Ask me the title of the book I’m reading and you’ll mostly get “I nah know.” Ask me the name of the bespectacled, nerdy character from TV show Revolution. “Sorry.” But ask the most important thing told to me by the head of marketing at Kinney Drugs in 2008 while planning on a protein drink and not only will I recite the sentence, I’ll build a new store around it.
I once got a meeting with MT Carney, an original partner at Naked Comms, by telling her I have a good ear…that I hear things other don’t. Like the dog that hears abba dabba do abba dabba do Wannagofor a WALK?
This is no curse, it’s a blessing. It was born, not of an account planning manual from the UK, or a year of quant in the research dept. at P&G, it was born of the crucible that is advertising. Studying how it’s make, its results and consumer attitudes toward it. (Okay, throw in some amazing anthropology instruction at Rollins College and seeing Margaret Mead at the annual convention. )
The mind of a planner sorts, compartmentalizes, after seeing and hearing everything. It is always on. That’s why we smile a lot. We’re the sober dudes and dudettes smiling on the street when there’s no reason.
Lastly, we are not horders. We remember the important stuff – the big stuff – but we know what to keep. To act upon. To celebrate. Then we make the paper. For some sample paper in your category, please give a call. Peace.