I may have mentioned I love Prince. Like most people, I joined the ride on the Little Red Corvette, when 1999 came out. Or to be precise, when it was re-released. That's right, the first attempt was a complete failure. Even before that, Prince's overnight success was a long time in the making. With a…

It's confusing doing the job at the moment, there are more people claiming to be strategists than ever. So many ways of working, so many tools. If you're like me, you're sort of making it up as you go along anyway. You fear the blank page too. A simple start that immediately cuts through the…

It will take a lot for me ever choose Nike over Adidas. I know they're not different, they just feel it. Most of this is because I was teenager in a middle class tennis club, resenting the stuffy rules. When Nike came along with stuff like this that was it.   I know teenage rebellion…

A few years ago I got my leg banged up playing 5 a side. I was in intensive training for something swimming related at the time, so I couldn't just stop the pool visits. So I had to do session after session with a pull float between my legs. Six weeks later, when the float…

In my twenties I once got to play tennis against someone who used to have a junior world ranking. It was about 1,000 but nevertheless they were good.  To my eternal pride, in the first set I managed to win a couple of games. Largely thanks to being supremely fit at the time.  At once…

Some things I've learned after living agency life for the same amount it takes to come of age.   1. It's OK to disagree, in fact, the magic rarely comes without some sort of positive friction. Just don't fight over it.  2. A fun place to work should not be confused with an easy place.…

I read a study of what kind of creativity drives effectiveness in marketing stuff.  Apparently, it's elaboration.  Not originality or artistic value. Simply adding unexpected detail, or adding to a simple concept to make it more intricate of complicated.  This shouldn't be new, it's only promoting the product in a way that can't be missed.…

I was a hopeless account handler.  When too much time around too many people sucks your energy, when you don't love organising, you love doing, this was inevitable. It just took some time to realise what I was actually good at and what I enjoyed doing. More importantly, I could be realistic about what I…

  When I was a little boy I used to love playing by myself on the beach on holiday. A lot of this was to do with being happy with my own company but not all. I was painfully shy and found it hard to go up to other children. Of course, eventually someone would…

There are some days when the the stars align and exactly the same ritual for making tea produces a beverage that just hits the spot. For no good reason. There are some days when I ride my bike and it feels like I have someone else's legs. Sometimes the legs of a pro, sometimes the…