@dereklwalker.bsky.social
You can continue with a client who has the same tastes and sensibilities, and keep slamming into that wall. The results are going to have them looking for a new agency sooner than later, but you do you.
Growing clients is the secret weapon we have decided to ignore. And it shows.
Growing clients is the secret weapon we have decided to ignore. And it shows.
December 1, 2025 at 3:19 PM
You can continue with a client who has the same tastes and sensibilities, and keep slamming into that wall. The results are going to have them looking for a new agency sooner than later, but you do you.
Growing clients is the secret weapon we have decided to ignore. And it shows.
Growing clients is the secret weapon we have decided to ignore. And it shows.
This sounds expensive and time consuming. It can be. However, the benefits of having a client who understands and appreciates advertising that attempts to get them notice and break through the clutter pays a lot more in the end.
You don't have to do this.
You don't have to do this.
December 1, 2025 at 3:19 PM
This sounds expensive and time consuming. It can be. However, the benefits of having a client who understands and appreciates advertising that attempts to get them notice and break through the clutter pays a lot more in the end.
You don't have to do this.
You don't have to do this.
Marketing and advertising folks have to meet clients where they are, and help them to move beyond that.
Education is part of the process - calling the account service team, you're up. So is the creative director.
Education is part of the process - calling the account service team, you're up. So is the creative director.
December 1, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Marketing and advertising folks have to meet clients where they are, and help them to move beyond that.
Education is part of the process - calling the account service team, you're up. So is the creative director.
Education is part of the process - calling the account service team, you're up. So is the creative director.
If you have not helped ("educated") the client on what better advertising is, you are still dealing with a client who does not really know better. Yet you expect them to now appreciate different and better work.
Right.
Right.
December 1, 2025 at 3:19 PM
If you have not helped ("educated") the client on what better advertising is, you are still dealing with a client who does not really know better. Yet you expect them to now appreciate different and better work.
Right.
Right.
You cannot trust the client's taste! Remember the work they did before you, that they thought was wonderful and effective but it wasn't? Yeah, these are the same people now fawning all over your work.
Hear me out before you burn me at the stake.
Hear me out before you burn me at the stake.
December 1, 2025 at 3:19 PM
You cannot trust the client's taste! Remember the work they did before you, that they thought was wonderful and effective but it wasn't? Yeah, these are the same people now fawning all over your work.
Hear me out before you burn me at the stake.
Hear me out before you burn me at the stake.
You can continue with a client who has the same tastes and sensibilities, and keep slamming into that wall. The results are going to have them looking for a new agency sooner than later, but you do you.
Growing clients is the secret weapon we have decided to ignore. And it shows.
Growing clients is the secret weapon we have decided to ignore. And it shows.
December 1, 2025 at 3:09 PM
You can continue with a client who has the same tastes and sensibilities, and keep slamming into that wall. The results are going to have them looking for a new agency sooner than later, but you do you.
Growing clients is the secret weapon we have decided to ignore. And it shows.
Growing clients is the secret weapon we have decided to ignore. And it shows.
This sounds expensive and time consuming. It can be. However, the benefits of having a client who understands and appreciates advertising that attempts to get them notice and break through the clutter pays a lot more in the end.
You don't have to do this.
You don't have to do this.
December 1, 2025 at 3:09 PM
This sounds expensive and time consuming. It can be. However, the benefits of having a client who understands and appreciates advertising that attempts to get them notice and break through the clutter pays a lot more in the end.
You don't have to do this.
You don't have to do this.
Marketing and advertising folks have to meet clients where they are, and help them to move beyond that.
Education is part of the process - calling the account service team, you're up. So is the creative director.
Education is part of the process - calling the account service team, you're up. So is the creative director.
December 1, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Marketing and advertising folks have to meet clients where they are, and help them to move beyond that.
Education is part of the process - calling the account service team, you're up. So is the creative director.
Education is part of the process - calling the account service team, you're up. So is the creative director.
If you have not helped ("educated") the client on what better advertising is, you are still dealing with a client who does not really know better. Yet you expect them to now appreciate different and better work. Right.
December 1, 2025 at 3:09 PM
If you have not helped ("educated") the client on what better advertising is, you are still dealing with a client who does not really know better. Yet you expect them to now appreciate different and better work. Right.
You cannot trust the client's taste! Remember the work they did before you, that they thought was wonderful and effective but it wasn't? Yeah, these are the same people now fawning all over your work.
Hear me out before you burn me at the stake.
Hear me out before you burn me at the stake.
December 1, 2025 at 3:09 PM
You cannot trust the client's taste! Remember the work they did before you, that they thought was wonderful and effective but it wasn't? Yeah, these are the same people now fawning all over your work.
Hear me out before you burn me at the stake.
Hear me out before you burn me at the stake.
If your interactions with your advertising folks are no different than talking with accounting or finance teams, you are so screwed. (No offense to accounting and finance, I'm just saying)
November 26, 2025 at 3:55 PM
If your interactions with your advertising folks are no different than talking with accounting or finance teams, you are so screwed. (No offense to accounting and finance, I'm just saying)
I am training as many as clients as I can. Big and established clients can't afford to hear this, but small and medium companies can.
The thing about saying something is that it cannot be unheard. Sure, people can ignore or forget it but sooner or later, they hear it.
The thing about saying something is that it cannot be unheard. Sure, people can ignore or forget it but sooner or later, they hear it.
November 24, 2025 at 3:59 PM
I am training as many as clients as I can. Big and established clients can't afford to hear this, but small and medium companies can.
The thing about saying something is that it cannot be unheard. Sure, people can ignore or forget it but sooner or later, they hear it.
The thing about saying something is that it cannot be unheard. Sure, people can ignore or forget it but sooner or later, they hear it.
I am listening.
November 24, 2025 at 3:57 PM
I am listening.
Right now, marketers and advertising folks will say anything to get what they want, and nope, they won't call or even text you the next day. You won't hear from them until they need another sales hit.
And brands wonder why people don't trust them.
And brands wonder why people don't trust them.
November 23, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Right now, marketers and advertising folks will say anything to get what they want, and nope, they won't call or even text you the next day. You won't hear from them until they need another sales hit.
And brands wonder why people don't trust them.
And brands wonder why people don't trust them.
Happy Friday!!
November 21, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Happy Friday!!
"Creative standard"
This is not a brand guide or standard, it is bigger than that.
And guess what, a creative director sets, guides and enforces the creative standard.
"Creative standard"
This is not a brand guide or standard, it is bigger than that.
And guess what, a creative director sets, guides and enforces the creative standard.
"Creative standard"
November 20, 2025 at 4:52 PM
"Creative standard"
This is not a brand guide or standard, it is bigger than that.
And guess what, a creative director sets, guides and enforces the creative standard.
"Creative standard"
This is not a brand guide or standard, it is bigger than that.
And guess what, a creative director sets, guides and enforces the creative standard.
"Creative standard"
I disagree and stand as firmly on this:
Creativity is not a skill, it is a talent. Not everyone can be taught to draw or write or sing or perform at the highest levels. Creativity is the opposite of patterns. Creativity ruins chess because it pushes against patterns.
I'm done.
Creativity is not a skill, it is a talent. Not everyone can be taught to draw or write or sing or perform at the highest levels. Creativity is the opposite of patterns. Creativity ruins chess because it pushes against patterns.
I'm done.
November 15, 2025 at 8:35 PM
I disagree and stand as firmly on this:
Creativity is not a skill, it is a talent. Not everyone can be taught to draw or write or sing or perform at the highest levels. Creativity is the opposite of patterns. Creativity ruins chess because it pushes against patterns.
I'm done.
Creativity is not a skill, it is a talent. Not everyone can be taught to draw or write or sing or perform at the highest levels. Creativity is the opposite of patterns. Creativity ruins chess because it pushes against patterns.
I'm done.
Simple.
Creating conditions is like planting, you clearing the ground and working the soil does not teach the seed to grow, it helps it to be what it is.
Managing the conditions allow people to be as creative as they can be. It doesn't show them how to be creative, it lets them grow.
Creating conditions is like planting, you clearing the ground and working the soil does not teach the seed to grow, it helps it to be what it is.
Managing the conditions allow people to be as creative as they can be. It doesn't show them how to be creative, it lets them grow.
November 14, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Simple.
Creating conditions is like planting, you clearing the ground and working the soil does not teach the seed to grow, it helps it to be what it is.
Managing the conditions allow people to be as creative as they can be. It doesn't show them how to be creative, it lets them grow.
Creating conditions is like planting, you clearing the ground and working the soil does not teach the seed to grow, it helps it to be what it is.
Managing the conditions allow people to be as creative as they can be. It doesn't show them how to be creative, it lets them grow.
You cannot teach what you cannot explain or quantify.
This doesn't mean we cannot learn to recognize and appreciate creativity - that's different. And becoming better at recognizing and appreciating creativity should be the goal for many.
This doesn't mean we cannot learn to recognize and appreciate creativity - that's different. And becoming better at recognizing and appreciating creativity should be the goal for many.
November 14, 2025 at 2:54 PM
You cannot teach what you cannot explain or quantify.
This doesn't mean we cannot learn to recognize and appreciate creativity - that's different. And becoming better at recognizing and appreciating creativity should be the goal for many.
This doesn't mean we cannot learn to recognize and appreciate creativity - that's different. And becoming better at recognizing and appreciating creativity should be the goal for many.