To write is to read
"So you just, like, put the words on the ads. Right?"I get comments like this on a regular basis when talking to people outside of the advertising world.Granted, as a copywriter, I'm thankful it isn't...
View ArticleGenerations in the Workplace
With a global economy and changing industries, there are unprecedented numbers of employees representing different age ranges at work today. While there are labels for every group—The Greatest...
View ArticleA fair lesson from foul language
The other day, I used a bad word in a text message. A very bad word. I thought I was venting to my husband, but 10 minutes after I hit send, I realized that I dropped that very bad word on my...
View ArticleShould Serial do a round two?
By now, you've almost certainly listened to (or heard of) Serial. It's the most-downloaded podcast ever. One story, told week by week through the dulcet tone of Sarah Koenig. As the host of Dixon...
View ArticleLate Night Lessons
When The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon premiered in February 2014, people were unsure of how he'd handle the show succeeding Jay Leno. However, Fallon has become my favorite late-night host, and...
View ArticleRepicturing Young Women
Young women are exposed to hundreds of advertisements a day, many of which fall short of portraying women in a way that promotes empowerment, confidence and self-worth.Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook...
View ArticleDoes your agency need a workout?
I'm a CrossFitter. I regularly put myself through a medieval mix of box jumps, push-ups, burpees and wall balls during sadistic workouts. My wife jokingly describes it as "violent, but in a good way."...
View ArticleAm I the only one who listens to commercials?!
When I say that I worked in radio and TV traffic, most people think I provided the traffic reports for the morning rush-hour commuters. What I really did was schedule and control the commercials that...
View ArticleAbove the fold
Recently, I came across a Web page that shows how all over the place "the fold" can be in Web design. In the good old days, the fold would comfortably sit somewhere around 550-700 pixels tall, and...
View ArticleWhy I love working on small teams
As a basketball coach, the number five always appealed to me. There's a certain romance to it. With only five players on the court, everyone plays a role. No one can hide from pressure. Most of all,...
View ArticleRoad Trippin'
It's not the destination that matters. It's not the journey, either. It's not the vehicle, the passengers or the weather. When it comes to road trips, only one thing counts: The playlist.Having...
View ArticleLess is More
My favorite joke goes like this: A skeleton walks into a bar and orders a beer and a mop. Boom. Every time I tell that joke, there’s always a pause while the listener waits for the punch line, and...
View ArticleThree words to eliminate from your emails
Every so often a new list of “10 words to remove from your writing” or “5 words to stop using immediately in the workplace” is published and more often than not, I‘ll skim these articles to see if I...
View ArticleCecil the Lion, Zimbabwean Unemployment and the Power of Story
How does an 80% unemployment rate affect the average citizen of Zimbabwe? I have no idea. But after a cursory search on Facebook or Google, I can give you every detail about the life and death of...
View ArticleThe day Twitter caused tears
“Good luck in Milwaukee!” Wilmer Flores was in the on-deck circle waiting to bat. With the MLB trade deadline quickly approaching, the seven-year New York Met learned from a fan that he had been...
View ArticleKeywords are out. Relevance is in.
If you’re into fashion like I am, you know things change fast. Just when you find the outfit that goes perfectly with those art deco Louis Vuitton shoes, the trend changes to minimalism. Google’s...
View ArticleThe Change Chameleon
People change, things go wrong. Life happens, but it goes on. … or something like that. I’m not sure those are even the correct words of the poem. But, since I wrote them, they have to be true. And...
View ArticleProgression in Production
So, what has changed the most in video production over the past few decades? My answer is this: pretty much everything. Except for, of course, what’s most important. From the camera lens to storage...
View ArticleThe real advantage in marketing
“I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV.” That line says so much about integrity in marketing. Maybe it’s just me, but have you ever been turned off after seeing the same actors playing different...
View ArticleThe real advantage in marketing
“I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV.” That line says so much about integrity in marketing. Maybe it’s just me, but have you ever been turned off after seeing the same actors playing different...
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