Intermediate Copywriter
DDB Group Aotearoa
Auckland
, New Zealand
Comments
Coaches: Rachel Denti, Graphic Designer, Nike Portland; Ted Lim, Founder & Chief Creative Officer, DIFF CREATIVE CONSULTANTS, Kuala Lumpur and Joel Simon, CEO / Chief Creative Officer, JSM Music, New York
I’m gonna be real for a sec. In the last couple years, I’ve noticed something about the ad industry. We always seem to be on the offensive; judging, rewriting and critiquing others’ stuff. Yes, it’s crucial to what we do, but it also really hampers our ability to just watch shit and laugh. Or feel anything. We kinda suck…and as an intermediate, the industry’s silhouette just seems to grow more ruthless every year.
Well, my sessions with Ted, Rachel and Joel were amazing, because they brought a world of hope to the fold. We chatted life, passions, and reality. These chats were just what I needed. And many of their points are still doing the rounds in my pistachio-sized brain. Here are the Cliff Notes:
Ted: Reality ft. Cynicism
OK I lied; the chat was pretty cynical, but the other two were wholesome. Essentially, Ted laid out the master plan for creating an agency, then selling at about 40, so I can retire on an island, to a harem of video game consoles. I quite like my job though, so will probably veto this for now (99% vetoed, if my bosses are reading this). Ted did make a nice point though, around always considering your worth. Always. Cheers Ted, for keeping it real.
Rachel: Where did that come from?
Rachel made me want to do work. On a Saturday. Wtf. She had such a beautifully grounded way of chatting creativity. Here are some examples:
- We’re never creating anything new. We’re just connecting things; which is why you should bring as many references as you can to the table.
- 99% of what we make won’t get seen by the world. But it is work, and you are getting shit done. You should never feel like you’re wasting away; you’re honing skills.
- Passion projects are an x-ray of a person, that let you see how far they’ll go, when there are no constraints. In a sense, these will get you further in life, because they’re what you are.
We also talked on life balance, promotions, art, and always experimenting with new media. Oh, and the best starter Pokémon (obviously Cyndaquil). Much love Rachel, your chat was like Samsung Super-Fast Charging™ for my soul xx
Joel: Humble & Pragmatic
Joel has done more projects than Bruce Willis has done terrible films. So, at least 5,000, if not more. Yet, Joel was so chill to chat to. And grounded. He admitted that it still hurts every time, when a project dies. But that’s life. There’ll always be another gig. I love this mentality. We chatted on a lot of ethos-grade stuff; respecting the gig, being fluent in different styles, and always trying to make clients look like heroes. He topped it off, with a classic; believe in things. And always stand by what you believe in. Wicked to chat Joel, I’ll be sure to come at you again for some more life coaching.
These chats each had their own bit of magic. Thank you, LIA, for bringing us together, and letting me babble on about meeting these awesome people. Chur!
LIA Scholarship Winner: LIA did a drawing from the 2022 and 2021 Creative LIAisons mentees to award a scholarship to John Hegarty’s ‘The Business of Creativity’ course. Guy Trengrove, Intermediate Copywriter at DDB Group Aotearoa, Auckland is one of the winners of this prize, a placement in the course, sponsored by LIA!
Guy comments, “Thank you so much for selecting me, even if it was names/ bingo balls in a hat!
I can’t wait for this to begin now, as the 2 Creative LIAisons chats I’ve already had with my coaches have been crazy rewarding. I literally have 3 pages of notes, proverbs, and random stories from them. I can’t wait to soak in some more learning, especially from Sir John Hegarty! Wow wow wow.
Even though I’m only 4 years into the ad game, John already has this mythical rep of being the boogieman of better creativity; so many of my mentors quote him when explaining ideas and making amazing work. I never thought I’d get the chance to chat to him, let along learn under him.
I’m super stoked for this, and can’t thank you enough for sending this opportunity my way. It means the world, and I’ll be taking full advantage of it.
Please let me know the registration steps when they’re ready, my whole agency is going to be painfully jealous (soz fam!).
Thanks again, you’ve made my day week month year!”
OK I lied; the chat was pretty cynical, but the other two were wholesome. Essentially, Ted laid out the master plan for creating an agency, then selling at about 40, so I can retire on an island, to a harem of video game consoles. I quite like my job though, so will probably veto this for now (99% vetoed, if my bosses are reading this). Ted did make a nice point though, around always considering your worth. Always. Cheers Ted, for keeping it real.
Rachel made me want to do work. On a Saturday. Wtf. She had such a beautifully grounded way of chatting creativity. Here are some examples:
- We’re never creating anything new. We’re just connecting things; which is why you should bring as many references as you can to the table.
- 99% of what we make won’t get seen by the world. But it is work, and you are getting shit done. You should never feel like you’re wasting away; you’re honing skills.
- Passion projects are an x-ray of a person, that let you see how far they’ll go, when there are no constraints. In a sense, these will get you further in life, because they’re what you are.
We also talked on life balance, promotions, art, and always experimenting with new media. Oh, and the best starter Pokémon (obviously Cyndaquil). Much love Rachel, your chat was like Samsung Super-Fast Charging™ for my soul xx
Joel has done more projects than Bruce Willis has done terrible films. So, at least 5,000, if not more. Yet, Joel was so chill to chat to. And grounded. He admitted that it still hurts every time, when a project dies. But that’s life. There’ll always be another gig. I love this mentality. We chatted on a lot of ethos-grade stuff; respecting the gig, being fluent in different styles, and always trying to make clients look like heroes. He topped it off, with a classic; believe in things. And always stand by what you believe in. Wicked to chat Joel, I’ll be sure to come at you again for some more life coaching.
LIA Scholarship Winner: LIA did a drawing from the 2022 and 2021 Creative LIAisons mentees to award a scholarship to John Hegarty’s ‘The Business of Creativity’ course. Guy Trengrove, Intermediate Copywriter at DDB Group Aotearoa, Auckland is one of the winners of this prize, a placement in the course, sponsored by LIA!
I can’t wait for this to begin now, as the 2 Creative LIAisons chats I’ve already had with my coaches have been crazy rewarding. I literally have 3 pages of notes, proverbs, and random stories from them. I can’t wait to soak in some more learning, especially from Sir John Hegarty! Wow wow wow.
Even though I’m only 4 years into the ad game, John already has this mythical rep of being the boogieman of better creativity; so many of my mentors quote him when explaining ideas and making amazing work. I never thought I’d get the chance to chat to him, let along learn under him.
I’m super stoked for this, and can’t thank you enough for sending this opportunity my way. It means the world, and I’ll be taking full advantage of it.
Please let me know the registration steps when they’re ready, my whole agency is going to be painfully jealous (soz fam!).
Thanks again, you’ve made my day week month year!”