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While attending college, I was Vice President of the marketing fraternity where I competed in a national student marketing and advertising competition of over 50 colleges and universities throughout the United States; hosted by a major "Madison Avenue" agency. My winning written plan, in addition to getting me interviewed by the college newspaper for a story (which made me even more popular with the babes -- as if that was possible), had gotten the attention of one of the marketing fraternity's professional advisors who was an account supervisor at a large local advertising agency. Although I was currently employed at the agency where I had interned, we discussed the possibility of coming to work for him at some time in the future. A couple of years later I accepted his offer to work for him as a strategic account planner and research analyst at his new agency. The agency had numerous broadcast oriented accounts including a couple of major (non-competing) restaurant chains. There were also banking and real estate accounts, among others. This agency was larger than the previous one and even more "strategically oriented." I was offered bigger bucks and a nice window office with lots of cool tropical plants and a very cool view -- people will sell their souls for a window office, eh?
As I mentioned, prior to deciding to go back to college to study marketing, I had worked as an advertising artist for several years. I also had training in developing television storyboards while attending commercial art school. As a student of marketing and commercial art, I was intrigued by the fact that -- in addition to an array of creative disciplines such as scriptwriting, casting, location scouting, set design, acting, makeup, wardrobe, voiceovers, graphics, 3d modeling/animation, camera, music/audio scoring, recording, video editing and finishing, and so forth (Whew!) -- a 30 second television spot can be the outgrowth of a very sophisticated strategic planning process.
I was always taught to have a reason for creative decision-making. While you can run the risk of "analysis paralysis," it is important to have a logical explanation for the arguments and decisions you make in developing creative work. It is also invaluable when presenting creative ideas to clients who typically (and justifiably) have numerous questions and concerns. Knowing that you have solid reasoning behind your arguments is a great confidence booster in a client presentation. After all, the client boardroom is not the place for opinions without solid support.