One way for a guy with your experience to have fun and make a profit is to seek out companies that aren’t aware of the sophisticated creative and marketing ideas they could be using to build their businesses and kick competitor’s asses. There are a lot of cool companies that are way off the Fortune 1000 beaten track on which most ad agencies travel. That’s a lot of virgin territory once you pry your consciousness away from ad agency hell.

Good luck, in whatever you do.

Best, Jon

P.S. Apologies to Sally for turning this into a private forum

Love to, where do I sign?

I’m not fond of penning dispiriting downers, I really do believe it’s imperative
that we keep our sunny-side up? However (at times) life can be abrasive.
I hope my missives/rants are not? It’s simply a summary of one man’s adventures
in paradise. It is not a condemnation of anyone else’s stanchions.

We all come in different weights, heights, shades and textures, each is unique and valid. I simply vented what I’ve envisaged! There is not a one-size fits all answer, our individual road maps could/should contradict one another. Or as Yogi Berra said:
“WHEN YOU COME TO A FORK IN THE ROAD, TAKE IT!”

Your mileage may vary?

Thanks Jon P. for your thoughtful reply!

Dude, it sounds like you learned a lot of stuff along the way. You should try teaching it to other people. For money.

I joined those ranks at the Liberty Reformed Presby Church.
During one of my many Sunday school pedagogies,
I was taught the linchpin of all flanking circumambient guidance:
LEVITICUS 19:34
MATTHEW 7:12
Over my years I’ve made multiple course corrections in an effort to
honor that avowance.

I swore off swearing back around 1979, after my coach chastised me
regarding my use of some ill-advised invectives.

I stopped drinking/smoking in my 30’s.

I avoided many other a temptation, despite their temptations!

WHAT GOES AROUND;
Went to college!
Got married!
Had a daughter!
Made some money!
Won some awards too!
Reached my summit as an agency EVP!

COMES AROUND;
Lost my summit as an agency EVP!
Became “OVERQUALIFIED.”
Became “UNDERQUALIFIED.”
Too Senior.
Too Junior.
Too retail.
Too package goods(y).
Too much Print.
Too much Broadcast!
Not enough Direct!

Today (after much effort) I can’t get even the most-menial,
or the most seductive of jobs! Typical rejections
(when you’re fortunate enough to get one) come replete
with the usual inarticulate riposte. All are often
(by design) vague and very-varying and very-unhelpful.

Recently I took personal stock & inventory, measuring my
list of works against that most famous of TOP 10 LISTS!
1. CHECK*
2. CHECK*
3. GUILTY (on cccasion)
Like when I hit my thumb with the hammer!
Or when some jerk cuts me off!
4. GUILTY (often)
My Sabbath’s usually involve NASCAR/NFL/MLB/NBA.
So I could be in violation there?
5. CHECK*
6. GUILTY*
(Should’a seen the size of that spider, had to kill it, it was he or me?)
7. CHECK*
8. CHECK*
(Well except for those gumballs I stole at Olsen’s when I was 9?)
9. CHECK*
10. REALLY GUILTY ON THIS ONE!
I may be covetous of my neighbor’s house, and his car– although I don’t believe
“CAR” is cited in the new testament? I do not long for his manservant, nor
maidservants, nor his ox (although that might qualify as car-lust?).

If your advice is: “WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND”
My only rejoinder is:
“Exceptio probat regulam in casibus non exceptis”
— Cicero (“the exception confirms the rule in cases not excepted”)

Perhaps an explanation resides here, and I am the exception to the rule?

If even the most erudite of instruction fails, where does one go?
If long held standards bear no fruit, where does one go for nourishment?
Contrary to what you may be thinking, I’ve faithfully devoured, and executed,
many an encouraging word.

Yet when all else fails, what else is there?

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND?

“IF NOT NOW, WHEN?”
— Rabbi Hillel

IF NOT THIS, WHAT?

From Sunday school lessons in Galatians 6:7-8.
From lessons spun by Kermit, Bert & Ernie!
From my first reconnoiters amidst kismet & serendipity!

For the most part I’ve practiced what’s been preached, except maybe for
when I flipped the bird to that guy in his green Camaro back in ‘96 0r was that ‘98?

“SORRY!”

However as of late (like since 2001) I’ve begun to question
my moorings in many of these timeworn precepts;
KARMA
YIN&YANG
ETHIC OF RECIPROCITY
AND ALL THINGS VIKTOR FRANKL

their yield (see lack thereof) is suggestive of a failed policy?

As the years roll by, I’m reminded of that scene from “Miracle On 34th Street”
the one with Natalie Wood & Edmund Gwenn. Susan Walker (Natalie’s character)
is holding fast, despite the skeptics, to her hope and belief that their is indeed a Santa Claus? As her mother (and her paramour) are driving home on Christmas Day, she
peers out her window mumbling a mantra that she hopes (by her much repeating)
will be proven true:
“…I do believe, I do believe, I do believe”

I too keep repeating (see mumbling) similar thoughts, and then I recollect this as well:

“INSANITY: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

“But… Is a puzzlement!”
— Yul Brynner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFbDNyugmFk&feature=related

I found myself a bit flummoxed, much like the protagonist in the above snippet!
It’s the best way for me to illustrate my state of mind over seeing advertising
professionals, being professional. Civil discourse amidst an AD-BLOG is indeed rare!

My reaction wasn’t too dissimilar to how Ralph Kramden acted/overacted when
Alice, Norton, or whomever, posited an astonishing fact or fix before Ralph.
The following and aforementioned Honeymooners-ism came first to mind upon
reading your blog, and reviewing it’s accordantly intelligent & affable comments:
“HUMUNAH, HUMUNAH, HUMUNAH!”

I stumbled upon your blog and was elated to see that no one felt the need to go off the rails! Devolving the T+ spirit, and spiraling the conversation into an endless bitter death-grip of profanity & inanity! I mean, LIKE EGADS, like I’m not like 22 anymore?

OMG!!!

Thanks!

That was fun!