25. The Starting Line

The term is almost over, I made it to my 25th blog post and now have a website to share with you all.  This isn't the finish line, the starting gun has just gone off and it's time to start the race.

24. Deb Morrison

It wouldn't be right to wrap up this blog without giving a nod to one of our greatest speakers, Deb Morrison. 

This was my first class with Deb, I have taken several courses with her other half Dan so I had an idea of what to expect.  Thankfully she wasn't anything like the wicked witch of the west or a fire breathing dragon.

Thanks to this class I now have my own philosophy on brand thinking.  Who takes a ten week class and comes out the other side with a freaking PHILOSOPHY? It's pretty great. 

This class had so many takeaways, a few of which you can see in my posts about individual speakers but in order to feel as though this blog is complete, the Morrisonian theories and sayings should be documented. 

I want to look back at this blog and remember a few of those motivational sayings that Deb shouted at us this term. 

1.       Do Shit! Thank you for this one Deb.  It’s so basic, but so true.  Get off your lazy ass and do something.  When a person does shit! they end up being…

2.       Be Interesting and Interested.  Do shit! Make stuff! and be interesting.  You have to be creative, you have to be informed in order to accomplish this one.  It’s this one that helps get jobs.

3.       Be Genuine.  In order to be successful in this industry you have to be true and honest.  Faking it won’t get you far, you have to be genuinely in it, be present and really, truly love what you are creating.

4.       Do Good. Give back; make the world a better place.  This is a big one.  By declaring this major and becoming a part of this industry you are signing up to contribute to making the world a better place.  We are the ones that get to continue this mission.  It’s not all about making big bucks and getting ahead; the point of advertising should be about working toward a greater good and really making a difference.

There are so many more, I know I’m forgetting a ton of them.  I still have a couple terms to go so this blog post is a work in progress, this list will be longer by the time I graduate. 

Deb’s passion and commitment to this university is an inspiration to all of us.  I just hope that the future creative straters get the chance to see Deb make the donuts for many terms to come. 

23. Kathy Hepinstall

Kathy Hepinstall is an amazing writer, and it shows.  She could probably take up a second job as a standup comedian too.  Her lecture was hilarious.  Her blog is also a great, entertaining read. 

Kathy is great friends with Deb and their funny banter before class was a great lead up to her talk.  She was not only funny but she really had some great things to say to us.  Here are just a few highlights:

1.       Always remember your audience.  You have to think about the things that will keep them coming back, the things that appeal to them.  These are your people and you want them to like what you do.

2.       Feedback is a form of art.  People give meaningful feedback and it’s something that should be deemed important.  You can learn from feedback, and you should.

3.       Understand the culture of an agency.  Not all agencies will appreciate you riding into the lobby on an angry white nag.  Some will, but before you take all that time to rent a horse, you should be sure that you are working for an agency that will appreciate it.

4.       Say thank you to your brain.  A brain is like a domesticated animal, it wants praise for what it does. 

5.       You can be somebody’s good news.  Doing something nice for someone else can sharpen your creative skills.

22. Scott Bedbury

Scott Bedbury. Pause for the church bells to stop ringing and the cheering to stop.

I really thought that we were going to have some guy roll in with an entourage and maybe a body guard or two. We have heard so much about the great Scott Bedbury that I was caught off guard when he showed up in a pair of jeans and a button up. 

He kinda looked like my dad (if you ever read this Mr. Bedbury, my dad is handsome and funny and smart), just an average guy.  His talk was anything but average, and his book is even better. 

He talked about his work with Starbucks and Nike and his great relationship with Uncle Phil, and that work that he has done for those brands is/was amazing but what I liked the most was how he chatted with us after class.

He told funny stories about Air Jordans and the impressions they make on rural small town folk who have no idea what city slickers like Scott Bedbury are like.  That was great.  And he interacted, he and Joey from class had a nice little chat about the Air Jordan 5 series. They talked like they were buddies, like they had things in common-and they do.  Scott Bedbury, as great as he is, made it clear to all of us that day that he was just a regular guy. 

That made me feel connected to the industry. Scott Bedbury, the great Scott Bedbury, likes old school Nikes.  I like old school Nikes. 

All I'm saying, is that when you are sitting there before class, waiting to be slapped in the face by an industry celebrity and you end up leaving with the feeling that he would totally have a beer with you, it's pretty freaking rad.

I learned from Scott Bedbury that even the industry greats are just regular guys who like shoes and beer and strong coffee and that means that we have at least 3 things in commom.

21. Maria Scileppi

Maria Scileppi is currently the director of the Chicago Portfolio School which is amazing, but the best part about this gal is that she didn't come to try and recruit us.  She just came to give us some amazing tips on how to get noticed, how to get our foot in the door.  And let me tell you, I needed this talk.  My resume sucked before I went to this class and had the chance to hear Maria speak. 

My resume probably looked like your moms resume.

Anyway, here are a few great things she had to say.

1.      Be creative, do your own individual projects just because you can and because you want to.  Again, holy shit Deb’s right! Maria has succeeded in turning one of her projects,

Peoplescape into something incredible.  You have to check this out; it’s such a great idea.

2.      Have a glass of wine before you write a contact email (must be 21 or older).  This was a great tip, and if you don’t drink wine or booze or beer, her point here was really to relax.  So take a dip in the hot tub or go for a run if you aren’t a win-o like me, do what you need to do to be relaxed and have your ideas and thoughts flow naturally.  This will help get the real you across.

3.      Be accessible.  You have to make it easy for people to get in touch with you.  There are so many other people gunning for the job that you want that if you don’t make it easy for them to reach you, they will move on to the next guy.  And you better hope that you aren’t competing in this area with the guy named Alex who made his phone number 541-YES-ALEX.  Smart kid.

Maria was one of my favorite speakers because she had so many useful things to say.  Despite the fact that she directs a school for creatives, and I’m a planner, I still felt like I learned so much.  I took a lot of notes and thanks to her my resume now looks nothing like your moms.

20. Tracy Wong

Tracy Wong from Wong Doody Crandall Wiener also came in to visit us, another UO alum and a really wonderful speaker.  He rolled into class with a black zip up hoodie and thick rim glasses; he looked like he was maybe 24.  I never would have guessed that he was one of the founders of an agencies that I have at the top of  my short list. But as we found out, it’s Doody’s job to be the straight laced one.

I started out taking good old fashion notes, but once he shouted out “Ill be dropping some wisdom on your ass!” I felt like this would be a great way to take notes instead:

He made some amazing points, and if anyone was paying attention to them they will end up sticking around in the industry a hell of a lot longer than if they didn’t.

1.       EGO blocks opportunity.  It gets in the way, makes people think you are a stuck up ass and in general, just doesn’t do much good so leave it at the door.

2.       Great ideas are 99% strategy.  Holy shit! Deb’s right so pay attention in this class.

3.       Your ears are your greatest weapon. Listen and learn from the people around you, and especially from your client.

4.       Embrace Compromise.  Accept the clients needs and be willing to bend a little when it comes to your ideas.  Your ideas are your babies, but nobody else feels that way about them.

5.       Engage in the DEMOCRACY OF GOOD IDEAS. What a great way to say be involved in creating great things. It’s so good in fact, wouldn’t that make a good book title?

6.       Love your client’s dog.  Whatever you do, always be sure to build a relationship with your client.  Creating trust is what will lessen their fears and make them love you back. This all adds up to return clients and more dough for you and your agency.  Plus it feels good to be a trustworthy person.

I enjoyed this guy so much and thought those notes turned out pretty great so I sent him a thankyou note written out on the back of them.  I thanked him for being such a great inspiration, and for making me a little more wise.  He totally succeeded in dropping some wisdom on my ass. 

19. Kelly Anne Meyers

I have been holding out on all of these half finished blog posts for some time now.  And well, since this thing is due by 5pm today I think it’s time to wrap them up.  Note to future Creative Straters: Do not do this, half finished blog posts take a ton of time to clean up, and saving them to the last minute is a bad bad bad idea.

We have had some amazing presenters in this course, great people with great ideas have really helped me figure out my place in the industry and also how to stay afloat once I get my foot in the door.

First, we had Kelly Anne Meyers Skyped in during the early weeks of the term.  This was a great way to start off, we had the opportunity to hear from one of our own, a UO alum who is doing amazing things straight out of school.  She works with New Yorks Code and Theory. 

Some takeaways from Kellys chat:

1.       Don’t sell yourself short.  If you know your stuff, then you should get paid for it.  If you feel qualified for that Junior Planner position straight out of school, then go for it. You don't have to take an internship.

2.       Be Informed.  You have to know your stuff.  Kelly mentioned that the reading the internet is something that she has always done for fun and that hobby is what got her the job.  She is the “office millennial” as they call her, she knows about the industry and it’s inner workings and we should too. If you aren't following her on Twitter, you should be.

3.       Use the UO network.  Kelly went straight to New York without knowing anyone but rather than be totally freaked out and at a loss for where to go and what to do, she tapped into the other great UO alum that are spread out across the globe.  She got a place and has now made herself into a pretty great NY transplant.

Listening to Kelly really helped calm my nerves.  It’s nice to see that it can be done, that she was sitting in this class one year earlier freaking out just as much as I am.  And look where she is now, she’s in the big city, working for her #1 choice in agencies and doing the things that she loves.  What an inspiration!

18. The AKQA Project

Myself, Branden Fitzpatrick and Paul Schweibenez recently undertook a huge project centered around the agency AKQA. This company is increadible, and Paul will hopefull have a job there in the very near future.

They have offices accross the world, they create amazing interactive campaigns and they continue to push boundaries. This agency is seriously changing the way the ad world works.  Check out our project in Agate Hall on December 4th to see how we represented our research, but here are just a few teasers. 

The interactive is where they excell.  It's a great strategy and it works for their clients and the consumers.  Here is just one more from the AKQA mobile team which launched in 2006, they took the Smirnoff Mobile campaign to a whole new level.

There's a whole bunch of other great things that we have discovered about this inspirational agency.  Come check it out this weekend!

17. The UO Brand

In light of the controversy surrounding the termination of President Lariviere I would like to take a minute to look into his philosophy of "Brand Thinking" in regards to the UO.


Yes, I know, many people feel that the UO should not be thought of as a brand (Hssssss! from all you ad outsiders) but this is what makes sense to me.  And I feel that it makes sense to a whole slew of other people too.


What really makes a brand?


A brand is defined by 5 things
     1. It's relationships
     2. It's actions and purposes
     3. The way it lives within the world
     4. It's good business practices
     5. It's way of growing opportunities


How does the UO fit into these 5 things?


    1. The University of Oregon has a unique relationship.  A relationship with its faculty, staff and students that differentiates it from other Oregon schools.  In fact, each school within the Oregon University System is different and has cultivated different relationships, and that is why each school appeals to a different population, and that is wonderful. Choice is wonderful.


     2. The University of Oregon's actions and purpose is to be the flagship university of the state of Oregon.  We are a leader in research and innovation and our actions and the rational behind them should always reflect this.


     3. The University of Oregon lives in the world as a place to seek knowledge, to find amazing faculty mentors, to foster amazing ideas through cutting edge research.  Our place is as a leader in forward thinking.


     4. The University of Oregon's good business practices are rooted in retaining great faculty, keeping tuition costs affordable and showing the community that we are an institution that leads rather than follows.  It's the job of this University to be ground breaking in ways that reach far beyond our research or our sports records.  We practice good business by thinking outside the box on all fronts.


     5. Our way of growing opportunities, we are on that path, and despite this set back we can stay on that path.  Growing opportunities for the UO community is only done by challenging the status quo.  Great change and great opportunity never come to those who are not willing to take the risk and be bold.


We just have to think outside the box.  And when the board of education is literally working as hard as they can to stuff the UO and all 6 other unique OUS universities into the same little box that is tough.


So people, what do we do?


First and foremost we have to refrain from focusing only on President Lariviere's termination.  Yes, that was a low blow and it sucks but as the President himself says

"I am humbled by your support, but your cause should not be my employment status. Your cause must be how Oregonians will be educated.Your cause must be how institutions like the University of Oregon can be strong in a state with weak public resources"

 In light of that I think that it is time that we rise up collectively, as an informed and passionate group and shout out that our UO brand is unique and amazing.  We deserve to  be given the opportunity to stand outside that box.






 

16. Dieter Rams...Swoon.

Recently I stumbled upon some information about Dieter Rams, he's a legend in the design world.  His passion is to create great design that also do good, function well and enhance experience; chances are you have one of his designs in your kitchen and if you're like me you use it everyday- your coffee maker.  If it's braun it's designed by this guy.

Swoon...I love this stuff.

He has inspired many other great designers to go on to do great things, and he has summed up his philosophy in 10 simple guidelines for the creation of good design

Good Design:
1. Is innovative
2. Makes a product useful
3. Is aesthetic
4. Makes a product understandable
5. Is unobtrusive
6. Is honest
7. Is long-lasting
8. Is useful down to the last detail
9. Is environmentally friendly
10. Is as little design as possible

I particularly like that last one, good design is as little design as possible.  What a great way to say, don't over think it and keep it simple.  All of these tips apply to more than just design, they apply to advertising, you could even apply them to life if you feel like getting really deep.

It's like the mantra of the ad world, rephrased in design lingo.  But when you replace "good design" with "good advertising" it works.

15. Don't Buy This Jacket

The spirit of Thanksgiving and giving back really hasn't worn off for me yet.  Apparently Patagonia is still feeling it too, they have opted to go with a seemingly backwards strategy.  The "Don't Buy This Jacket" ad hit the web today, Cyber Monday.

While consumers are surfing the web, frothing at the mouth for more great deals to add to their pile of purchases from Black Friday, Patagonia is asking them to take a step back and think before they spend money on anything, even this Patagonia jacket.

This creative form of advertising is truly doing good, making a difference and getting the word out about their Common Threads Initiative. A creative initiative meant to reduce our carbon footprint and think before we spend.

In addition to working to educate consumers about what it takes to make this jacket, you can conveniently click the ad and make a purchase, Patagonia just wants you to think before you buy. Smart thinking.

14. Brand Philosophy

A couple of weeks ago we were charged with the task of developing our very own brand philosophy.  Yup, you read that right.  Me, a professional in training had to formulate her very own philosophy.

I spent the better part of the weeks before this was due staring at a blank piece of paper and having nightmares about Deb Morrison telling me to hurry up and DO SHIT!

Thank god it finally came to me in the wee hours of the night a day or 2 before it was due (yes procrastination really does light a fire under my ass).

This is what I came up with, it seemed so intuitive once I started writing.  The first words that sparked the creative process were from our very own Scott Bedbury "All brands need good parents". That quote inspired me to use a whole slew of things that your mom has probably said to you like "It takes a village..." or "Always wear clean underwear in case you get hit by a bus" and "Don't grow up to be just like your mother" to explain my philosophy.

I know it sounds like an odd explanation but put succinctly it sounds a little like this:

A brand should be like your baby.  You don't want your brand going out in the world to become some manipulating little scum bag, you want your brand to go out there and make a difference, to be a good kid.  To do this you need to collaborate with a whole slew of great people, you need to pay attention to the little things, and finally you need to evolve and pave a new and exciting path.

13. Twitter Persona, I'm between a Newbie and a Brand

I know that twitter can be a great tool.  We have learned this term that wonderful UO alums have used twitter to get their foot in the door and break the ice with industry pros.  It's a little tough to get a handle on how to use this medium.  I haven't yet figured out how to navigate between being dull and noise like, to being insightful and stimulating.  It's hard not to get caught up in all the crap that can crowd a feed, occasionally I think everyone wants to tell the world about the sweater they are wearing or what they ate for dinner, despite the fact that they know that nobody cares.

12. Creativity Fuel

Fast Company is one of my very favorite websites to read and twitter feeds to follow, they are full of great ideas and inspiration-something that I'm always on the hunt for.

Finding inspiration is something that one can do anywhere, anytime.  I see things on billboards, hear people chatting and surf the internet and find all kinds of great things.

Here is just another great collective grouping of creative people's stories, like Martin Scorsese.  Scorsese is one of the legends of the Hollywood film industry, he knows what he is doing and to hear him echo some of our own strategies is pretty fucking great.  When I find out that someone as rad as Martin Scorsese has the same type of strategies as me, I feel like a freakin' genius (just for a second, then I get my ego back in check). Here are just a few takeaways from his interview.  See the whole thing here.

1. RESPECT THE PAST:
Remember where we all came from, no matter what industry you choose to pursue.  Be knowledgeable about those who came before you and respectful of the path paving they have done for you.

2. TRUST YOUR CONFIDANTS...BUT NOT TOO MUCH:
All great creators need a good team to work with, your support system is important BUT remember to hold your own when you are passionate about your opinions and beliefs.

3. FIND ANOTHER OUTLET..OR EIGHT:
When we get so focused on our career, it's easy to forget about all of the other things that we enjoy.  But never forget that to be a truly creative person, we have to be well rounded and interesting.  And nobody thinks you're interesting if you don't do anything other than work. 

11. "I Could Never Get a Samsung, I'm Creative"

These new spots for the new Samsung galaxy are so great.  Done by 72andSunny, they really do capture the hilarity of Apple culture perfectly.  The fact that people will wait in line for hours on end to spend ungodly amounts of cash on a new phone is exceptionally funny when you make it the focus of your ad.

I love the shaggy looking guy in the flannel sitting with his Mac, he reminds me a lot of some of my classmates.  I couldn't hold in my laughter when he says " I could never get a Samsung, I'm creative". Classic Apple lovers line.

10. Herd the Sheep

I know that as a ad person I should be excited about the mass consumerism that has hit every store in the nation today but unfortunately I am a little disgusted by it to tell you the truth. People seem to forget that just 24 hours ago, we were all seated around our dinner tables talking about how thankful we are for what we have.

One minute you're chatting with Grandma about how thankful you are for her and the rest of man kind and then just a few hours later you're wrestling some old lady for a spot at the front of the line so you can get your greedy little paws on the last Tickle Me Elmo.

If that's not just a tad ironic I really don't know what is. 

9. In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and that means it's time to be thankful for all of the great things we have in our lives.  It's also a time to totally stuff yourself with really great food, which I am totally looking forward to as well.

I am so thankful for my family and the great food I know they will make on turkey day, my friends and their relentless pursuit of fun and debauchery, and my cat because she's cute and cuddly and makes a really great couch buddy. 

One woman, Betty Fain, the face of the company Austal USA LLC's new recruitment campaign has much to be thankful for as well.  And this company now has a great story to tell, one that will touch many people and create the emotional connection that campaigns are always striving for.

Betty is one hell of a go getter, she applied for a job with the company (and got it of course), but her story is one about a woman who has overcome the odds and pulled her life together.  Now as the face of this campaign she has the chance to inspire others to do the same.  Betty struggled for years with homelessness and drug addiction, now she is a full time employee and an inspiration. 

"In only four years, Fain reinvented herself, trading a life on the streets and a debilitating, 30-year crack-cocaine addiction for her own apartment and an $18-an-hour job among a highly-skilled work force charged with helping the U.S. Navy modernize its aging fleet."

I would have to say that reading stories like this, seeing campaigns like this, not only makes me thankful for what I have, but it makes me thankful that there are people out there willing to tell their stories, inspire others, and as a result make what could be a mediocre campaign a powerful one. 

Read Betty's full story here

8.5. Mondays are tough, cheers to making it through another one!

8. Advice in British Accents

Everything sounds better and is more well received when it's spoken in a British accent.  It's true.  It's even better when it comes from great thinkers in the industry.  I was browsing the for information on the cannes lions awards and found this.  A great montage of informative and inspirational videos. These videos are supposed to help you learn how to win the Cannes Lion for Creative Effectiveness, but the points they make are universal.

Important Stuff :

Guy Murphy JWT London

1. Focus on the EFFECT
2. Numbers are your friend
3. Know the data early and always

James Hurman Colenso BBDO New Zealand

1. Stand Out!!
2. Tell a great story in a clear way

And just to break up this text with some great visuals, in case you were getting tired of all those words here are a few of my favorites.

McDonald's Leo Burnett London There's a McDonalds For Everyone

And everyone's favorite: W + K Portland The Man Your Man Could Smell Like.  It never gets old.



7. #Occupy

The Occupy movement will be one of our topics of discussion next week and in light of that I thought it a good idea to take the time to see what the world at large has been saying about this movement that has turned our country into one giant protest. 

It's a movement that I am still unclear about. What I do know is that it moves me to see people unite under a collective banner, to forget about all of our differences and take up against oppression. That's one thing that I think many people are sure of. 

American's never follow suit, we always try to be the first, the best and the leader.  Occupy comes in on the heels of movements around the world, and it's refreshing to think that we as a country can take inspiration from others and hopefully turn that into a great change. 

Here are just a few of the interesting things I have found people saying/asking about Occupy, I encourage you to read and get inspired.

"Who are the opposer's of the #occupy movement and what are they saying? http://bit.ly/ndJNiJ

"Proposal from international #occupy activists: The Global Square - an online platform for our movement http://t.co/CVandydd #ows"

Ben Roberts @benrobertsphoto has made the most interesting photo essay I've seen of the #occupy movement http://benrobertsphotography.com/personal/occupied-spaces/ 

6. People creating beautiful things

Inspiration comes from a great many places.  Here are just a few of the great things I have stumbled upon in just one day.  They are an inspiration and a reminder that making things and doing stuff not only shows that you are inspired, but turns you into an inspiration for others. 

Talk about mastering your craft...

Getting it all out can be frustrating, this is such a great visual...

This is really funny and a clever mash up of old and new...

Searching for inspiration when you feel like it's all too much (see image above), can really help get your head right.  After taking some time to look at great things, laugh at funny clips, listen to good music and tune out the noise of day to day life, I feel much more prepared to tackle the big things.  Time to do stuff, make things and be great!

5. Car Alarms and Advertising

What do car alarms and advertising have in common you ask? Well, one very important commonality is that about 99% of the population is doesn't care about either of them.  Recently changing my major from psychology to advertising has made me much more aware of the ad world, but car alarms...alas, not so much. 

Much to my dismay my car was burgled on Monday night.  And yes, my car alarm went off (right in front of my house!) and I didn't even notice.  Well, maybe I did notice and I probably thought, or even said out loud something like "That freaking alarm is so annoying, wish those neighbors would get a handle on that (insert expletive here)"

After I had calmed down the next morning, cleaned up the glass and mourned the loss of all of my school books, and a slew of other valuable electronic devices I decided to refocus and think about how I could spin this into something good.  I teachable moment, me teaching myself how to take something so unbelievably crappy and turn it into something good.  So, I started reading about ad desensitizing and how to combat it.  I also started looking into things like The Club, and this handy little car accessory, but I digress. Let's get back on track.

People don't care about ads anymore.

Do you remember that one ad from the Police Department that said "Call us if your being robbed, we will save you, we have guns and training and we keep people safe for a living"

No? That's because they never had to advertise.  Everyone knows that the police are here to keep the community safe.  We are emotionally invested in our personal well being and therefore we connect to the police department.  We know what they do and we CARE about it.  Most businesses aren't going to save you from a life threatening ordeal, so people really just don't have a reason to care.

The teachable moment here is this: The goal is not to simply break into your target audience's car.  Break into their car, once they start freaking out about all the stuff they lost then tell them how great your anti-theft device is.  Brand strategy is all about giving them a reason to care about what you have to offer.

4. The St. Vincent de Paul Hurdle

Currently myself and 2 other lovely people, Shannon Kluss and Rob Beard, are working to put together a brief for St. Vincent de Paul's Lane county chapter.  Our assignment, tackle the ultra ambiguous topic of Corporate Identity.  Corporate Identity? What is it, what's our marketing objective, who are we targeting, and how are we going to tackle this beast?

Depending on how you look at it we have the best or the worst topic out of everyone in our class.  After speaking with the St. Vincent's rep we have found ourselves without much direction.  They don't have a budget, they aren't really attached to any of the current campaigns they run, and all they want is for us to "sum up St. Vincent de Paul's in 8 words or less".  I'm thinking that we have free reign to come up with cheap creative strategies to really move this organization to the front of their pack. 

St. Vinnies is a community superhero, after some serious brainstorming we are on the right path.  The rebranding of St. Vinnies begins now.

3. Turning the mountain into a mole hill.

There is a continual stream of thoughts that run through my head daily.  Most of them revolve around school with a few random thoughts about work, family and bills thrown in just for kicks.  The school thoughts consume my weekdays, and usually they end with this closing thought: "Holy Shit!”  Yes, that is how my days go.  The internal dialogue generally ends with that final exclamation, and then I go to bed.
 
There is so much information out there, so many blogs to take in, websites to process and books to read.  It is a mountain of information.  In the ad industry we are consistently bombarded with information in all forms, and as a students and professional in training it is our job to consume, process and form new and interesting opinions.  So how can a student who looks at that mountain and says "Holy Shit", work that mountain down into a more manageable mole hill?

 The Most Important Tip: Give yourself some credit, if you are trying to immerse yourself in the information, you are on the right track.  This was a hard one, but I feel much better when I pat myself on the back once in a while.

First things first, get your routine down.  No matter when you get out of bed, you should have a routine.  I start my day with coffee, very, very strong coffee.  Then I move to the computer and open these sites: NYT, CNN, MSN, Facebook, Deb Morrison's blog and twitter.  I get my daily dose of world news out of the way, followed by entertainment and then social networking.  This way I can really focus without being too distracted. 

Once I have had my fix of news and status updates it's time to get serious.  As a student it helps to think of this online reading in the same way you would tackle a math assignment.  Accept this is WAY better than math, it's interesting and you will likely be able to write about what you read in your blog and use it in real life. You can smile just knowing that you don't have to do a math assignment, I do.

Next step: Read.  And make note of valuable information and sites that you come across.  The web takes you all over the place and it's easy to get lost.  Bookmark, tweet, and take good old fashioned notes.  This will help you remember what you have read and also how to find it again.

I found out how I start my day and how I have been tackling this mountain by taking a hard look at my media habits.  Take one week and note all of the media that you work with and when.  Once you have that it's easy to see how your pattern is naturally developing.  Once you see what you are already doing it's much easier to feel in control.  You're less likely to end your daily thoughts with "Holy Shit!" this way.

2. Dedicated Planner Seeks Hard Working Creative

It's time to get working on a group project for Creative Strategist, and I am currently without a group.  Is anyone looking for a media planner with a love of design and knowledge of the Adobe Suite?

I like long walks on the beach and a nice glass of red wine...sorry, I had to throw that in here.  But seriously, I have skills to bring to the table and I'm ready to get started on this.  Below is a short list of things you may want to know.

I have an excellent ability to meet deadlines and keep a group on task.  I am a planner and an organizer by nature and work daily in a job that requires those skills.

I love the creative side and have always wanted to work in that area, but found that planning is a better fit for me.  That said, I do work well in Final Cut, Flash, Illustrator and InDesign.  My first dream was to be a writer, so I am more than willing to put in my ideas in this area as well.

I love working in small groups and tackling projects as a team.  I pull my own weight and am more than ready to stay up late, do the research and work my ass of to produce somthing that I am proud of. 

I am ready to get started on this as soon as possible. Please contact me if you would like to work together.

1. The intimidation factor.

Recently I was exposed to this lovely piece by Karl Fisch in my Media Planning course here at the UO. Holy shit! If you are a student, or a professional or even if you are just some random person who is considering making it out there in the world of technology, watch this and let me know how it makes you feel.  Oh, and one other thing;  This was made in 2008, that fact alone should make you freak out just a little bit more.  Just think of how much higher the figures are and how much more advanced the world has become in the few years since this was created. 

I was blown away by these stats, and of course, Professor Koranda showed this at the beginning of class as a result I proceeded to spend the next hour completely spazzing out about my future.  Thoughts like,  "how on earth will I stand out when there are 1300 people just like me!" or "I don't even know what an excabyte is!" were all running through my head.  FYI: I am really skilled at spazzing out sometimes, but I am equally skilled at calming myself down and thinking rationally.  It usually takes me a couple of hours and a good cup of coffee (or a nice stiff drink) to calm down and look at things like the level headed human being that I know I really am.  Once I did that, I took a second look at this video and realized that it is full of great information on how to approach this last year of my college career.

Standing out when there are (at least) 1300 people just like you is hard, but this year the ultimate goal is not to be just like the other 1300, but to be THE ONE in 1300, the one that stands out, the one that agencies look at and go "that's some great stuff".  Hopefully they follow that line up with a job offer.  Time to do shit, time to make stuff and time to work my ass off in order to succeed.  Oh, and if you want to know what an excabyte is take a second look at the video, 3:17 mark.
How did this video make you feel?