Creative Genius is Gone
Paul Arden, an eccentric, revered creative responsible for some of the U.K.'s most popular advertising during his 14 years as Saatchi & Saatchi's executive creative director, died Wednesday of a heart attack. (read more)
This news wouldn't have hit me that much , if not a magic book, written by Mr. Arden himself, called
"It's not how Good You are, but how Good You Want to Be". I found it two years ago in a bookstore in Brussels and since then P. Arden became my idol and this book - my professional bible.
It does not have a lot of text. It has a lot of pictures. But it's far from children's books. In this book the ideas shared are simple, clear and hit to the essence. And the visual support makes them memorable.
Even more, Arden's tips are so used in my work now. They are simple, they are common sense, but that is actually the point - in this book they are given in a way so I remember them and use them in the right moment.
The key ideas from this book that from his book that I live by:
- You are all selling something. Your product or your point of view.
- Do not seek praise. Seek criticism.
- It's all my fault.
- Don't look for the next opportunity. The one you have in your hand is the opportunity.
- Accentuate the positive. Eliminate the negative.
- Do not put your cleverness in front of your communication.
- What do you do when your client won't buy? Do it his way. Then do it your way.
- When it can't be done, do it. If you don't do it, it doesn't exist.
I am not 100% perfect at it, but those ideas have worked for me so many times. Taking charge of my mistakes has taught me so much more rather than blaming everyone else around me. How many times I said "Let's try!" for some of the potential pitches, when everyone else said "It's not possible" and I actually succeeded. And am doing my best to make the most out of the worst assignment that ever comes to my hands.
And it is not only at work. So many times I found out how it corresponds with common sense and simple life. Common sense is actually genius.
Arden was a genius to put it down in a form that spoke to way broader audience than his profession, age or education. This book speaks to most of people.
I know more people inspired by Mr.Arden and his books:
Mazzy,
Jen and our creative team in the company. Advertising people. Bank clerks. Success coaches. Success seekers.
I had this dream to meet this guy sometime. Bad luck.
Nominations for 2007
2007 has been a great year for me! Lived half/half in two different countries (Netherlands and Lithuania), visited one country never been to (Denmark) and revisited Belgium and Estonia. Met a lot of amazing people, a few of them I became very close friends of mine. Had loads of exciting moments. Have been taking serious professional decisions - went back to sales again, chose a future with less money in the beginning but with more opportunities. Got into my favorite business industry - media/advertising. Not all of the years experiences I have managed to capture in the blog, but let me look back quickly at the year 2007 and announce my nominations for Year 2007:
Personal Achievement 2007:Starting to take care of my financial future
Personal Failure 2007:Fulfilling relationships
Never Done Before 2007:Performing in an
improv showYear's Money "Eater":Tuition Fee
Concert of the Year:MTV B-Day in Riga with Digitalism
Song of the Year:Happyendless "Power Forever"Music Video of the Year:Justice D.A.N.C.E.Album of the Year:Supperclub Presents
Club of the Year:Pacha VilniusParty of the Year:1 gram of 2009, featuring Mate and my friends
Best Culture Event Visited in 2007:Chicks on Speed in Contemporary Art Center (Vilnius)
Best Person met in 2007:Jade
Best ReunionWith Piret from Estonia
Best spot in Town, discovered in 2007:Coffee Inn (Vilnius)
Alto (Amsterdam)
Experience of the Year:KaosPilots visit in Aarhus, Denmark
Magazine of the Year: PravdaBook of the Year:"Whatever you think, think the opposite" by Paul ArdenBlog of the Year:Guy Kawasaki's blogPersonal Blog post of the Year:
7 tips on Reintegration
Website of the Year:TED TalksThe Most Exciting Moment:Experiencing those small things can make a huge difference.
Lesson of the Year:Don't take yourself too seriously, and celebrate the imperfection!
I chose the year 2008 will be the year of health and balance. After a busy and exciting life for 2 years abroad and 6 months in an intense work and party roller-coaster, I feel like I REALLY need to take care of myself, otherwise it will become a problem. Yup, less junk food, more water, less small little vices and more exercise!
Did you have some cheese on your New Year's Eve?
According to Chinese horoscope, since the year 2008 is Rat's year, you have to treat the rat so the rat would take care of you in 2008. So I hope you had some cheese or nuts during the New Years Eve (next to champagne, concerts, TV watching, tequilla, dirty dancing and other stuff that you normally do while celebrating New Year's Eve).
Happy 2008!!
Merry Christmas!
I wish you
love,
joy and
happiness!
Pacha Vilnius discovered
You know that when it comes to nice clubs, I am always the one to go. Since I don't have time to come to Ibiza to check out the famous
Pacha club, Pacha came to
Vilnius instead. And my friend from London came right in time to accompany me in this mission.
When it comes to clubbing in Vilnius, even with international clubs, it gets a local touch. So there is a risk - either you get the right crowd in, or the crowd is completely wrong. E.g., Fashion TV club in Vilnius didn't get it right and had to close. So I was curious how will it be with Pacha.
I was pleasantly surprised. The first impression - face control - was based not on the "looks" criteria, but more on "manners". Of course, you can't look trashy, but you don't need to wear D&G or Armani either to get in. But if you keep on fighting to get in instead of waiting in the line, the bouncers will ask you to leave. That worked - the crowd was really decent over there. Diverse, friendly people. Fancy drinks - special Pacha cherry mojito and other good stuff.
Good music. GREAT music.
Lexicon Avenue really took the crowd to heaven, and R'n'B area seemed to be crowded as well. It's a small thing, it's nice to see Vilnius in their official tour listing, why they cannot learn typing "Vilnius" in a correct way? We still have to work on our city branding :)
But anyway, let's not really care about this, take a look at what it looks like...
Labels: Clubbing, Lithuania, Musicroom, Vilnius
You don't need to show your passport...
...when you decide to come to Lithuania by bus from Portugal, Sweden, Italy or wherever else within the area in blue:
From today on Lithuania has become a part of
Schengen area, which means that you will be able to cross borders without any special controls while travelling inside the area. And people living outside this area, but having a Schengen visa, can freely come to visit me without any additional visa paperwork :) Woot woot!
Labels: Lithuania, Traveling
Simplicity
I love it. Going to an event with low expecta- tions, just having an idea that some friends might be there. Meeting old friends and new amazing people. Catching on with each other's lives. Finding out, that one of them has moved back to Vilnius. Discovering once again, how small the world is and finding common acquaintances. Using a usual word in an unusual way and being happy with the new discovery. Networking. Seeing people sharing their ambitions and future plans, getting excited together with them. Singing
"More than words" by Extreme very badly. Going to a fantastic friend's apartment in old town, with a glass Torres brandy, sitting on a windowsill inside and chatting about business, learning to dance salsa, build new years eve celebration plans. Laughing from jokes that a crazy marketing guy is telling about his work. Texting people at home, that I will be coming back home later than expected, coz it's just so much fun over here. Laughing again, for no particular reason.
Later, hitting a bar which is emptier than usually, but it's good, because it fits us all :) Listening to funny stories of other people. Ending up the evening in
Cili, which is the only place open all night long. Meeting other fellas there, known from work or studies, who are chilling after a wild party night. Laughing from a buddy inviting random girls from the street to join him in a taxi ride home, promising pancakes in the morning. The girls are living elsewhere, but it doesn't matter - it's pancakes in the morning. Unfortunately, not lucky this time, girls said no. We laughed.
Coming home on Sunday midday, I was thinking, that nothing special happened last night, but somehow that night felt so special. It was so simple, so pure, so easy. It is just going out on Saturday night, but hell, not every Sunday night turns out so good.
Labels: Musings
