An Accidental "Scammers" Tryst with Fame...or Infamy?

An Accidental "Scammer’s" Rise to Fame… or Infamy? Discuss…

In the Devil’s defense:

While India rages over the JWT debacle, I write to defend the "scammers" of the world.

But first, something about me:

I entered the ad world with a string of around 40 great headlines on Spec for the sole objective of getting a foothold in an agency’s door.

As luck would have it, they were deemed good and had the potential of being taken by an agency a la December seasons bucket list of scam ads, which they did.

Thus it was that I was labeled a scammer with half a million worth of value if only on paper on my head. But nothing in real world times, I swear! (Wink, wink!)

As my revered colleagues shred to bits the notion of scams, I put forth before you a list which is fodder for thought about the other side of scam ads:

·         A "scammer" too addresses a problem of the client although it isn’t brief-centric simply because he may not be aware of a brief as he might be a rank outsider…

·         Our job is to address the client’s problem by addressing the consumer’s situation. Their insight could perhaps be a tad more perceptive…hey, that’s how sometimes Big Ideas are found, sometimes!

·         Our job is to satisfy the client while convincing the consumer. If both needs are addressed, then what’s the problem?

·         And if you and I think the ad was good, then mightn’t the consumer were he given half the chance?

·         Surprisingly, the only people unhappy are fellow members of the ad fraternity…(Oops! Did I step on your toes? (Wink, wink!))

I’ve been labeled a "scammer" though I have been worthy of some praise as well. Tell me then, in the light of all these aforementioned points, will you relegate me to infamy or lift me to fame and fortune.

Please tread carefully: my reputation hangs on your judgment!  (Sob, sob!)

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How I face imminent death...

How I face imminent death…

…And what I would have written on my epitaph…

The doctors give me three months. I close my eyes and pretend that it isn’t true…  Am I really dying today? And I get all weepy and a tad dramatic…like in the movies (they have it right, right?) Say my goodbyes…A loved one weeps. Tears roll. Is that what life is about when you know the time is nigh? I’m gasping for breath. Every breath is my soul’s resistance to death. It wants to live. Heck, I want to live. I’m not done, yet? I’m going ere I even started! I’m just 48 years of age. I have no legacy to leave behind to my daughter or a kind word to the rest of the family. Hang on a second… that’s in the movies, or the tele. Reality bites. Not that many would care…Some more tears. No one to miss me ere I am gone…Tsk, tsk!

Well, that is one part of the story. True, I can wallow in self-pity or…

…defy my imminent mortality.

So, I face career death in three months. What I didn’t tell you is that I could have a glorious three months…

… of a career worth talking about.

And so I shook myself off the tears and challenged myself to challenge my future. But not without some bitterness. (Dear, dear!)

And I’d like to share this with you, so you know, that no matter how good you are, you are welcome only so long as you perform, your past successes notwithstanding. You and I have heard this before, but I have experienced it first hand and so bitterness abounds… (Tsk, tsk)

But that could be the subject matter of another post…(Hmm…)

Miserable as I was, I wondered, how could I make maximum use of the short time-span prior to my professional death?  

And here is what I came up with. 

You might think I am crazy. I thought I was taking full advantage of my luck to drive more luck that would last a life-time.

 And what would that be?

 Take a deep breath…

I wanted to write 10-15 ads per day. Not award-winning great ads, but good enough. Truth be told: I didn’t have the numbers right. I worked the first day of the rest of my life and then Kaisen took over. I figured on a number, sometimes exceeding expectations, sometimes disappointing myself and doing it over.

A curious sense of satisfaction came over me as I came to realize a crazy plan. 

I’m not done yet. Barely started, to be honest with you. At the time of writing this piece, I have completed writing the headlines for all the clients of an agency, give or take a couple. And am on to the next. Every day is a challenge though not an exercise in futility.

I for one am wringing my hands nervously. Three months of blank pages for me to write on or off as a smashing success or a failure. I’d like to extend my hand to you to share my glory…

Will you join me in my happiness should I succeed and not ridicule me were I to fail?

The idea is crazy but the intent good, yes?

What do you think? If I were to succeed, do you think I would have challenged my mortality?

How would you remember me: as the one who took advantage of her luck or the crazy one who defied mortality?

Do write your views in the space below…

Work-Life Balance Revisited

Work-Life Balance

Work-Life balance is like having two wives: you can’t please one without hurting the other!

Not so long ago, this statement would have applied to men alone. Of late it applies to working women too. In fact, it is harder on us, women. The house needs to be cleaned and family fed. And at the office, manage politics and get that coveted post you have been wanting since the day you can remember. Phew! Quite a climb, don’t you think?

Tough. But that’s how it is if you want to work too.

I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for all of my life up until now, though I’ve been keeping at work for a little less than a decade now. And may I say, that it has been worth it: juggling work with life?

And what did I do to ensure the peace? 

I used to complete all the house work first and then start work. That was until recently. I find I have more work to do in less time. And so I finish all the writing work before dawn when there is quiet and thoughts flow… Then do the household chores before returning to work from 9 AM to 9 PM. And since I put all I can in my relationships, everybody is happy. At least that is what I intend when I make time for a little bit of banter-time in my family-time schedule.

So far nobody’s complaining. I am much more productive than previously. This schedule takes its toll but is satisfying, if you accept that there is only so much you can do in 24 hours…!

What do you do to balance work with life? Share your views in the space below…

Until the next,

Adieus!

In Pursuit of the Elusive Big Idea

In pursuit of the elusive “Big Idea”

It’s true. You only need to spend two hours in search of an idea. Two undisturbed hours. The rest of the day can be spent feeding your brain with liberal doses of intellectual nourishment. 

So go ahead and watch that movie. Or if it’s a book, then yes read it, without feeling guilty. Any genre, all genres. It’s fodder for the brain that might come handy anytime.

Isn’t this a lovely career?  I love it! (Wink, wink!)

Keep a diary. Jot down ideas that come without warning. Even those with warning.

Search for the odd word that could be used in a copy. That would mean scouring the Thesaurus.

Be observant of life and draw from experience.

Grant permission to your mind to wander. From its wanderings emerge great stories…

Shake up your day. Don’t let anything become a routine, except your two hours of writing.

Shake up your day, every day.

Find something new to learn every day. Even if it is a new exercise regimen.

Feed your mind with interesting ideas. Master an interest. Perhaps, you want to know more about British history. Make that your hobby and read up all about it vociferously on the internet.

From the chaos of the mind fed with a liberal amount of interesting fodder is born an idea.

In Pursuit of Success...

In Pursuit of Success

Questions I faced while pursuing success…

How important is success to you? What is your equation with money? Would you give up family time in your pursuit of success?

Do you even realize that success is fickle? That you are as successful as your last bid at it? That your company wouldn’t care about you should you not perform? That your family would care less of your little bids for success?

Who are you trying to please? Does your success even matter to them? Do they even care? What do they want? And what would you give up to ensure happy people and lives?

I breathe for my daughter and am tirelessly working which she cannot understand…

How about you? What do you bat for: Love or Success?