I was a creative person for 12 years, then I became a recruiter. As a creative person, I had no career plan. I did have goals. To be a CD and making $100K by the age of 30. I was a CD by the age of 28, and making $90K by the age of 30. My goal was too narrow. I know more about goals now. I also didn't manage other parts of my career well. I was a sucker for the "We'll turn this place into a creative hot shop." spiel. I didn't know the questions to ask in an interview. Fifteen...

It's career suicide. ~ heidi...

The best computer function of all time is Apple Z - "I didn't mean to do that, let's act as if it never happened." Apple Z. There. It didn't. Wouldn't it be great if you could Apple Z in real life? In your career, in an interview, in a conversation, in a meeting? The possibilities are endless. ~ heidi...

They always say time changes things, but actually, you have to change them yourself. ~ Andy Warhol ~ heidi...

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less ~ Marie Curie ~ heidi...

When is a deadline not a deadline? When it's created by an award show. ~ heidi...

1. Stick to your normal schedule. Set your alarm clock, shower, dress, eat lunch at noon. 2. Take care of yourself. Eat healthy, drink two litres of water minimum, one cup of coffee maximum and get 30 minutes of exercise/day. Preferably outside. Even a walk helps. 3. Make a daily to do list every evening with only 5 items on it, and cross everything off the to-do list every day. 4. Commit to having five live (as in voice to voice) conversations/day. ...

In the absence of a strong personal brand, someone other than you, will determine your price. ~ heidi...

The only friends worth having are the ones that tell you when your idea is crap. ~ heidi...

Starting is important. But even more important than starting, is finishing. ~ heidi...

Your career and your success, is as much defined by what you say 'no' to as by what you say 'yes' to. Same holds true for a company, a culture, and a brand. ~ heidi...

Thank you to Richard Bingham, Professor in the School of Media Studies/Creative Advertising at Humber College for his complimentary write up on the CAMP BLACK BAG presentations I have given to his students. "Heidi Ehlers' CAMP BLACK BAG: The Boot Camp for Your Career is like finding fifty bucks in your pocket that you didn't know you had. Except it's not fifty bucks you find - what you find is your own capacity to have the career you really want, rather than the career that just happens...

NEVER give up. An inspiring and authentic post on the trials and rewards of freelancing from Ronnie Lebow. I know this is all true. I checked in with him frequently throughout the year. ~ heidi To read, click this link: http://ronnielebow.blogspot.com/2010/03/never-give-up.html...

To succeed, you must first improve. To improve, you must first practice. To practice, you must first learn. To learn, you must first fail. ~ Unknown ~ heidi...

"What Rethink Looks for in Creative Hires." Bravo!!!! An impeccably executed talent attraction piece. I believe that if an agency puts this much love into creating this, then attracting and nurturing great creative talent must be a high priority at Rethink. Do you agree? Thanks to Simon Raybould for sharing. The agency with the best people wins. ~ David Ogilvy ca. 1959. Many things have changed since then. That hasnt. ~ heidi To read, click this...

There is a marked difference in the way agencies that are "up to something" behave and engage relative to attracting the best creative talent. And creatives, will feel whether you are or aren't, in the first .000007 seconds after walking into your reception for their first interview. ~ heidi...

If we agree that the only thing any company sells is talent, then why you suppose so few companies behave as if they understand that? ~ heidi...

Male, (pregnant) successful consultant is encouraged by spouse to find a full time job for 'security'. Baby on the way, etc. etc. What do you think? Will he find more security in a full time job, or more security by continuing to do what he loves - freelance consulting? ~ heidi...

The Ten Types of Crappy Interviewees. Fun stuff from The Oatmeal. Thanks Claire de Marco for sharing. She, by the way, was an excellent interviewee. I hired her. And then, she was an excellent Comrade in Arms. :-) ~ heidi To read the article, click this link: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/interviewees...

Having done it twice myself - I can honestly say, it's not as hard as it appears to be. And, it can be quite liberating. A great how to article. 11 Easy Steps to Relocating. ~ heidi To read the article, click this link: http://www.recessionwire.com/2010/02/04/relocation-finding-job-tips/...

What is "Procrastination" other than a fancy word for lack of discipline? ~ heidi...

Last week, I was just hired by a writer to help them negotiate their salary. For $250 I taught them how to negotiate $10,000 more. A 4000% return on investment. Their $50,000 salary became $60,000. + 20%. I can confidently say that's one of the smartest investments that person has ever made. Even smarter the more senior you are. Then the percentages go through the roof! ~ heidi...

Two words that can have a profound, positive impact on your career when used regularly and authentically: Thank You. ~ heidi...

What do you believe is more common? Fear of Failure? Or Fear of Success? ~ heidi...

Could I have read this correctly?! An award show has announced a NEW category to honor work that got killed. What's next? An Olympic medal that celebrates the athlete who tripped and fell?! ~ heidi...

Are you a serial idea-starting person? If so, what can you change to end that cycle? The goal is to be an idea-shipping person. ~ Seth Godin from Random Rules for Ideas Worth Spreading. ~ heidi...

What I believe with all my heart. Whatever you do, be proud of what you do, and do it well. "If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will...l pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.'" - Martin Luther King, Jr. ~ heidi...

If you'd like to meet, request a meeting, not a "coffee" and your odds will improve. Busy people don't drink that much coffee. Busy people would rather meet at their office than leave it to meet you in a coffee shop. Inefficient. Busy people don't want to have a "coffee" with someone they don't know, but are always p...repared to have a "meeting" with someone they don't know. Call a spade a spade. ~ heidi...

Is it unrealistic to expect that seminars/presentations/etc. begin on time? Why do we complacently sit there? Why is it NOT expected from us that the presentation begin on time? If it isn't going to begin on time, why doesn't someone address the audience with an explanation and a new start time? What are we?!!?? Sheep?!!? ~heidi...

It's nice to see that, in keeping with it's "advertising" theme, Advertising Week has been produced on the back of freebies from the community. Maybe that could be the title of a seminar: "Why do so many expect creative and advertising space to be donated free, including the producers of Advertising Week? When and how ...will we get it to stop?" ~ heidi...

Do you ever find 'possibility' overwhelming? ~ heidi...

Plan on arriving 15 minutes early vs. the three wheel drift into the lot and see it if makes a difference in how your meeting goes. ~ heidi...

When was the last time you drew a line down the middle of a piece of paper and WROTE out the pro's and con's before choosing what to do next? Not in your head. Written? Did it help? ~ heidi...

Just listened in on an interview happening in a coffee shop. Is it ethical for a recruiter to coach talent/applicants on how to ace the interview and what to say and how to behave to get the job? ~ heidi...

"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." ~ Zig Ziglar. ~ heidi...

"The first step to receiving, is asking." It's either an old Hebrew saying, or my husband made it up. Either way, I agree. ~ heidi...

I can almost understand not using proper capitalization in an email to your best friend or a family member, but on your Linkedin profile, on your resume, in an email introducing yourself to a recruiter or a potential employer? Transmits sloppy to me. At 11. < For all you hard core Spinal Tap fans. ~ heidi...

How high is your up? Do you want to find out? ~ heidi...

Think of the visual of this 24 hour air traffic map as a depiction of portfolios and resumes being sent to the same people you want to work for daily. Here's the live link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4g930pm8Ms How do you begin to stand out? Good question. And one I can answer. I can, because after reviewing (conservative estimate) close to 20,000 portfolios and hiring close to 1,000 people in the past 15 years, I have a good sense for what stands out. I can also...

How many of your New Year's resolutions were directly or indirectly related to your career? ~ heidi...

Heard a stat today: 93% of the impression people have of you is created by non-verbal cues. 57% of those cues come from your appearance. Do you want to stand out? Or blend in? Everyone remembers the well dressed person that showed up for the interview. But another person in jeans and a worn out T-shirt? Not very... memorable. (This is of course, in addition to a great book. A given.) ~ heidi...

The unexamined career is not worth having. ~ heidi...

Incredibly insightful, honest, real, heart-warming, and INSPIRING interview today with Mr. Ari Merkin, Co-Founder and CCO of Toy NY. Stay tuned for when it goes live. If you attended, I hope you'll share what stood out for you! ~ heidi...

Have you googled Single Tweet Earns Man a New Job? Yes, in this case, it makes sense, but not the world's most thorough screening process - let's check back in six months. ~ heidi To view article, click link below: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34368627/ns/business-careers/...

Honest. This is a real resume that was sent this week. "My name is Willie Maykitt. I am an Associate Creative Director. I haven't prepared my resume in a while, so it'll take some time. Till then, my email address is email address. Bye." That's it. Name obviously changed. Willie Maykitt? Betty Wohnt. ~ heidi...

Doesn't matter what profession you're in, you're selling expertise, and the confidence that comes with it. ~ heidi...

Crowdsourcing: The first and ultimately, final nail in the coffin of commercially viable creativity. Recommend a restaurant? Yes. Design a logo, do an ad campaign, get a bunch of freelancers on a project, emphasis on the word free? No. ~ heidi...

THE WAR FOR TALENT IS OVER. The war for exceptional talent is on. If you're working with a stretched creative department, this is the time to make sure that everyone on your team is a 10 out of 10. Remember what all relay teams know: That the team is only as good as the slowest runner. Same holds true for creative departments. ~ heidi...

You've scheduled an 'information' interview. Do you have a list of the 'information' you want, or are we just going to go with the flow? ~ heidi...

In an interview, you can't say "I'm passionate about the creative.", then not be able to answer this question in response, "What work have you seen in the past year that blew you away?". If you pause for more than three seconds, you're busted. If you name work done by the shop down the street, you're still busted. A ...more honest statement about yourself might be, "I sort of like creativity." But passion? No. ~ heidi...

Isn't it great when a human answers the phone? ~ heidi...

I find it ironic that Coroflot, which touts itself as a community for designers has one of the most poorly designed (form AND function) on line portfolio templates. ~ heidi...

Complete your Linked in Profile. People read them. Brand Management. Often the first impression. ~ heidi...

A dream with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken into steps, becomes a plan. A plan put into action, makes a dream come true. ~ heidi...

What do you want? Sounds like a simple enough question to answer, but a lot of people can't answer it. Not in broad strokes. Specifics. ~ heidi...

Step One is get your book current (and online), update your resume, and complete your Linked in profile. 100%. Not almost. Step Two is make calls to agencies, and recruiters. NOT, the other way around. ~ heidi...

I just came across a JWT Account Managers Handbook, ca. 1990. Beautifully bound, with letterhead that says, "The Thompson Way of Account Management." Does JWT still have one of these? Do any agencies? I know Crispin does. ~ heidi...

TRUTH #1: Creative is usually the department that gets hit first and hit hardest. And you wonder why creatives are mercenary. TRUTH #2: Creatives don't always listen to their feelings when taking a job. But it's the way they feel, that makes them leave. TRUTH #3: The word "no" is just as liberating to a creative, as the word "yes". TRUTH #4: Creatives don't b*tch well. They just quit. TRUTH #5: Every creative person has a price. However, it...

I guess bio's are on websites, to tell prospective clients the expertise they will gain access to if they choose that agency. However, many bios are written from the perspective of, "Here's where I've worked + my title there", not "Here's what I stand for, and what I'm an expert at." I believe the latter transmits a ...benefit to choosing your agency. The former, doesn't. ~ heidi...

If YOU were being interviewed and that agency offered up a goal PLUS the plan they will implement to achieve it, would it make that agency a more or less desirable place to work? Or neutral. MUST include the plan. ~ heidi...

The easiest way to gain a competitive advantage? Do what you say you're going to do. Follow through. Just that one thing, will make you stand out. ~ heidi...

What is this new practice that agencies will not give out the email address of the Creative Director, or tell you who their assistant is? What purpose does it serve other than to shut off the Creative Director from the community? ~ heidi...

Aurea D "Heidi, THANK YOU! You were amazing last night at Savoir Faire Professionals! Your energy and enthusiasm was felt by all... and your 'Chick-Analogies' were priceless. It is rare to find those individuals in life who 'have IT' ... and you got IT! Enjoy Baked In ;)" ~ heidi...

Big debate this morning with a very senior creative who insisted it would be inappropriate to create a portfolio website. Thought it might send out warning bells, when none are being sent. My point was, "These days, it doesn't mean you're looking, it means you're ready." What do YOU think? ~ heidi...

I think this ongoing discussion about the "new agency model" does nothing more than sell tickets to conferences where they discuss it, and confuse clients. ~ heidi...

I don't find people jobs, but I can teach you how to find the job you want. Or help you figure out what your next move should be. Or tell you the questions to ask in an interview to determine if this opportunity is right, or they're BS'ing you. Or teach you how to ask for (and get) a raise/promotion. Or negotiate your next salary and package. Or help your freelance business get more clients. Or critique your book to give it more WOW. Or answer a million other career/success related...

Can we stop talking about the 'line' yet? ~ heidi...

Has your boss provided you with specific detail/and measurable deliverables expected from you in the next 12 months to qualify for that raise/promotion/bigger title you want? If not, ask for them, then refer to them monthly and check off the ones you've achieved. Nothing more frustrating than having subjective performance metrics. The proverbial "moving target", as it were. ~ heidi...

I often use the sports metaphor in Camp BLACK BAG presentations when talking about the goals that agencies create. I hear things like, "We're going improve the work". What kind of goal is that?! That's like a sports team saying, "We want to play better ball." They don't say that. They say, "We are GOING to WIN!" But as they say, "You gotta want it." I'll go one farther. Everyone has to want it. ~ heidi...

The first line of "The Road Less Travelled" says, "Life is difficult." And continues..."once we truly see this truth, we transcend it."...."Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult, it no longer matters." I think the same could be said about having an exceptional career in creativity. In fact, almost everything in that book could apply to a career in creativity. It's in my top 3. ~ heidi...

Before you get in touch with someone with the purpose of working for, or with, their company, do you read every SINGLE word of their website? ~ heidi...

I know this seems obvious, but it happens enough that I believe it bears mentioning. Make the contact information on your online portfolio REALLY EASY to find. Please include your phone number, and your email address. In a perfect world, I would click and it would launch my email, or a contact form. If the blog site you're thinking of using doesn't include this feature - find one that does. ~ heidi...

Before you get in touch with someone with the purpose of working for, or with, their company, do you read every SINGLE word of their website? ~ heidi...

Do one thing every day that scares you. Pssssssst. Excitement and Fear have the same physiological response on the body. ~ heidi...

When most people get behind the wheel of their car to begin a journey, they know three things: Where do I want to go? and When do I want to be there? and What's the best route? The same questions apply when mapping your career. Do you know YOUR answers? ~ heidi...

Shift your paradigm, and you will win. Do for yourself what you do so well for your clients. Re-brand. Look at yourself as a product. What is it now and what do you want it to be to create the outcome you want. Then create the communication around it. Make sure the communication is consistent across all touch points. Remember how fragile a brand can be. Nurture. Nurture. Nurture ~ heidi...

How...

What would happen to the credibility of our industry if we committed to: being organized; punctuality; correct spelling; doing what we say we're going to do; managing our personal brands to demonstrate we know how to manage a client's brand; professionalism. In my experience, companies that provide this sort of experience can charge more than companies who don't, and clients are happy to pay for it. ~ heidi...

The only questions worth asking when you're being interviewed for a job you really want are the painfully tough and uncomfortable questions you'd rather not ask. The answers you receive are the answers that matter. Better to know where the landmines are and avoid an unexpected 2x4 upside the head that seemed to come from nowhere in week two. Go in with both eyes wide open and you'll be happier. Promise. ~ heidi...

Leadership = The ability to endure the disdain of a few, for the benefit of many. ~ heidi...

I very much enjoy working with people to uncover their career goals, figure out what they have to do next, uncover what is in their way then help them fix it, critiquing their portfolio, helping them negotiate their salary, or helping them ask for a raise or a promotion. There are a million questions that I am asked, and very much enjoy answering. I understand the dilemna many creatives face in plotting out their careers. I used to be one. There is endless information on creativity and kerning...

Whenever I hear the word "try", I pretty much know it won't happen. In fact, I wince when I hear it. Try is a 'fail' word. You're building in an escape clause every time you use it. Yoda said it best. "Do or Do Not. There is no try." ~ heidi...

Listening to your gut when you have all the information is a good thing. Listening to your gut as a justification for not having all the information, is a bad thing. ~ heidi...

Tomorrow morning, you check your inbox and there in it, is an invitation to interview for...your....dream....job. Are you ready to make the impression you would want to make? As in right now. Not as in "Give me a week". ~ heidi...

Maybe creatives have to become better at selling creative, than the research guys are at selling research! Then, there would be less money used up for research, and more money for creative! Take back your budget!!! ~ heidi...

There is nothing casual about finding the job you WANT. There is also nothing casual about having the career in creative you want. Being talented is what will get you in, but it's not enough to keep you in. ~ heidi...

Why should it be free? Why should it be discounted? Free and/or discount do more to erode your brand than anything else. Think of a brand you love. What role did those words play in the creating your impression of that brand? If you believe the only reason someone will buy from you is because you're cheaper, you have MUCH bigger issues than your pricing. ~ heidi...

"But make them think it's THEIR idea...." How does one do this? Don't have a clue. This sentence throws me off completely. How about you? What difference does it make whose idea it is? Isn't the quality of the idea more important than its source? ~ heidi...

Something 99.995% of the talent say after they've interviewed for a position: I ask: So, how was that? Reply: He/She seems really nice. Let me let you in on a little secret: Everyone seems really nice in an interview. Even you. Instead, think about whether this job will get you closer to achieving your career goal. ~ heidi...

Everyone wants to be on the team that everyone wants to be on. ~ heidi...

Why don't agencies advertise? If they did, would it give credence to what they tell their clients? Specifically, that continuing to advertise and promote during difficult economic times is the BEST thing a brand can do. ~ heidi...

Going on an interview doesn't mean you want the job. Going on an interview means you want more information. How could you possibly want the job?!!? If you did, I'd be worried. An interview is a way to find out more information, ask questions, get the goods, find out if you want to find out more. That's all. Nothing more. No more than going on a date with someone doesn't mean you want to marry them. ~ heidi...

There are two ways to win business. The first, is to be the cheapest. The second, is to be the smartest. Small men do it the first way. Heroic men, do it the second way. ~ heidi...

Leadership is a state of mind, not a salary level, or a title. ~ heidi...

What is the goal of the agency you work for? How does the agency goal align with your own career goal? What is your career goal? One year, five years, ten years? ~ heidi...

Warning: Unpopular post to follow. Can you imagine Obama going to work dressed like most creatives? Can you imagine a creative going to work dressed like Obama? Let's meet in the middle. What we do is important too. We stimulate the economy. Let's dress the part. Maybe our clients will pay closer attention to what we have to say - worship would be nice. ~ heidi...

Here's a quick career tip: Say Thank You. Don't just think it, say it. As often as you honestly can. ~ heidi...

A little tip: If you create an email signature with your phone number attached, it makes it MUCH easier for people to call you back as soon as they receive your email, since it usually hyperlinks to their phone. And talking is usually more productive than emailing. Hey, it couldn't hurt! ~ heidi...

The "Make a Statement but Pose it as a Question" concept is the greatest barrier to communication ever invented? So confusing? ~ heidi...

This was brought to my attention by Lorne Craig, a former colleague of mine, and one of the smartest people I know - a true renaissance creative person. This is written by him. Click here for a link to the original post and his blog which is quite good - as one would expect from a renaissance creative person, right? The Age of Digital Distinction By Lorne Craig There's now one more way for us to measure ourselves against the world. The Online Identity Calculator, created by the Reach...

When you change jobs, change your email address, your cell phone #, get promoted, get a raise, win an award, include a recruiter on your announcement to friends and family. Bcc us, we don't care. Just make it easy for opportunities to find you....

I wanted to see if there was a link between those agencies that are frequently cited as great places to work, those agencies that are frequently cited as not great places to work, and their presence on Facebook. So I poked around to find the presence of the networks - I poked around to find the presence of the four most prominent brands in those networks - I poked around to find how well the independents are doing by comparison. Here are the results: Omnicom is by far the front runner...

Here's a thought for agencies looking to reduce expenses as an alternative to cutting talent - which by the way, they sell. How about getting rid of the phone lines, since hardly anyone answers their phone anyway? ~ heidi...

Make a list with 10 things on it entitled, "Ten Things I will Do in the Next Year." Things you want to do, should do, need to do. The first thing on the list, is making the list. ~ heidi...

How much money have you personally spent in the past two years to improve, enhance or re-fresh your skill set in areas that you are lacking in? Either through courses, conferences, webinars, coaching or any other means available to you? The biggest and best investment you can make in yourself, is to take a presentation skills course from someone who is qualified to teach it. Almost every multi-Cannes Lion winner is a very articulate, considered presenter. At least all...

To Agencies: Every time a contingency recruiter sends you an unsolicited resume, you are setting yourself up for the fact that some day, if you hire that person you may receive a surprise invoice from them - that's how they work. To Talent: If contingency recruiter fires your resume at an agency where they don't have a real mandate, they've just placed a bounty on your head which could cost you getting the job. Yes. It happens all the time ...

No updates on what we ate for lunch. No comments on the weather. No sharing what we're currently drinking, or how much we already drank. Just thoughts on how to build a spectacular career, what we're seeing work for people, and what we're scratching our heads about. What agencies are getting right, and what agencies are still figuring it out. Names held to protect the innocent. Of course. But relevant all the same. Click here to join your creative colleagues from all over the world....

Dear OutofWorkAdGuy, A link to your website was sent to me yesterday by a colleague of mine in the industry. I like that you're trying to do something different to get attention. I like that you've made an attempt to brand yourself to stand out. BUT, here are some things that I wanted to know that you DIDN'T TELL ME ONCE YOU HAD MY ATTENTION!!!!! Arrrgggh. If I may be so bold, can I share some feedback that might help you create a more compelling piece of communication that may get...

Creative Director or Chief Creative Officer (or any title that designates the most creative and professional, creative professional in our shop) to win awards for our agency. NICE TO HAVE BUT NOT NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POSITION: the ability to make a compelling presentation; the ability to list most recent sales of your largest client within seconds; the ability to set a goal, write a plan, and lead the creative department to the achievement of that goal; the ability to show up on time;...

That was the subject line of an email I received this morning from someone I met with early this week. He needed some career advice. He needed to 'pick my brain'. He need some feedback on where he was at in his career and what he could do about it. I explained that "Heidi's Free Advice Now Costs Money". I've found that people tend to listen to advice they pay for. I also happen to know what I suggest works. This morning he sent me this lovely email. With his permission, and with...

The first line of "The Road Less Travelled" says, "Life is difficult." And continues..."once we truly see this truth, we transcend it."...."Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult, it no longer matters." I think the same could be said about having an exceptional career in creativity. In fact, almost everything in that book could apply to a career in creativity. It's in my top 3. ~ heidi...

Eccentricity is not, as dull people would have us believe, a form of madness. It is often a kind of innocent pride, and the man of genius and the aristocrat are frequently regarded as eccentrics because genius and aristocrat are entirely unafraid of and uninfluenced by the opinions and vagaries of the crowd. ~ Edith Sitwell...

Lots of people have been asking to go for a coffee to discuss the possibility of pursuing a career in recruiting. They'd like to 'pick my brain', and/or ask for tips and advice. Here's my advice: Be prepared to work 12-14 hours/day for the first 5 years. Only 12 hours a day and parts of most weekends after that. There is nothing glamorous about it, it's not a schmoozy go-for-long-lunches career. It's about meticulous attention to detail, and managing realms of data with pinpoint...

Fire four Account Executives or Account Coordinators and hire four killer Executive Assistants for your creative department. Help your creatives focus on ideas, not the stuff they suck at. And hate. Creative love to create ideas. They love to see where an idea can go, and where that idea can take them. The other stuff? The stuff that makes them and everyone around them kookoo? They hate it. There are Executive Assistants who love doing that stuff. Who would love to do it in...

As you know, we're dedicated to helping creative agencies attract and hire the best of the best, and helping creative people craft a spectacular career. Perhaps your article is about being laid off, and how you're using the experience in a way that will be inspiring to others. Perhaps it will just be to share the harrowing experience of looking for work, so that others will know they're not alone. Perhaps you're a Creative Director, and you'd like to share pointers on what it takes...

http://www.typealyzer.com Typealyzer analyzes the personality type of the person behind any blog URL you enter. Here's what it said about the BLACK BLOG. "The meaning-seeking and unconventional type. They are especially attuned to making sure their beliefs and actions are congruent. They often develop a passion for the arts or unusual forms of self-expression. They enjoy work that is aligned to their deeply felt values and tend to strongly dislike the more practical and mundane...

Thank you to EVERYONE who took a moment to share their feedback from the Camp BLACK BAG presentation on Wednesday evening at Humber. It's always appreciated, and helps me to learn whether my intention is getting to you, and the presentation helps. Yes, we are planning to do another one, for all of you who found themselves up against deadlines that could not be avoided. No, we don't know when yet, but we will keep you posted via our newsletters. Thank you again to the amazing people at...

A lot of people are doing a lot of interviewing right now mostly for positions that don't currently exist. Which is great. This won't last forever, so why not use the time to get to know who is out there, who is doing what, who is great, and who isn't. BUT. If the people in your company interviewing people at random, don't know how to conduct an interview, ask the tough questions, screen for fit based on the criteria you've provided, or tell a compelling story about your company, they...

Is your career on track? Ahead? Or behind? Does it have positive forward momentum? Do you ever wonder if you're doing everything right, or everything wrong? If you do, who would you ask? Who will tell you the truth? I will. On March 18th, Camp BLACK BAG will be FREE (it's normally $1,000 for four weeks) for anyone who would like to attend, provided you are willing to make a $10 donation to NABS. Hosted by the School of Media Studies, Creative Advertising B.A., Humber...

Now all the creatives that visit our Job Board to check out our job listings will have a look at your job listings too! Click here. For the month of February, you can post your creative jobs for $1! We're excited. We believe we have the most targeted creative audience in North America. We know that traffic to our site is increasing. Each month, 53% of the visitors to our site are visiting for the first time. We know that 76% of the visitors to our website are currently in North...

It's been quite the year, and from all reports it's going to be quite the year ahead. We've renewed some old friendships, and made some new ones. We've watched your stories continue, and your stories change, and your stories start. How exciting it is for us, to be a part of them. Sometimes in a small way, and sometimes in a big way. Here's to grabbing the bull by the horns in 2009, being unreasonable (as in not needing reasons to justify our decisions) and each doing our part to pull...

Why does much of the world move at the speed of the lowest common denominator now? When our parents came to this country as immigrants, they understood that no one was going to wait for them, no one was going to make it easy, and no one was going to slow down and wait for them to catch up. What it created were people who worked hard, who applied themselves, and who didn't know the meaning of 'give up'. There was no give up. There was no go home. There was only, "This is our new...

Francisco's Money Speech by Ayn Rand The following is an excerpt from Atlas Shrugged, Copyright, 1957, by Ayn Rand. It is reprinted with permission from the Estate of Ayn Rand. "So you think that money is the root of all evil?" said Francisco d'Anconia. "Have you ever asked what is the root of money? Money is a tool of exchange, which can't exist unless there are goods produced and men able to produce them. Money is the material shape of the principle that men who wish to deal with one another...

Malcolm Gladwell was interviewed in front of a live audience at Convocation Hall this evening. He was speaking about his new book, "Outliers. The Story of Success." He told interesting stories, pulled great facts out of the air, shared some of the theses from the book, and in general was really quite engaging. The moderator however, wasn't in the same game. Or didn't know what the game was about: Listening to Malcolm Gladwell, not him. He asked questions that rambled, so by the time Malcolm...

Terry O'Reilly was the Master of Ceremonies at last night's ADCC show, and in my opinion, the highlight. (Not to take anything away from the show - which I love, and the work - which I always drool over. ) It was a highlight for me because Terry, an eloquent ambassador for our industry, reminded us that awards DO matter. I am puzzled by people who've won so many awards they're no longer excited by them, saddened by those who have completely given up the notion that they ever will win an...

Lino Dinallo from GJP when they won a Gold A for their work for Vex. He told us he was quoting Hilary Swank's acceptance speech when she won the Best Actress Oscar for Million Dollar Baby. And he said, "I don't know what I did in this life to deserve all of this. I'm just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream." Love. How do you bottle that? var addthis_pub="blackbag";...

In his new book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell argues that success is less about innate ability than birthdate and luck - and we may be squandering half of our nation's hockey talent By Sabitri Ghosh, Special to The Globe and Mail, November 10, 2008. NEW YORK - Malcolm Gladwell knows a thing or two about success. His previous books, The Tipping Point and Blink, have sold more than three million copies combined in North America alone. He reportedly commands fees of $40,000 (U.S.) per speaking...

By Victor Frankel According to the Library of Congress, "Man's Search for Meaning" belongs to the list belongs to a list of "the ten most influential books in [the United States]." "Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." var addthis_pub="blackbag";...

I haven't seen his portfolio, but I would put Barack Obama forward as a candidate for every single one of the many Creative Director positions I've filled in the past 11 years. Doesn't he have many of the characteristics as the world's best creative directors? Or the world's best CEO's, Presidents, CFO's? He is a leader. He is able to inspire those around him to believe "Yes we Can". In their darkest hour. When they are consumed with fear of their future. Paralyzed. He's...