demstv.com

These guys are smart and clever. I almost thought some of them were writers for the Daily Show! demstv.com

Donald Trump does laundry?

allwashclub.com

What DOESN'T this guy promote? I personally found this to be just another one of The Donald's shameless promotions. But when I asked a group of my peers in an advertising and marketing forum "when has a celebrity gone too far, crossing the line to being considered a 'brand whore'?", I got varying responses:

"Personally, I think it's great. The Donald looks like he always having fun and making money at the same time that a bunch of negative people are throwing stones and looking for a reason to dislike what he does. Good for him and ALL detergent."

"Personally I think its amongst the worse self promotion I have ever seen. Not only that, the game is badly done, so much so I thought it was an unauthorized spoof"

"I dont see this as being unexpected or surprising."

"So much for his image of touting the best materials and the highest quality experience in his hotels and with his real estate. Abysmal."

"I don't get it. I mop the floor and it gets dirty again. I wash the dishes and they get dirty again. I cook, but the ingredients somehow unmake themselves. I iron the laundry and the basket never empties. I clean the laundry, and it falls out all over the foor again."

GREAT BOOK: Never Eat Alone

After several weeks, I finally completed reading "Never Eat Alone" on the train this morning on the way to work. The author, Keith Ferrazzi, is a great motivator and teacher -- the book is poised to help you succeed, and even has some great life lessons! I have recently noticed a dramatic improvement in my people skills and social skills -- which is not always a trait found in creatives (well, I guess I've always been somewhat charming). As a matter of fact, I would certainly attribute these new skills to helping me land my new job! Many thanks to author Keith Ferrazzi. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to succeed - read some more about it here: nevereatalone.com

Your Dream Job, in 5 Steps!

Lately I've been advising my students, friends and colleagues on landing a job. The recent outpour of requests has led to a brief list of 5 easy steps I've created, and has been useful (well, I guess) to those I've passed it on to.

I suppose it could do quite a few others some good as well. Now remember, this is somewhat specific to advertising and graphic design, but you'll get the idea.....

To land your DREAM JOB, do these 5 things:

1. Freelance work on weekends and evenings can diversify your portfolio and build your professional network of contacts and references. To get started, try guru.com and craigslist

2. Find your DREAM JOB at a company that has clients you would kill to work for, and a team that has creativity and innovation oozing out of its hallways. To get started, find great design firms and agencies linked up at k10k, designiskinky, threeoh

3. Design spec work--in order to land your DREAM JOB you have to create ad campaigns, write creative briefs and design websites for your DREAM CLIENTS, ideally ones on the agency's client roster. You'll show them you can design and create for their clientele.

4. Build yourself a website. An online portfolio of your work can do wonders to expedite the process of getting your work in front of potential employers. With just a basic knowledge of html, a domain name (Network Solutions), cheap reliable hosting company (mediatemple) and a more professional email address than Hotmail.

5. Look for jobs--no, REALLY LOOK for jobs! Make it your business to scour the web (indeed.com) and keep your resume on file at careerbuilder and American Job Bank --its tedious to go through their posting processes, but it is well worth it!

Long Island Railroad's Disasterous Service

Last night's long journey on the Long Island Railroad began when all of the passengers had boarded the 6:21 East-bound train to Ronkonkoma at Penn Station. An announcement, that was barely audible, went something like this: "We're sorry for the inconvenience, but this train is disabled. Please gather all of your belongings and board the incoming train on the next track."

Tensions had already mounted on the hot and steamy platform, and now we had to change trains. At this point the train was already late as we proceeded to our destination. Then we start to crawl. We come to a hault at the Mineola station—an unscheduled stop for the 6:21 Ronkonkoma train. "Due to a disabled train in Westbury..."

So we sat...

and sat...

The conductor's voice grew increasingly frustrated with each update: "Well, they report it'll be another 10 minutes, folks". After about 30 minnutes or so, we continued (albeit, at a snail's pace). Later that evening, I walked in the door to our apartment at 8:45PM, 2 1/2 hours after boarding the train at Penn.

Oh, and the rates went up for the LIRR in March! With frequent delays and occasional fiascos like this one, for some reason I don't feel like I'm getting my $239.00 worth each month....

Sr. Art Director: WEEK 2

I am working on some fun projects here at Fusebox. Folks here are swell, and the neighborhood (20th, between 5th & 6th) has got plenty of character. The Barnes & Noble down the block on 6th is incredible! Beautiful architecture, huge selection of books and really cool new music listening booths. Not to mention a New York Public Library right next door to our office.

Sr. Art Director: DAY 3

Third day on the new job as Senior Art Director at Fusebox. I've been introduced to some really fun and exciting projects, and I can't wait to sink my teeth into them. We just seem to be in a holding pattern right now, waiting for client approvals on a few things.

It's such a pleasure to have windows again—the office is showered with natural sunlight. It's funny to watch the old guy across the street open his window a few times a day to smoke a cigarette. His office is filled with built-in shelves, stuffed with books. I can spot cans of spray mount, so I guess he's a traditional artist of sorts. But as for the cigarette... isn't it terribly inconsiderate to the pedestrians below... falling victim to the ashes the old man so carelessly "flicks", as he leans on his window ledge?