drives.  Like if I had an idea, it should drive.   It’s like the idea says, “Get in the car.” And I’m like, “Where am I going?” And the idea says, “Don’t worry, I’m driving.” And then you just get there.   Sometimes I’m shotgun. Sometimes I’m in the f*cking trunk. The idea takes you where it wants to go.   And then at other times, there’s me, it’s my ego, “I should do something.” “I should be driving.” And that’s not good. ‘Cause there’s no idea in the car.   It’s just me. That formula doesn’t work.   If the idea is in the car honking, going, “Let’s go.”   It pulls up in front of your house.   And you’re in your pyjamas.   “I’m not ready.” “No no… you can go like this.” “Where are we going?” “Don’t worry about it. You’ll see.”   “Yeah. All right.” - Dave Chapelle Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee Collection 5: Episode 2 / Jerry Seinfeld with Dave Chapel...

The Fast Life

I don't think I believe in this myth of high energy, high productivity, high quality advertising agencies. I think all it brings is a burnout. 

Dear Mr. Kassai

http://www.campaignlive.com/article/end-false-recognitions/1379124 Dear Mr. Kassai, It’s been many a rapt audiences that I’ve been a part of listening to you talk passionately about how our business is to make brands and products relevant, and advertising is just one way of doing it. I’ve long admired your work and your rise through the industry, and also aspired to be a good copywriter, who one day might have a shot at being great. With you at DDB’s wheel, DDB became the aspirational agency, specially given that Volkswagen was still your client after all these years since the legendary Lemon ad. As you’ve mentioned yourself, each DDB office is probably the most awarded in its region, the network having won more Grand Prixs that any other in the world. And while I started reading your latest article titled ‘The End of False Recognitions’ with great enthusiasm, it’s hard for me to agree to what’s written without a healthy dose of salt. I agree to your points about a...

An advertising professional with integrity is an advertising professional without a job.

Dad means coming home

Dad. 
 The word that often starts at fear, but ends in relief.  
 It provides protection that is invisible.  
 You just always knew it 
 and felt it.  
 It was always there. 
 Because when that word is spoken. 
 it feels like the worst things are okay. 
 Like every storm slows down.  
 Every tornado pauses.  
 Every fire mutes itself for a minute.  
 And every flood drains.  
 It’s words that have magic.  
 “Dad!” for one.  
 “Everything would be okay, son!” for another.  
 that changes the ferocity of events without changing anything.  
 The storm still has its fury. 
 The tornado still wrenches its guts.  
 The fire waits to roar again and the 
 flood will flood any second now.  But time has stopped.  
 You’re safe.  
 Shielded by something invisible.  
 You can’t tell what it is 
 Or where it comes from 
 Or that it’s even there 
 or was th...

Stranger's Gratitude

There are consequences to Portfolio Night that are hard to fathom before they happen. One of them is forming close bonds with people who have a heart of gold. Recently in Miami during the craziness of the ADC festival, I realised that my German bank card wasn't working in the US. Thankfully everyone accepts credit cards in Miami - even cabs - so I wasn't left high and dry. But you can imagine my nervousness with very little cash in hand and only a credit card for the entire two weeks. (I immediately emailed my German bank, who funnily enough, replied in perfect English, 4 days later, asking me to resend the request in German, without which they couldn't possibly activate my card for the US. I believe they call this German humour.) On her last day, Laura Mendez​ came to me and handed me most of her remaining cash telling me that their trip had come to an end and that she'd like me to have the money, and that I could return it after I got back. She did this without...

India's Independence Day

Today is India's Independence Day. The day when we kicked the British ass out of India. Today was the day when Lord Mountbatten gave up the control to Nehru and Gandhi et al. Probably thinking how we won the war without firing a shot, while we were just as surprised that Mountbatten didn't notice that Nehru was fucking his wife. The funny part is that we still take some sort of outdated pride in commemorating this even 67 years later. Also every time we beat England in Cricket. Just wanted to say - good that we don't play international soccer, or we'd have our ass beat every time.