Rob C
@robc.bsky.social
Positive pessimist. Also a Forest fan. Probably connected. Ex-Cynic, Wieden+Kennedy & R/GA. Now at Colenso, Weigel/Campbell & Metallica.
When you think it would be cute to have a Lego replica of your dog … so you send a pic and £50 to a company and then 6 weeks later they send you this!!! No instructions. No reminder of the photo you sent. Just a mass of brown and white Lego stuff. The genius pricks.
December 17, 2025 at 3:33 AM
When you think it would be cute to have a Lego replica of your dog … so you send a pic and £50 to a company and then 6 weeks later they send you this!!! No instructions. No reminder of the photo you sent. Just a mass of brown and white Lego stuff. The genius pricks.
Why 2025 was a year of lies, love, loss, luck, betrayal, health, happiness, memories, ghosting, ridiculousness and celebrity. (AKA. My last blog post of the year. But sadly it will be back next year, which will be TWENTY years)
Some Years Make You, Some Years Break You … This Year Confused The Hell Out Of Me
So I know that I’ve only just got back to writing this blog after being away for my eye-op, but today is going to be the last post of this year. Yes, it’s earlier than it normally is. Yes, I will m…
robcampbell.co
December 9, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Why 2025 was a year of lies, love, loss, luck, betrayal, health, happiness, memories, ghosting, ridiculousness and celebrity. (AKA. My last blog post of the year. But sadly it will be back next year, which will be TWENTY years)
How Bowie showed strategists who 'post rationalise’, know what they're doing far more than those who say their process works in a seamless, straight line, everytime:
(AKA: Why companies who claim to have an efficient process don't really know how good strategy - or creativity - actually happens)
(AKA: Why companies who claim to have an efficient process don't really know how good strategy - or creativity - actually happens)
We All Post-Rationalise …
In strategy, one of the biggest insults is someone saying the strategy was post-rationalised to fit the work. The accusation implies you are a parasite of creativity … bigging yourself up on …
robcampbell.co
December 8, 2025 at 5:39 PM
How Bowie showed strategists who 'post rationalise’, know what they're doing far more than those who say their process works in a seamless, straight line, everytime:
(AKA: Why companies who claim to have an efficient process don't really know how good strategy - or creativity - actually happens)
(AKA: Why companies who claim to have an efficient process don't really know how good strategy - or creativity - actually happens)
Why thinking small lets you do things others feel are big:
Think Small To Feel Big …
This is the last week of blog posts for 2025. I know … I know … it’s the Christmas gift you’ve all wanted. And it gets better, because not only is this post relatively short…
robcampbell.co
December 7, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Why thinking small lets you do things others feel are big:
What happens when people don't know what they're doing or talking about:
(AKA: When a beauty company doesn't realise what ugly ads say about them)
(AKA: When a beauty company doesn't realise what ugly ads say about them)
How To Destroy A Brand In One Photo …
Birkin. The Holy Grail of handbags. Created in 1984 when the CEO of Hermes, Jean-Louis Dumas met the actress Jane Birkin. They’re sold exclusively through Hermes stores and you have to jump through…
robcampbell.co
December 4, 2025 at 5:46 PM
What happens when people don't know what they're doing or talking about:
(AKA: When a beauty company doesn't realise what ugly ads say about them)
(AKA: When a beauty company doesn't realise what ugly ads say about them)
Why a personalized license/numberplate can reveal more about you than a psychologist:
What Does Your Number Plate Say About You?
I’ve always found personalized number plates fascinating which is why a while back I wrote about the ones that were near where I live. Anyway, I recently saw 2 that got me thinking … Th…
robcampbell.co
December 3, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Why a personalized license/numberplate can reveal more about you than a psychologist:
Why you can’t create a meaningful brand experience if you’re don’t invest in the ceremony of purchase.
The Ceremony Of Purchase In The Pursuit Of Perfection …
Over the years I’ve written a lot about brands who spend time and money ensuring their customers feel they’ve purchased something of significantly greater value than the functional cost…
robcampbell.co
December 2, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Why you can’t create a meaningful brand experience if you’re don’t invest in the ceremony of purchase.
Why the issue with AI is more to do with the lack of imagination inside companies - who too often, simply see it as a tool for optimization and efficiency - than the technology itself:
It May Be Artificial, But It’s Still Intelligent …
I’ve written quite a lot about AI – specifically, how the worrying elements of it are less about the tech and more about the people behind it. But that doesn’t take away it has in…
robcampbell.co
December 1, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Why the issue with AI is more to do with the lack of imagination inside companies - who too often, simply see it as a tool for optimization and efficiency - than the technology itself:
Why I feel like a nepo-baby with none of the benefits. Happy Monday.
If You Think Your Monday Is Bad, Ask Yourself …
… is it ‘you look like Gary V’ bad? No, I didn’t think so, so consider yourself far more fortunate than me. I will be spending the rest of the day looking up the finest Sout…
robcampbell.co
November 30, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Why I feel like a nepo-baby with none of the benefits. Happy Monday.
Why most multi-company collaboration is like an episode of Traitors.
Collaboration Doesn’t Happen By Itself …
I saw the below image recently and it got me thinking about how it is a perfect representation of how most – but not all – ‘multi-agency’ relationships really work. As I sai…
robcampbell.co
November 27, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Why most multi-company collaboration is like an episode of Traitors.
Why are more and more people in advertising talking about everything except making actual work? (AKA. Don’t be an Advertising Psycho)
Don’t Be An Advertising Psycho …
I’ve been lucky enough to work with some of the most talented advertising people in the whole business. Not in terms of popularity. Not in terms of ‘thought leadership’. But in te…
robcampbell.co
November 26, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Why are more and more people in advertising talking about everything except making actual work? (AKA. Don’t be an Advertising Psycho)
Why the worst news is my sight isn’t fully back, but my blog is. (Sorry)
Say No To …
… guide dogs. … white sticks. … braille books. … speech to text. … permanent passenger seat. … more looking like a shit pirate … life of darkness. At least…
robcampbell.co
November 25, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Why the worst news is my sight isn’t fully back, but my blog is. (Sorry)
A final post before I see if a surgeon can give a strategist vision. Literally, not just metaphorically, haha. (See you when my eye decides to let me back)
Why The Long Face …
So this is going to be the last post for a while. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure when they will start again – hopefully in a couple of weeks, as I have a bunch of shit to write to close the ye…
robcampbell.co
November 6, 2025 at 5:56 PM
A final post before I see if a surgeon can give a strategist vision. Literally, not just metaphorically, haha. (See you when my eye decides to let me back)
Why we need to stop our young talent believing flaws equate to personal and professional failure. (Not just for the benefit of their potential, but for the future they will create that we will all end up one day living in)
Why The Heaviest Thing In The World To Carry Is The Belief Only You Hold A Flaw …
They say you get wiser when you’re older. I’m not so sure of that. You just get more efficient at doing the bits you know, over and over again. The other stuff? Well that hides, waiting…
robcampbell.co
November 5, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Why we need to stop our young talent believing flaws equate to personal and professional failure. (Not just for the benefit of their potential, but for the future they will create that we will all end up one day living in)
Why we need to remember all fiction becomes fact if we’re don’t pay enough attention to it:
Fiction Is Just A Documentary Ahead Of It’s Time …
Given today is Guy Fawkes day in the UK, this post seems appropriate. Even though it’s not about the UK. Or someone trying to blow up the houses of Parliament. It’s about America and th…
robcampbell.co
November 4, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Why we need to remember all fiction becomes fact if we’re don’t pay enough attention to it:
Why nothing says I’m (finally) maturing more than being happy watching people I care about, doing things that make them happy. (I know, I’m as shocked as anyone. Thank god the list of people I care about is short enough to keep it manageable – haha)
A Smile Is (Sometimes) Better Than An Award …
So this is another post about Augustine. I know … I know … haven’t I done enough of those already? I mean, seriously … wasn’t the over-long, over-sentimental love lett…
robcampbell.co
November 3, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Why nothing says I’m (finally) maturing more than being happy watching people I care about, doing things that make them happy. (I know, I’m as shocked as anyone. Thank god the list of people I care about is short enough to keep it manageable – haha)
Why the World is a less caring place after a decade of lost birthdays without my Mum.
A Decade Of Missed Birthdays …
Today would have been my Mum’s 93rd birthday. The only thing more amazing than that is that it means she has been gone a decade. The irony is that while Mum is always in my life, it’s t…
robcampbell.co
November 2, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Why the World is a less caring place after a decade of lost birthdays without my Mum.
Why we have to stop agencies and clients from robbing the excitement out of strategy. (Which is as less about the process we use and more about the people we hire. Or more specifically, don’t)
Don’t Let Strategy Take The Excitement Out Of Possibility …
So I have good news. This is the last post for a week. Yep, I’m away. Again. Not because of whatever happened with the result I wrote about yesterday – but something else. Though if the…
robcampbell.co
October 23, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Why we have to stop agencies and clients from robbing the excitement out of strategy. (Which is as less about the process we use and more about the people we hire. Or more specifically, don’t)
Why it’s not every day you know a day is going to determine the rest of your life. And let me tell you, it absolutely sucks. Haha.
I’m A Burning Platform, Out Of Control. Apparently. (And Sadly, Not In A Good Way. Goddamnit)
So today, I am going to the surgeon for my eye. As I’ve written a bunch about, it’s not going great – in fact this is the first time in my life I’ve had an issue that [1] ha…
robcampbell.co
October 22, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Why it’s not every day you know a day is going to determine the rest of your life. And let me tell you, it absolutely sucks. Haha.
Why sometimes, an act of vandalism is an act of love. And sometimes it can be an act of pissing someone off you don’t like. Or it can both be true at the same time and this is the story how I learned this at Wieden+Kennedy Shanghai:
Sometimes You Just Have To Stick Around Even If You Outstay Your Welcome …
One of the most special times of my life – not just career – was working at Wieden+Kennedy. Specifically Wieden+Kennedy Shanghai. Of all the adventures and experiences I’ve had in…
robcampbell.co
October 21, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Why sometimes, an act of vandalism is an act of love. And sometimes it can be an act of pissing someone off you don’t like. Or it can both be true at the same time and this is the story how I learned this at Wieden+Kennedy Shanghai:
Why companies need to stop hiding behind NPS scores and get back to focusing on satisfying the needs and wants of the customer and then everyone wins. Not just the consultants with their systems and %’s.
It’s Worth Remembering That Customer Service Is About The Customer …
A recent area of growth has been the importance of the NPS score. NPS – which stands for Net Promoter Score – is a way for companies to evaluate how their customers view them. The highe…
robcampbell.co
October 20, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Why companies need to stop hiding behind NPS scores and get back to focusing on satisfying the needs and wants of the customer and then everyone wins. Not just the consultants with their systems and %’s.
What we can learn from the recently deceased, 95 year old actress, Patricia Routledge about living a fulfilled life for all your life and how the secret to it all is to show up fully for all you do.
What We Can Learn About Aging From Mrs Bucket. Pronounced Bouquet’ …
I’m back … well, at least in terms of this blog. And while last week was a detour from what it was supposed to be, it ended up being very important given the rollercoaster I experienced…
robcampbell.co
October 19, 2025 at 6:02 PM
What we can learn from the recently deceased, 95 year old actress, Patricia Routledge about living a fulfilled life for all your life and how the secret to it all is to show up fully for all you do.
How I learned as much as I love money, there’s not enough of it to make me into a subservient, complicit puppet … and that's both unfortunate and fortunate.
How I Learned There’s Not Enough Money In The World For Me To Be A Subservient Puppet. Unfortunately. And Fortunately.
I once got a job that paid me more money than I ever could possibly have imagined I’d earn. More money than my parents ever earned – quite possibly in their entire lifetime – which was pretty horri…
robcampbell.co
October 15, 2025 at 5:53 PM
How I learned as much as I love money, there’s not enough of it to make me into a subservient, complicit puppet … and that's both unfortunate and fortunate.
Why we need to stop going to specialists to ask them questions about our problems then believing we know better than all their expertise.
Stop Going To The Doctor To Prescribe Your Own Medication …
Imagine you go to the doctor. You tell them your problem. They diagnose your issue and prescribe meds. “No …”, you say, “… that’s not right, you need to give me this”. The doctor listens patiently …
robcampbell.co
October 14, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Why we need to stop going to specialists to ask them questions about our problems then believing we know better than all their expertise.