Today ... it may kill me

-Making major layout changes two days before we go on press
-Not have legal approval on an email that THE CLIENT was supposed to get
-Getting bitched at by same client on the delayed time to send the email
- Long meetings with someone who LOVES meetings and then asks for more
- Offers that make no sense
- Positioning that makes less sense
-Knowing that I have to do it all over again next quarter

ELVIS HAS LEFT... oh wait he's right here.

My client is in the building surely mucking it up for the other half of the business she's on.
She required some pretty extensive changes to a quick strike campaign that needs to be out in 2 days.

I cannot get her to
a) review said revisions
b) check her email or
c) leave the meeting.

The irony of having a client IN THE BUILDING and not reachable is not lost on me.
Not one bit.

Layoffs v. Layovers

Found out about agency layoffs during a layover.
Is that some sort of sign? Like if you find out about it on a layover then it's totally OK because you are not there therefore not laid off.
Which I am not.
So that's a relief.
Except that I was supposed to get a raise to go with my promotion. Clearly said raise will not be forthcoming.

Thankfully the Atlanta airport is beautiful at this time of year. And by beautiful, I mean huge with layovers at gates that are so far from each other you need a sherpa and mule to get to them.
Thanks ATL!

I hate PowerPoint.

The Bad Guy

Part of my job is being the "bad guy"
I hate it and I am bad at it.

To the Client: No, you won't see that work today...
To the Creative Team: No, the deadline isn't moving even though they want to see additional concepts....
To the Print Producer: Oh, there's another change and yes, I know we are on press tomorrow....

Everyone to me: FUCK YOU!!!!

The whole space between a rock and a hard place - awesome.

How it works

This really does explain advertising in 5 min or less.


http://view.break.com/542649 - Watch more free videos

My desk is covered in papers. Briefs, creative printouts, copy decks, final creative you name it and it's on my desk. Apparently I kill trees with ease and alacrity.
Thank God we are a green company.

Hey, at least I recycle all these papers at the end of the week.
Sometimes.

Are you passionate about this business?

There's an epidemic at my workplace. Apparently a dearth of people who "are passionate about advertising." For some reason, I have been pegged as being one of the infected.
If I get asked one more time - "Do you want to be here?" "Why would you do this when you can make more money doing something else?" "Do you love advertising?" I may, in fact, throw myself in front of the bus.

Why showing up and doing your job WELL while fostering client relationships is not a clear sign of "I want to be here" I will never know. (that's a yummy sentence isn't it?)

Oh and you know what I am passionate about?
Benefits.

I am passionate about benefits. Dental, Optical and Medical really make me tick.

New Motto?

I just couldn't resist. Doesn't this sound like something that should be discussed in those interminable meetings about "the Team" and "the Work"? Well I think it should.

Theratising

We need advertising specific therapists - similar to those who specialize in family or drug addictions.

John McGee, PhD
Specializing in advertising doormats -
account management, planning and traffic
(Now serving account directors!)

Laurel Johnson, LCSW
Specializing in creative advertising counseling -
interactive, copywriters, art directors

I think I may have found my new career-

Daily Horoscope

"Someone is being untruthful likely in regards to a career-related situation. Focus on ensuring that you have no part in the duplicity, even if you have to physically distance yourself from a friend or a confidante."

Heh - this was totally written by someone who works in an ad agency.

Planes, Trains and Tonsils

Like silk, I don't travel well.
My wrinkly, dishevled appearance is greatly enhanced by general malaise and crank.
No, not the drug - the mood.

crank·y1 /kræŋki/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[krang-kee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective, crank·i·er, crank·i·est.
1. ill-tempered; grouchy; cross: I'm always cranky when I don't get enough sleep.
2. eccentric; queer.
3. shaky; unsteady; out of order.
4. full of bends or windings; crooked.
5. British Dialect. sickly; in unsound or feeble condition; infirm.

Hm, I like the idea of being "full of bends" or "bendy" if you will.
**Source: dictionary.com

Number 5 also applies. While I am neither feeble nor sickly I am infirm.
Tonsillitis. The medical mystery? No Tonsils.

My business trip to Denver caused a sudden regrowth of tonsils and apparently, the bacteria that loves to nest in them.

Those damn mountains and thin air.
*shakes fist*

IM's GR8

I actually just wrote LOL in an email response to a well-seasoned copywriter.
Clearly, I am overly caffeinated and under-talented.