Take a breath.

Wake up. Get ready. Eat breakfast. Visit an agency. Rush lunch. Be a tourist. Visit an agency. Get dinner. Continue to be a tourist. Go to sleep. Repeat. 

For the past three days this has been my schedule. It has left me exhausted, however, I have also never felt so inspired in my life. For the past three days I have been exposed to smart thinking and have had the pleasure of meeting people who like to break the rules. Today I received 7 tips that have managed to change my perspective on life. As Deb would say these 7 tips are “on the final.” The final being life. So I thought that I would create my own 7 tips based off of what I’ve learned from agencies and from just being in New York. 

Tip 1: Provoke a conversation. 

People aren’t in this industry to just do normal everyday ads. We are in this industry to make a statement and have the world hear our voices. Take a risk. 

Tip 2: Have some fight in you and be indispensable. 

This industry will test you and that is the beauty of it. Don’t back down, stand for what you believe in and make sure that you have a lot of tools in your toolbox. Everyday someone is working to take your spot so make sure you outwork them. 

Tip 3: Passion Projects –> DO THEM! 

Passion Projects are the holy grail of advertising because they are projects close to your heart. Find what you are passionate about and create something. It might die or it might ignite a fire that can’t be stopped. 

Tip 4: Your path isn’t linear. 

Rarely will you hear about someone having the “perfect path” in advertising. Advertising is a series of twists and curveballs being thrown at you. This may be scary but it can also be exciting as hell. Embrace the twists and curveballs because they might just change your life. 

Tip 5: Never stop the hustle. 

In a place like New York you never stop moving and working. It is a place where you constantly have to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. When you are pushed to be uncomfortable great work is produced. 

Tip 6: Have a personality. 

You probably heard this from your mom a thousand times but “just be yourself.” In an industry as diverse and unique as this one the best thing you can do is find out what makes you weird and quirky and own it. Don’t let others tell you to be something you are not. Screw the haters and just do you boo. 

Tip 7: Breathe and have a little fun. 

Sometimes it is easy to feel like our lives are consumed by advertising and while I love what I do it doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun too. So take a break, take a breath, and go doing something you have never done. This city is a hub of culture, so go explore it. 

Topacio Beerhalter           05.10.2017

Disrupt: An Ode to TBWA/Chiat and what I learned from Doug Melville

When everyone goes left, go right. When everyone is in black and white, let colors flood through your bloodstream. Shriek in dead silence.

Disrupt, disturb, and distract.

Be strange and stand out. Cut through the white noise and cut through expectation. Start small, land big. Be trusting and consistent yet forever be ready for the unexpected. Throw that curveball in the dark and hope it lands somewhere.

Because why be like everyone else when you can be you?

(Thanks Doug and TBWA/Chiat for the inspiration and invigoration you gave me today. You are the reason why I love advertising). 

Amelia Inouye // 5/10/17

Love It

After five agency visits, I’ve received a lot of advice. So many successful advertising players have shared their industry knowledge. And despite the information load, I still find each piece of information valuable. One of the best takeaways: you have to love it. Starting to discuss working hours, staying late, and “sweatshop” reputations, a Droga5 creative talent reminded us that you have to love the industry. Choose a career in advertising because you love it, and remind yourself of that when it starts getting hard. Let hard work fuel you.

Allison Pehanick 05.10.17

City Thoughts

The city is huge and wonderful. Everyone seems to have a purpose, working hard to be fulfilled. It almost makes the advertising industry feel small, like a single piece to a grander puzzle. One channel of fulfillment.

Another note. Nothing makes me feel more at home than walking through Central Park observing the squirrel obsession. Surrounded by gorgeous greenery, and these tourists find the squirrels the most fascinating. I love it.

Allison Pehanick 05.10.17

Glass ½ Empty or ½ Full?

I started my week off staying up until 2am working on a pitch my team ended up not winning. If you were to take this at face value, your thoughts would consist of “Oh, I’m sorry” or “Better luck next time.” Even if I had a time machine, though, I think I would keep things exactly the same. 

First off, I got to pitch to actual employees at RGA and created a portfolio piece I am proud of. More importantly this experience challenged me, humbled me, and made me a stronger person both professionally and personally. It was hard to hear the criticism from my peers the day before and the feeling of defeat the second after I found out we did not win was not favored. But, I gained meaningful friendships, added more strategy and research tools to my tool set of ad skills, and ‘studied’ for the ‘final.’

Katey Harris

It’s Right to be Wrong.

A takeaway from this week & something to practice…

Be open to being wrong. 
Because you probably are.
Then be open to learning how to get it right the next time.
Rinse and repeat. 
Make learning a hobby.

-Spencer Crain

What The Heck Is This Place?

This is all about honesty and insights, right? Alright. So here are both my honesty and insights. My initial thoughts about the city since I’ve been here: no; this is so fast; this is so busy; I feel like a sardine; hell no; no; I took the wrong subway four separate times and was late to an agency because of it; heck nah; absolutely naht; no. Yet, somewhere within the 10 miles I walked and the four agencies I had the lovely opportunity of looking at today, I found myself in Brooklyn. BROOKLYN. Brooklyn. What. A. Place. The eerie similarities to my home of Portland, Oregon manifested themselves in the form of these city streets. I, for the first time in a week, was able to take a deep breath. Ahhh. Like the end of a coke commercial. Finally, I was able to reflect on the day and all of the wise words I absorbed. “Don’t make ads; make reactions.” Reactions are the most genuine form of human expression. What better way, then, to reach people? Thank you, Code & Theory, for that. I would call that the most compelling line of the day. That will stick with me for a while.

Talia Bootz

5.10.2017

Play the Percentages

Alright, for all you mathematically minded individuals, here are some completely made up numbers for you that I’ve based almost exclusively off of experience. Yup, sounds like I’m a j major. Anyway.

The Percentages of a Pitch:

Talent/The Actual Idea: 10%

It’s the real world. It shouldn’t shock you that you’re not the only special snowflake who can come up with a good solution to a brief. Sure, every once in a while a truly unique great idea will come around, but for every idea other than that, there will be competitors.

Charisma/Charm: 20%

Okay, you have a competitive idea, but are you yourself competitive? Do you have a pretty smile? Are you fun to work with? Are you easy to work with? Charm these fuckers! Show them why UO has some of the best students in the world. Be yourself. (Unless you’re a dick, then be Isaac, because cmon who dislikes Isaac?)

Dress: 5%

Quick, easy, but look professional. Don’t show up in a t-shirt. (Duh)

Delivery: 15%

Slow, steady, confident, deliberate, other synonyms, and most importantly not using note cards. 

Ability to Answer the Why: 40%

Is your campaign thorough? Do you know why, down to a comma, why every single thing is included in your campaign? A client can ask any question, be ready to answer all of them. 

Do You Believe?: 10%

Perhaps the most important, and also the easiest to do besides dress, is this. Do you really believe your idea will work? Are you confident enough to put your name on the line for it? If not, pack it up and try again tomorrow. 

Caleb Couturie. 5.9.17.