“If you’re not a millionaire or bankrupt by your thirtieth birthday, you’re not really trying.”
- Nolan Bushnell

“We’re hoping to succeed; we’re okay with failure. We just don’t want to land in between.”
- David Chang

Not to encourage comparing yourself to others (if I compared myself to some of the people I knew in college, I’d still be in college…), but sometimes it is a good measure of what is possible. Some of the people I graduated with have already achieved amazing success by my standards. Those people were not people who just stood by idly and waited for things to happen. I know we hear this every day, but sometimes you really need to delve deeper into the meaning and find for yourself what you really aspire to be.

So, go ahead, take a leap. What do you have to lose? Everything. But what is reward without risk?

A friend of mine in law school volunteers for local judicial campaigns and has been politically involved for some time. He is the yin to my non-political yang. A few days ago, he picked up some marketing collateral from two campaigns he is working on. He showed me the flyers from the two campaigns and I gave each a cursory review before deciding whose material I deemed as more aesthetically pleasing. When he asked for a rationale behind my choice, I told him the other judge’s flyer was too busy – it needed to be cleaner, it needed to be more SIMPLE. Surprisingly, for someone who is so steeped in politics, I think this may have been the first time he realized just how important the branding and design of a candidate truly is. And the process isn’t just about turning a candidate into a neatly packaged brand; it’s also about the importance of allowing visuals to convey the feelings and the truth behind a campaign.

As we all stand in the middle of this political steeplechase to the presidency, lets consider a more light-hearted facet of the race: design. The design director of the Obama Campaign, Scott Thomas fully understands and embraces the importance of visually communicating with a big audience. The Obama presidential campaign was an innovation in American politics and American design. For the first time, a candidate used art and design to bring together the American people, capturing their voices in a visual way.

Regardless of your political affiliation, it’s hard to discount the powerful and attractive design of Barack Obama’s campaign. From his attire to website, Obama continues to look sharp, clean and fresh. To give insight into political design, Scott Thomas, who goes by the snappy handle SimpleScott, recently published “Designing Obama,” a chronicle on the role of art and design in the political realm. As his name and every aspect of his work implies, SimpleScott designs by the motivation that “less is always more.”

“The role of design in politics is the same as it is in advertising, marketing, or branding,” Thomas says. “Design plays the role of communicating beyond what words can do. It’s there to touch on the emotions a bit more.” It’s nice to see our President appreciates good design and it would be no surprise if more politicians were in hot pursuit. I’m not saying Obama’s design is going to win him another election, but it isn’t hurting.

The picture above does not make me jealous. In fact, it leaves me feeling encouraged about the future of our hometown. Shahid Khan, the new owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars won over my girlfriend, and I’m confident he’s going to win over this city. He is a bit of a showman, his confidence is infectious, and he seems ready to embrace this area.

This past weekend serves as a prime example of why I think Khan “gets it.” Gawkers (including our own Kate Heller, who took the picture below) came out in droves to check out Khan’s 223-foot yacht after it docked on along the Northbank Riverwalk in front of the Hyatt Regency.

Khan said he parked his massive yacht at this most conspicuous of downtown locales as a gesture of support for Mayor Alvin Brown, who asked Khan to help generate some buzz downtown. Is this an ostentatious display of wealth? Of course it is. But who cares. This city needs to embrace a little gaudiness, and perhaps Khan is just the man to serve it up. The moves he has made indicate a man who is comfortable in his own skin and comfortable in the spotlight.

This city needs a serious injection of that kind of swag. Too often, I am struck by an underlying feeling of benign inferiority that runs through this city like a crack on a Savoy Vase. Those of us new to Duval County are blown away by its endless possibilities. With his personal rags-to-riches story, Khan represents the best of those possibilities realized. He is a living manifestation of what this city can, and should, become. By extension, I am hopeful Khan will take the shackles off a football team that, for a number of years now,  has been the very definition of vanilla. Build a winner, and the people will come. If this city can start following Khan’s example and thinking like a winner, better times will be ahead for all of us.

With more than 15 million users, all kinds of companies have flocked to the app in hopes of establishing a following. Yes, another social network to cultivate, but I’ve found this is a fun (and moderately addictive) way to tell a story through creative photographs. Words alone fall short of giving a consumer the essence of a brand, so it seems natural for any business or organization to tell its story through photographs. Since the app launched in 2010, brands have been using the platform in innovative ways, testing the network’s ability to build an audience.

In my opinion, the most attractive companies on the app are those posting interesting lifestyle photos, trying to capture their piece of the world in unique ways. Even General Electric has a nice eye for turning combustion engines into works of art. On the other hand, Starbucks seems to be pushing product a little too hard but still has a huge following. NPR was one of the first media organizations to join the platform and has successfully created a personable and creative account where it informally engages with fans on a daily basis.

Like other social media outlets, the premise should be about cultivating a relationship with the consumer, not blasting products in their faces. There doesn’t seem to be a single method for a company to have a successful Instagram, but those staying true to Instagram’s passion for sharing brilliant moments-in-life photos are doing well.

Fashion companies have unsurprisingly created a massive following on Instagram for their visually sophisticated audience.  Aesthetically based brands like Bergorf’s, Nylon Magazine, and Free People post beautiful and funky pictures while giving a behind-the-scenes look at their company.

With millions of photos shared every second, Instagram is insanely popular yet still has an “indie” super-cool vibe about it. Regardless of the reason for attraction, used correctly, Instagram can be a powerful tool for engaging an increasingly design-savvy audience.

Our culture seems to have adopted an all-or-nothing approach to life in recent years. This philosophy leaves little room for failure and creates too much of an emphasis on success. Life is too unpredictable to become reliant on a single concept or outcome, as it usually ends in disappointment.

During my first day at lunch, I unknowingly explained a “balance practice” of my own, describing myself as a “cheatin’ vegan.”  I do not perceive occasionally indulging in pizza or chocolate as a failure, but as a contribution to a rich and happy life experience. Finding equilibrium between two extremes brings as much joy into my life as possible.

I can’t help but believe BG finds success through balance. My first few days in the office gave me a sense of ease and belonging. It seems like everyone here navigates through life’s duality actively seeking balance – “rolling with the punches“ if you will.

In a world of extremes where opposites permeate our lives in every aspect, remaining sensitive to your state of balance and finding a happy medium that feels right is important. And Brunet-García knows how to feel just right.

1. At least once per week, sort through and organize the crap on my desk so I can see the surface. (Raking desk contents into the box behind my chair or neatly stacking it on the credenza does not count.)

Neatly stacked crap on credenza

2. Control my schedule instead of letting it control me.

3. Politely decline assignments that don’t either build value for our agency or allow us to flex our creative muscle. NO MATTER WHAT.

4. Lighten up! Bring the experience of a life-well-lived to the office to inspire and instigate work-worth-doing.

5. Eat well; play and exercise with abandon; inspire others to stay healthy.

6. Don’t get so wrapped up in daily tasks that you forget to lead.

7. Never stop reading. Never stop learning. Never stop trying the new and untested.

8. Take tangible steps toward developing a smart exit strategy and agency transition plan. (You’re not getting any younger.)

9. Mentor those who are still young to commit to work they are passionate about and to always be honest.

10. Work tirelessly to solidify the reputation of Brunet-García as a world-class marketing, branding and digital consultancy.

11. In this world of layered and complex communication, always say what you mean and mean what you say.

12. Contribute frequent observations to this blog about running a mid-sized ad agency in a beautiful river city by the sea. (So the staff can stop badgering you about it!)

Think I can manage to keep ‘em?!

Al Letson provided the brilliant words and performance, Paul Figura the beautiful cinematography, and MAD DADS the inspiration for the PIECE PEACE video you see above. PIECE PEACE is a campaign to end the gun violence that has been endemic to Jacksonville and other urban communities across the nation. Like many good causes it was inspired by something horrible.

In August, a multiple shooting in Jacksonville’s Brooklyn neighborhood left 11 people injured. Efforts to investigate the shooting were hampered by the culture of silence and fear that often permeates communities where guns, drugs and hopelessness are rampant. In the immediate aftermath of the crime, it was impossible not to notice the presence of members of a group called MAD DADS canvasing the area where the shooting occurred. MAD DADS of Jacksonville is a local chapter of a national organization that promotes safe neighborhoods, community engagement and the protection of youth and families. There they were in the Brooklyn neighborhood, boots on the ground, demanding answers and accountability for a crime that had shocked us all. This holiday season we decided we wanted to help MAD DADS and spread a message to put down the PIECE and spread PEACE.

After meeting with MAD DADS Jacksonville Chapter President Elder Donald Foy, we were more inspired than ever to help create a unified community voice for victims of gun violence and their families. We decided this PSA was the perfect place to start, a jump off point for spreading a message of community, caring, vigilance and visibility. We enlisted the help of actor, State of the Reunion radio host, poet, and playwright Al Letson, along with photographer and filmmaker Paul Figura, who collaborated with us in 2010 on an award-winning PSA for Jacksonville’s Sulzbacher Center. We are very proud of the resulting video, and we encourage everyone to check out and “like” the PIECE PEACE Facebook page at  www.facebook.com/piecepeacejax. You can also contact MAD DADS of Jacksonville directly at jax@maddads.com or at 904-781-0905. Join the movement to be the force behind the change, PIECE to PEACE.

Oh, and in case we don’t put another blog up before SOMEONE’S big birthday, Brunet-García wishes you and yours a peaceful holiday season!

Christopher Hitchens was an asshole, an atheist, and a man who articulated – with an eloquence, wit, and courage  I can only dream of – big ideas about religion, war, politics, celebrity, and ultimately death. Hitchens’ own death, from complications brought about by esophageal cancer, came yesterday at age 62. It was a death Hitchens wrote about often from the time he was first diagnosed with the cancer in 2010. This is a repost of a  blog I wrote in August of that year:

There’s an old saying that there are no atheists in foxholes. Author, journalist, provocateur and atheist Christopher Hitchens seems determined to disprove that notion. Hitchens was recently diagnosed with esophageal cancer, a rare and highly fatal form of the disease. If you know anything about Hitchens, the cancer diagnosis isn’t exactly a shock. Hitchens has never seen a brown liquor that wasn’t his friend. In fact, he’s said his daily intake of alcohol was enough “to kill or stun the average mule.” The guy also happens to smoke like a chimney; in short, he’s burned the candle pretty hard on both ends.

But, Hitchens isn’t just a throwback when it comes to his vices. Like Mailer and Hemingway before him, he’s not afraid to mix it up. He backs up all his bullshit and bravado with some incredible writing and some incredible risk, such as the time he underwent a waterboarding session.

Hitchens was able to call off the dogs during that experience, but now he’s facing a more pernicious beast. Like most patients with esophageal cancer, Hitchens was diagnosed after the disease had spread through his body. The death rate associated with this particular form of cancer is high. Fewer than 5% of people survive more than 5 years. The leading risk factors for the cancer? You guessed it: cigarettes and alcohol.

Because of his grim circumstances, many have wondered whether Hitchens would have a change of heart when it comes to his stance on religion. He’s a militant atheist; so much so that he wrote a best-seller making his case against religions of all sort. So, now that he is in a face off with death, has Hitchens had a “come into the light” epiphany? Is he ready to soften his stance on believers and actually, well, you know, pray?

Not surprisingly, Hitchens says his answer to all those questions is “no.” He remains steadfast in his atheism and  says if he ever did join a religion, it would be an effect of the cancer and the treatment, and that by that point he would no longer be himself. Love him or hate him, you have to respect the intellectual honesty of the guy. His convictions are being put to the ultimate test and he’s refusing to place odds on Pascal’s Wager. It’s a stance that has made me think long and hard about how I would deal with the imminent prospect of shedding this mortal coil. By the way, Hitchens says feel free to pray for him, but a wish of good luck will suffice. Here he is describing his battle with cancer in typically brilliant fashion.

Vanity Fair: Topic of Cancer

As I connect with more and more friends from long ago, I’ve come to an awareness that you can’t find anywhere else (simply because Facebook is where we all gather); confirmation that the snobby kids in grammar school are still snobby, the mean ones are still mean, and the cool fun kids are still magnetic.  All my juvenile judgments have been substantiated! Where else can you get a glimpse into the lives of all of your ex-boyfriends or girlfriends, how they are living, what they are doing, and what your life might have been like if you took the path of a lifelong journey with them. Choices of long ago are either validated or questioned.

Last night’s Facebook treat was a post by a high school friend who shared information about the meteor showers occurring last night and tonight between 10 p.m. and dawn. Normally, I might have given it a scant moment’s notice, but he provided so much data with such zest that I was compelled to walk outside at midnight and look up at the sky. I saw five meteor showers in about 15 minutes. It was the most amazing, naturally beautiful spectacle – long streaks of bright light flashing across the sky directly above me. Incredible. So, I thank Facebook and all the “posters” who share life, wisdom and enthusiasm.

Whoa, Harold. Armageddon much?

When San Francisco banned happy meals containing free toys, McDonalds promptly offered those plastic pieces of junk that break before the car pulls into the driveway for 10 cents with the purchase of a happy meal.

That move caused anger and – quite frankly – shear panic in the minds of health officials across the country.

The ever-present battle between fast food chains and public health officials wages on because we (the general public – yes, that means someone you know) refuse to take responsibility and practice self-control. I am in no way defending McDonalds – in my opinion, it is a monopoly of grease, fat and acne. However, I am suggesting that four happy meals a week might not be the most nutritious decision, especially when mixed with countless nights of video-gaming.

From a public relations standpoint, perhaps the banning of happy meal toys was more of a symbolic move. The fact that McDonalds is still offering the toys (and possibly gaining a profit) has once again elevated the fast food health issue to a national level.

That being said, perhaps America does need to cut back on those saturated fats. But we have to do on our own – I repeat, self-control. Banning a toy will not stop the grease-cravers, and it might just make McDonalds 10 extra cents.