Comments on: Miles ahead of the curve.* http://before-after.com/blog3/2006/12/19/miles-ahead-of-the-curve/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:51:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Matt Heath http://before-after.com/blog3/2006/12/19/miles-ahead-of-the-curve/#comment-596 Sat, 30 Dec 2006 19:24:31 +0000 http://before-after.com/blog3/2006/12/19/miles-ahead-of-the-curve/#comment-596 As a creative advertising student, literally (I attend the U of Oregon), I expect to spend a good deal of my post graduate work as an intern--for little or no money. There are several agencies (WK and Wexley School for Girls to name a couple) that come to Eugene in some form, be it as a creative consultant for portfolio reviews or as workshop providers, to scout for young talent. If I were to start an ad agency, certainly I'd have my fingers in the local ad school. The U of O is the states longest running business and it's bi-product is smart, creative talent that desperately needs a chance to get started in the industry. Obviously, internships are nothing new, but watching it first hand and understanding that these agencies aren't just doing students a favor is somewhat empowering-- or at least a little less disheartening. As a creative advertising student, literally (I attend the U of Oregon), I expect to spend a good deal of my post graduate work as an intern–for little or no money. There are several agencies (WK and Wexley School for Girls to name a couple) that come to Eugene in some form, be it as a creative consultant for portfolio reviews or as workshop providers, to scout for young talent. If I were to start an ad agency, certainly I’d have my fingers in the local ad school. The U of O is the states longest running business and it’s bi-product is smart, creative talent that desperately needs a chance to get started in the industry. Obviously, internships are nothing new, but watching it first hand and understanding that these agencies aren’t just doing students a favor is somewhat empowering– or at least a little less disheartening.

]]> by: Ernie Schenck http://before-after.com/blog3/2006/12/19/miles-ahead-of-the-curve/#comment-418 Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:01:36 +0000 http://before-after.com/blog3/2006/12/19/miles-ahead-of-the-curve/#comment-418 Sally Hogshead says it best. "Aspire to be the dumbest person in the room." There it is. If you want to remain creatively relevant, creatively energized, you've got to be willing to accept that you are the eternal apprentice. Constantly learning. Aggressively seeking the new and the different. Nobody knows everything. And when it gets to the point that you do, well, it's time for the dog track. Sally Hogshead says it best. “Aspire to be the dumbest person in the room.” There it is. If you want to remain creatively relevant, creatively energized, you’ve got to be willing to accept that you are the eternal apprentice. Constantly learning. Aggressively seeking the new and the different. Nobody knows everything. And when it gets to the point that you do, well, it’s time for the dog track.

]]> by: overcaffeinatedkatie http://before-after.com/blog3/2006/12/19/miles-ahead-of-the-curve/#comment-396 Tue, 19 Dec 2006 17:35:55 +0000 http://before-after.com/blog3/2006/12/19/miles-ahead-of-the-curve/#comment-396 Oh man, I thought agencies just hired legions of young folk because they're full of youthful energy ... can work all day and drink all night ... have no families/young children to be distracted by ... and will work for almost nothing. Your post makes the suits seem much less evil. (And god knows I both idolize and fear Lee Clow.) In the mid 90s I worked at a large computer company. At the helm was a high school grad with a funky style and ponytail ... he ran things from the hip, people loved it, the company boomed. Then came the suits. The old Harvard guys. The old big agencies. The people who really "knew" what they were doing. It was, basically, the calvalry you need when you're marketing a multi-billion dollar business. But they went too far. The icon at the top stepped down. More suits stepped up. The company lost focus - then momentum - then had to pull back from international sales to just domestic. Finally their stock was just above junk bond status. Not saying it was all due to loss of youth ... but without that energy, enthusiasm and momentum the company continues to tread water. Oh man, I thought agencies just hired legions of young folk because they’re full of youthful energy … can work all day and drink all night … have no families/young children to be distracted by … and will work for almost nothing. Your post makes the suits seem much less evil. (And god knows I both idolize and fear Lee Clow.)

In the mid 90s I worked at a large computer company. At the helm was a high school grad with a funky style and ponytail … he ran things from the hip, people loved it, the company boomed. Then came the suits. The old Harvard guys. The old big agencies. The people who really “knew” what they were doing. It was, basically, the calvalry you need when you’re marketing a multi-billion dollar business.

But they went too far.

The icon at the top stepped down. More suits stepped up. The company lost focus - then momentum - then had to pull back from international sales to just domestic. Finally their stock was just above junk bond status. Not saying it was all due to loss of youth … but without that energy, enthusiasm and momentum the company continues to tread water.

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