5 Signs You’ve Become An Adult (And What To Do About It)
Posted on January 12, 2010 - Filed Under ideaDRUNK's ideas
I hate maturity.
It kills creativity. Instead of seeing a world of possibilities, you start being “realistic”. What that means is that you’re content to deal with what the world gives you. Not daring to dream. Not daring to question the norm. Not curious enough to ask “Why?” And despite all efforts, maturity eventually creeps up on you. Here’s how to spot it:
- This Christmas, you enjoyed giving presents more than getting them.
- You and the bank successfully co-own a house. It also means that the bank independently owns your balls.
- You have started to take a multivitamin. Not the Flintstones kind.
- You no longer wear sweatpants outside of the house (unless you plan on actually sweating).
- You’ve convinced yourself that you “like” salad. And vegetables.
If you find yourself moving swiftly towards maturity, here’s what to do:
- Go to Toys “R” Us. Buy a toy.
- Create art and give it to your parents. It can some fancy photography or a macaroni picture. Nothing brings back your childhood like the feeling that your work is going on the fridge.
- Eat a Happy Meal. And make sure you get a sweet toy.
- Play in the dirt.
- Take notes in crayon.
Maturity is the enemy of creativity. In order to foster a fruitful creative environment, you have to think like a kid. You have to be curious. Because the secret to creativity is curiosity. Look at the world in wonder. See the possibilities.
And don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you should grow up and become an adult.
- Christian
Don’t Be Boring
Posted on January 5, 2010 - Filed Under Inspiration, ideaDRUNK's ideas
An interesting mantra for a new year. If this is the year that you want to do something extraordinary, don’t be boring. Be interesting. Do new things. Take chances.
And get yourself into an environment that rewards bravery. There’s no sense in leaping off a bridge if it’s not going to get you somewhere cool. Unless it’s fun.
- Christian
Clever Tiger Woods Ad
Posted on December 28, 2009 - Filed Under Cool Ideas
As seen in the LaGuardia Airport on Boxing Day. Nice work Accenture.
- Christian
In The Christmas Spirit…
Posted on December 23, 2009 - Filed Under Cool Ideas
According to the news, it’s been a tough year for the economy.
But it’s getting better.
And I’m thankful.
Thankful that I have an awesome family
Thankful that I have a job that I like.
Thankful that it pays me money.
But some kids aren’t that lucky.
They come from homes where they get abused.
So they run away.
And end up on the street.
That’s why there’s Covenant House.
To be that network to help street kids in need.
So that they don’t starve.
So that they don’t freeze.
So that they’re not tempted to sell sex.
And you can help out. By giving.
Need a last minute gift for your mom?
Give on behalf of her.
Think of it like an investment in a kid’s future.
Like how she invested in yours.
Got to http://giftsthatcount.ca to give.
- Christian
Top 10 Gifts For A Creative Person
Posted on December 16, 2009 - Filed Under Random
It’s the holidays and we all have that “creative” person on our list. We can be a little bit harder to buy for because we’re particular. But sometimes we’re easier to buy for because we think the most random shit is cool.
Anyways, if you’re stuck on what to get someone (creative or not), here are some ideas:
1. A Best Made Axe. I’ve talked about these before. They’re awesome. The look sweet. Plus, who wouldn’t want an axe? Nothing says “don’t fuck with my ideas” better than brainstorming with an axe in hand.
2. A Long Board. It’s not all “extreme” like those X-Games skateboards. People don’t expect you to do tricks on them. It’s mellow. It’s bringing skateboarding back to its roots – surfing on pavement. Need more convincing? Check out this video.
3. Storymatic. Any writer knows the horrors of writer’s block. Now The Storymatic ($30) is here to help. By following two simple laws — a main character that changes during the story and doesn’t die along the way — the 500 cards, separated by color into gold cards offering a character trait or occupation and white cards that contain a situation or object, help you build a compelling story by simply following along.
4. A Blank Moleskin. These are the notebooks that Hemingway used. Creative greats all over the world love the classic touch and feel of a Moleskin. And the blank pages scream for you to fill them with scribbles, doodles, notes and ideas.
5. A Box Of Crayons. They bring you back to your childhood when all you had to worry about was the fact that you used up the black crayon, so you sub in navy blue instead. They’re colourful. And they let you create.
6. A White Shirt. Every person could use a crisp white shirt. They go with everything. This one is even designed for someone who bikes to work, but still wants to look good when they get there.
7. A bow tie. Or a skinny tie. Either way, bring back the nostalgic charms of the Mad Men era into the modern workplace. Ties used to say suit. Now they say cool.
8. A Screen Printing Kit. That way they can make their own ironic t-shirts. Or vintage t-shirts. Or witty t-shirts. Whatever. Check out this one from Urban Outfitters.
9. A Polaroid Camera. Or a newfangled Fujifilm imitation. Every since Polaroid stopped making film, there’s been some nostalgia around these. There’s something about having to wait to see it. Having it be permanent. It forces you to make every shot special.
10. Booze. The old standby. Everyone likes it. Just buy a cool looking bottle, like this R1 Whiskey from the makers of Jim Beam.
Bonus Gift:
A Fake Mustache. Who doesn’t want one of these? Great for costume parties, instant disguises or simply to wear while ironing your shirts on a Sunday.
- Christian
It’s Not The Technology
Posted on December 11, 2009 - Filed Under Inspiration
- Joy Golden
Joy was one of the first female copywriters on Madison Avenue in the 1960s (she’s fine if you want to call her “the real Peggy Olsen”) on how the romance was drained out of the advertising industry.
Remember that it’s not the twitter, the alternate-reality or the iPhone app that makes your work creative. It’s the idea itself.
With the accessibility of creative technologies on every laptop across the country, some people feel like they’re just executing creative. Just designing. Not actually coming up with ideas and bringing them to life. Not actually communicating.
I think that the romance leaves a relationship when you become complacent. When you give up. When you fall into a routine. So, if you’re working in a creative industry and not feeling “creative,” then do something to change it.
Find that great idea. And sell it.
- Christian
How (Not) To Make Decisions
Posted on December 3, 2009 - Filed Under ideaDRUNK's ideas
Here’s the situation. You paid $25 million for a research study that is supposed to form the basis of your business strategy for the next 5 years. It turns out that market has changed. What should you do? How should the $25 million you’ve invested impact your decision? The answer is simple.
It shouldn’t.
It’s a sunk cost. A sunk cost is an incurred past cost which have already been that cannot be recovered. Because you can’t get that money back, it shouldn’t affect your decision making.
You bought a pair of jeans online. They were $150 and you can’t return them. They arrive and don’t fit. They looks terrible. Do you wear them? Nope. You give them to someone else. You donate them to the Salvation Army. You wear your old jeans from before. Or you buy a new pair. But there are always people who will try to squeeze their way into expensive jeans that don’t fit and hope that people don’t notice.
But people always notice.
You could have spent $25 million or five bucks. If it’s a sunk cost, it shouldn’t impact your decisions. The amount you already spent is irrelevant. What matters is what the benefit of doing what it takes to get back to a strategy that’s relevant to the market.
So ignore sunk costs. And wear jeans that fit.
- Christian
Inspired by a friend’s frustration as well as this article.
Christian … What Do You Actually Do?
Posted on November 25, 2009 - Filed Under Thought Starters
This post is for my Dad.
I don’t think he understands my job.
I work in advertising.
On the account side.
A lot of times people ask me what I do.
Here’s what I tell them:
When Churchill retired from politics he tried painting.
He set up his easel in his garden.
He got just the right size canvas.
He organized all his paints and brushes.
He’d chosen a perfectly comfortable stool.
He made sure everything was absolutely right.
Then he tried to decide where to start on the painting.
He stared at the pristine, white canvas.
Should he start in one area and work his way across?
Or should he sketch in the rough outline first?
Should he try to include the whole landscape?
Or should he pick one particular part to concentrate on?
How to begin exactly?
Two hours later his wife came out with a cup of tea.
He hadn’t painted a thing.
He was still sitting there thinking.
The canvas was still perfectly white.
His wife asked him why he hadn’t painted anything.
He said he couldn’t decide where to start.
So she picked up a brush and painted a huge squiggle in the middle of the canvas.
Churchill went ballistic.
“What are you doing, you’ve ruined a perfectly good canvas.”
She said, “Well now you’ll just have to fix it won’t you.”
And he started to fix the mess.
Scraping off the paint, and painting over it.
And pretty soon he’d painted his first landscape.
See what was stopping Churchill was knowing how to start.
What his wife did was take the start-point away.
She gave him a problem to fix instead.
The man who could lead Britain in a world war didn’t know what to do with a blank canvas.
Give him a problem to fix, a massive mess that no one else could sort out.
Fine.
But how do you start when there is no problem?
Creative people are good at fixing problems.
Good at responding.
Not so good at creating from nothing.
With no brief, no direction, no ideas, nothing to get hold of.
So that’s what I do. I draw squiggles on a blank canvas.
- Christian
Want To Own Pabst Brewing?
Posted on November 16, 2009 - Filed Under Cool Ideas
I was reading on Uncrate that two ad agencies are trying to crowdsource enough people to buy Pabst Brewing. It would work like the Green Bay Packers, where the fans own the company. You agree to pledge a couple of bucks towards the cause and then when they are able to reach their goal of $300 million, they will likely issue stock in the company. But for now, no money changes hands.
As a brief history, Pabst is the brewing company behind the infamous PBR (Or Pabst Blue Ribbon). They have been experiencing a revival over the past 10 years as a the “hip” counter-culture brand. The story is that PBR became adopted by a bunch of bike couriers in Seattle. They adopted the beer as their own badge and then the not-awesome tasting liquid became THE anti-brand beer across the US.
What Forza Migliozzi and The Ad Store (the two ad agencies behind the idea) have done is brilliant. They are trying to amalgamate the huge underground PBR fanbase and let them truly own a stake in the beer that they love. They’re not trying to bring PBR mainstream and ruin the brand.They are sticking with their core fans and letting them spread the message and control what happens to this beer and this brewery. Wicked. Check out the official “pledge” site here.
This is definitely going on my Christmas list.
- Christian
National Geographic’s Best Pictures
Posted on November 12, 2009 - Filed Under Inspiration
![image[19]](http://www.ideadrunk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/image191.jpg "image[19]")
I got an awesome present today. It was an email filled with National Geographic’s best pictures of the year. I thought I would share. Click the image to see it big.
Whenever you’re feeling shitty, take a step back and check out how awesome the world is. Which one is your favorite?
- Christian
« go back — keep looking »
