Obviously, in good restaurants, the food is great because of the craft skills of the chef and the quality of the ingredients. However, when I was a graduate working in pretty decent kitchen, the head chef was humbly honest. She said it tasted better because they add levels of salt and butter few dare to…

Warren Buffet is a man to be admired. He's obviously a good investor and manages to be a good bloke.  He's pretty good at the odd turn of phrase like this one, "Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful". It mostly means don't follow the herd, there is huge competitive…

I love cycling, glued to the Tour de France this month. Most think winning the Tour is a feat of individual endurance and it is. But no can win without a team shield shielding them from the wind for most of the race.   When I was a competitive swimmer, it was incredibly hard.  5…

I did pitch recently, it was the usual chaos, it always is. Nothing much happens at first, around half way through, things actually began to happen. Until, finally, the day before when all the things that could have been done weeks ago get done (someone reads the brief).    It's not just pitches, it's people.…

1. Follow the damned rules 2. Never help others break the rules 3. Help guide those who don't know any better 4. No matter what your excuse is for breaking the rules, it isn't good enough 5. It's all about the work. The only point of any strategic set up (and try showing the creative,…

1. Is it on brief?2. Does the work make us want to re-think the brief?3. What is the idea? It’s amazing how often reviews are chaos.Too many routes, discussions about liking the work before discussing if the work will actually work. But then, great ideas can die because we forget a brief is the start…

I'm sure you know that Darwin wasn't the only one to come up with the theory of natural selection, he just published it first. It's no coincidence he and Wallace had the same thought, they were building on the previous work of others. The insight came from their killer intellects – but lighting only struck…

I always loved this video The fact we only see what we look for is sobering thought for planners Those that have to work using a rigid agency process and have to look for answers that fit the agency way Often end end missing pure gold because they're not looking for it Thinking about one…

My kids are at school and hate how in maths they have to show the working out, not just the answer. Well, just as effort get's you marks in maths, it does in life.  Now you may know I like tea a lot.  You may also know I'm a stickler for making tea properly. It's…

My kids are at school and hate how in maths they have to show the working out, not just the answer. Well, just as effort get's you  marks in maths, it does in life.  Now you may know I like tea a lot.  You may also know I'm a stickler for making tea properly. It's…