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Out of sight. out of mind

3/2/2020

2 Comments

 
I worked in an agency in Los Angles for about 10 years and learned quite a bit from some very smart people. I also learned a lot from some very stupid people as well.
 

Woody Allen once said: "80 percent of any job is showing up." Simple concept. But not to a fellow copywriter who thought he had the entire agency fooled.

Here was his move. He would stroll into the office around ten o'clock. Get his coffee. Read the L.A. Times for an hour and then, here's the genius of the fool, he would light a cigarette (yes, folks, there was a time where you could smoke in your office) lay it in the ashtray, take off his jacket, hang it on the back of his chair and go to lunch for 2 hours.


I can't tell you how many times I would hear people say: "Oh, he's here. He has a cigarette lit and his jacket is still here." Not even close. He was on his second Manhattan and finishing his appetizer. This went on for months.

Finally, someone decided to wait in his office for his return. Nada. He didn't show so the account person called in another copywriter and they finished the job. Rather well, I might add.

​Our invisible man was taken off that account. Not biggie. It was a huge agency so he floated for another few months.


A new business pitch was put into motion. It was, and I know this isn't Politically Incorrect. a gang bang. Everyone in the Creative department with an ass was put on the pitch. Vacations were cancelled. You know the drill. All hands, and asses, on deck. Except for our missing link. 

It didn't seem like a big deal at the time because the sound and fury of a pitch coupled with the frenzy of business as usual deadlines, blinds most people. Operative words: most people.

One night, around 2 a.m., someone had the nerve to ask where Casper the Friendly Copywriter was and the bulb went off. The CCO, Deputy CCO (yeah, that was the real title) and every ACD on the floor looked at each other in sheer amazement. He had skated through the entire pitch without being missed. 

Some people might actually applaud his actions in an envious, sad acknowledgement of getting one over on the "management" But the reality was he was never given another assignment and a month later he was sent packing. Surprisingly, some people were shocked. Of course, they didn't work with him on a day to day, or in his case, an hour a day to an hour a day. Even more surprisingly, he was surprised. How could they do this? He'd been there for 10 years. Yes. 10 years of dodging, avoiding, and just plain stealing money from the agency.

In the end, his absence was his undoing because when they wanted to give out an assignment, he wasn't there. In theory, he was avoiding being in the office. It wasn't as if he wasn't doing work. He fumbled his way through assignments. But on his way, he pissed off every Art Director he worked with and had junior account people in tears. 

I don't think he ever worked full-time at another agency after that. Sure, maybe he got another job. But he never really worked full-time...you get it
​

You have to show up. Period. Do your job. Be a team player. To some, this might seem "old school" thinking. I like to think of it as "old school" banking.
2 Comments

If You're always right, you're probably wrong.

3/2/2020

1 Comment

 
It’s nice to be the smartest person in the room every now and then. But if you get that feeling every time you step into a meeting, you might want to rethink your drink, my friend.
 
Don’t get me wrong. Contributing to solutions and strategies is a wonderful thing. It can bring respect and, in some cases, a promotion. But if it happens too many times, it could be problematic.
 
If you become that guy or woman who is always spouting off the right answer to whatever question is on the table and won’t allow any other options to sneak in, a small circle, followed by a bigger circle, and then a much larger circle can begin to form on your back. Now, combine that with a defensive attitude, and you have a “how do we get this nut out of the building?” posse beginning to form.
 
Of course, if you’re the type of personality who doesn’t care what others think or how you are perceived then stop reading and start polishing up that resume. There’s no I in team. I completely understand. But there is one in “fired”.
 
1 Comment

The money's always greener on the other side

3/2/2020

0 Comments

 
How good is the feeling of being wanted? Pursued. Needed. Next to a good night's sleep there aren't too many things that feel that good. But there's one very important thing to remember when you get that golden phone call from the headhunter: keep it to yourself.

Nothing says "get rid of that person" faster than management knowing you're looking for another job or have interviewed for one. Why in the world would they keep someone who doesn't want to be there?

Yes, having someone contact you and present the perfect job with perfect hours, perks, substantial salary bump, an additional week or two of vacation and, yep, the office is dog-friendly is a huge ego rush. Nirvana. The feeling not the grunge group. 


But keep it on the DL.

Why? Because there is a good chance you might not get that gig. A really good chance. And now, you're back-pedaling and making excuses of why you "turned down" the career move of the century. Plus, everyone in the company knows you jumped in with both feet. Practically begged for it.  

Who doesn't want more money and better opportunities? But making it known to anyone with an ear is the same as putting your neck in the noose yourself. 

Instead of being the poster person for "disgruntled employee of the year", here's a concept, make yourself indispensable to the company your work for. Of course, if the environment is toxic, by all means, get out. The trick is making everyone think your in love with the company and anyone who represents it. No one will have a clue you're beating the bushes. To the untrained eye, you are one happy camper.

If not, and you get busted, it's a hearty handshake and, maybe a nice parting gift.

There are horror stories of people taking the bait and jumping ship while realizing too late there are no life vests on that boat. Then, you're stuck and even more miserable than before. 

The cliche` about it's easier to find a job when you have a job makes all the sense in the world. Two words: due diligence. Dig deep. If possible, talk to people who work there or have worked there. Check out the sites with reviews about the company and the management. Then, if all looks good. Go for it. But do it Ninja stealth. Or, the next round of thinning the herd occurs, you might as well written your name on top of that list.

Greener grass. Good. Saving your ass. Better.

0 Comments

How to avoid career suicide

3/2/2020

1 Comment

 
“You’re fired.”
“We’re downsizing.”
Laid off.
Pink slipped.
Out sourced.
Terminated.
 
Whatever the creative euphemism, the results are the same. You’re out of work. Your cash flow is interrupted. Your ego is crushed. And your career is on hold.
 
Your fingers search for your friendly neighborhood headhunter. You’ve just been shitcanned.
 
Over the next few weeks or month, you’ll spin the tale in a more favorable light. “It was time for a change.” “This gives me more time to find out if this is really the career that’s right for me.” And blah, blah, blah.
 
You hear it everyday in the media:
“He left because of creative differences.” They wanted him to be creative. He wanted to be different.
 
“She left to pursue other interests.”
Like what? Bird watching? Let’s see if we have this right. Someone dedicates a decade or two of their life to a career and then decides to grow roses at the ripe old age of 47? I don’t think so.
 
Truth is, she had to pursue other interests because the company had no more interest in her. Period. Here’s a hearty handshake a wonderful partying gift. If you’re lucky.
 
No one and no company is immune. Today’s work force saunter into the office, when they’re good and ready, armed with an attitude, entitlement issues and absolutely no experience dealing with the corporate world. You can almost see them sharpening their tanto  ready for the inevitable Seppuku.
 
Over the last thirty years, I’ve realized many of these corporate mortal wounds were self-inflicted. The pain, embarrassment and psychological devastation could have been easily avoided. Attitude and ego are the lethal poisons that do in tens of thousands of employees every year. If the company says black, they say white.
 
Now, I’m not suggesting we fill our halls and offices with “yes” men and woman with rubber spines. But there are some attitudes that simply beg for unemployment.
 
We’ve all been there. “The meeting.” The numbers are in. Profits are down. It’s the fourth quarter. Let’s try to put a shine on this financial turd and get rid of some deadwood.
Every department-head has their list of names. The lottery of losers is about to begin. I must say, however, that up until about thirty minutes into this meeting, none of these wonderful, fellow employees were losers. But the minute their name is added to the list of casualties, those five letters will be written across their forehead as they walk their boxes to the car. Capital L. Capital O. Capital S. Capital E. Capital R.
 
When asked why they were “let go”. One reason that always rears its ugly head, is attitude.
 
Here’s the reality. They all did something to earn the distinction of the “better them not me” club on that fateful Black Friday Although, lately, any day of the week will do. Hell, I know someone who was terminated two days before Christmas.
 
After all, it’s business not personal.
 
That’s a great line from “The Godfather.” The movie about unscrupulous individuals who will quickly dispose of people for more power and money.
 
Sound familiar? That’s the take every person who’s ever been out of a job assumes. “They were out to get me.” And out you went.
 
But why?
 
It is my contention many of these events can be avoided.
 
Look, I’ve been to those meetings. I’ve held those lists. I’ve added the names. And I can say in all honesty when the time came to give them the “corporate Kevorkian”, except for two people, they all knew it was coming. A few of them were surprised it didn’t happen sooner.
 
The two people who were shocked and physically shaken thought I was calling them in to give them a raise. When I heard that, I was physically shaken. They didn’t have clue one they were on the bubble. Some might say as a manager I should have given them a warning. I figured being taken off of four accounts in six months might have been a fair warning. Or being put on probation twice in a year and a half could give one pause to think they were doing less than a stellar job. But that’s just me.
 
Of course, all of them had talent. But talent is the price of admission. It’s the extra credit points that count. When else do they bring to the company party?
 
While all of them sat in total disbelief, it would have been impossible to convince them they were the ones who loaded the gun and pulled the trigger.
 
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