A Gallop poll in 1992 found that people in advertising rated near last place in consumer trust, just below lawyers and above only car salesmen*. Without incriminating myself, I do not completely disagree. Then again, I left “agency” life over 18 years ago. Not so much because I thought it was of little value, but because there simply wasn’t the kind of honesty or unity of purpose and ideals that I had hoped for and come to believe in, and it started to show in the work. Maybe in the end, it was just time to move on. So I did what any self-respecting, disillusioned, creative mind would do:
I set off on the yellow brick road...
...and ended up in what I thought was Oz, where I became part of a corporate machine and its full complement of intelligent, energetic leaders, hard working employees, occasional yes men and corporate climbers, and the unorthodox view of itself in relation to the rest of their industry. Certainly not one of the destinations I had envisioned in my career, yet a fascinating and enticing opportunity nonetheless, and one that overall proved very worthwhile.
But a funny thing happened during my stay in Oz. Instead of finding the cute, lovable, wise man behind the curtain that Dorothy discovered, I found a conglomerate of goodhearted and talented people fighting valiantly for respect, growth and the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, though as I’ve come to conclude, fighting while divided against itself. Founded upon a wonderful vision, it lacked the one thing it needed most - a clear, single, constant voice by which all, both inside and out of the company, could come to know and appreciate that vision and what it offered. With time, it became apparent to me that I no longer fit in as the creative communications man - it was like trying to speak English at the Tower of Babel - so as good fortune would have it I was off and running once more. Interestingly enough I have unsurprisingly encountered this over and over in the years since. When you have a lot of people engaged in a singular cause it can be incredibly difficult to make sure everyone is on the same page with a clear understanding of the brand and responsibilities and expectations in moving it forward.
What does all of this have to do with anything? Simple. We are all part of or belong to something bigger than ourselves - a vision or an idea built on the values and qualities deemed of most worth. As such we generally want to see it thrive and grow in our ever-changing world. My particular work and interests put me inside a community of talented and creative people whose job it is to define, refine and communicate those visions in a variety of ways.
Usually.
In the end it depends on whether or not everyone involved has enough in common and can communicate with each other. More importantly, it depends on whether or not it's a good fit. Where do I fit in to what you're doing? To use modern vernacular, IDK, but if what you see and read in these pages is intriguing then let's find out.
* Truth, Lies & Advertising, by Jon Steel, Introduction, pgs. ix & x