I Have An Idea

SPUNKY!
March 31|2003

So I was challenged to find a job in 30 days by -ihaveanidea.org-. I had under 2 weeks to prepare myself for the "BIG SHOWDOWN". From the portfolio night, I thought I was going in with fairly decent book (check back to "Code-calling" entry). Since this was something new and spontaneous in the ad community, I wanted people to get hooked on it. I wanted to build a brand for myself, and I needed to get my name out, fast.
So there were the supporters, and the occasional critics in the first week. But then, when the second week hit, the site was stormed with different people, and comments just juiced out. I ended up with new audience mixed in with the old. It was overwhelming and exciting at the same time!

And then came the "CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM" on my book. Well, that was interesting. Here I am, faced with a dilemma; I get maybe two days to come up with a killer campaign that everyone is supposed drool over. Get real, this is what advertising is all about; you have to keep up with the solid demands from the clients and high expectations from your boss! I know what I have to do.
Keep in mind that before all this began, I took my time coming up with ideas. I had no pressure, and I just did my own thing at my own pace.

And now you're asking... "is Alek feeling sorry for himself?" I turn to you and answer... "I knew what I was getting myself into. And I don't regret doing the things I did. This is a learning experience! And I'm absorbing any feedback I can get to become a better and stronger Art Director."

All this sounds like an ending doesn't it. But we're not done yet! We are only halfway into the Alek Adventures. So stay tuned... there is more drama to come. I wonder what's gonna happen next?

Thanx everyone for making all this possible,
alek.

"I admire your effort and determination Alek.

We wouldn't be doggin' you and keep coming back here if we were not trying to help.

Honesty is the best policy."
Posted by Pedro on April 01/2003

"i can get jiggy wit dat!"
Posted by toasted oats on April 01/2003

"I agree with Jiggy"
Posted by IMHO on April 01/2003

"Some of the critism has been quite constructive in my opinion. Others while harsh have been valid. If you can look past the sarcasim and cynicism there is good advice in some of the posts. That being said there are quite a few posts that are simply malicious.

The advice is there, it's just a matter of deciphering which is useful and which is not.

As far as coming up with ideas at your liesure, there are some pretty tight deadlines in agencies, so this is good practice for you. The idea is not to grab the first thing that comes to mind even if you are under a tight deadline. Dig deep and keep hammering at an idea until it's great. Take the feedback from here that is valid and redo some of the stuff. I know it's hard to figure out which advice is good and which is bad but try this–if three people tell you the same thing maybe it's true.

Best of luck."
Posted by Jiggy on April 01/2003