This is my blog...this is my blog about my pursuit of the golden ticket into advertising. But today, I don't feel like writing about that. You see, today, is the fourth anniversary of my dad's passing. A day that not only will never be the same, but one that defined who I am and the kind of man I aim to be, four short years ago.
June 22nd is a normal day to most, but to me, it's the day I held my dad's hand as he took his final breath. Regardless of the struggle he endured over 18 months of chemotherapy and prescription drug use, he smiled and endured, soaking up every chance he had to show me & my brother the stuff we weren't supposed to learn yet; the stuff that he was supposed to teach us as we grew in our adult lives. It was painful, humbling and precious all at once. Tears come to my eyes as I type this because I can hear the words, the advice he wanted us to have before he was unable to give it.
He told us time is precious. To say say that, would be an understatement. I watched a man, a young man in today's standards (51) have the unfathomable happen to him - to be told his life would be cut short. But instead of saying "why me" he said "what's left to do" He loved harder, shared more, and laughed louder. I couldn't imagine his thinking; but I saw what he was doing. He was showing us that we'll be alright. We'll be able to live and live well without him. I will love him forever for that in particular.
I've watched over the years as my mom, brother and I have moved forward. We've become closer as a family. We use Father's Day to remember together. And this past one was a bit easier than the last. Everyday with added sentimental meaning is easier than the last. It's how things are. You move on, but you never forget; and that's why I'm posting this, because a day will not pass, I don't forget.
This isn't a post to describe his positive attitude. There are millions of instances, like this, where people see the light in darkness. Was he a saint, no; but, he was my dad, which puts him on a podium many can't touch. The funny thing is, we were never a sit down and talk things out kind of father-son type. We were the ones who would yell about it, until someone gave in. That was the competitive nature that we both were blessed with. Surprisingly, with everything that was not said, said and done, I don't regret our relationship. I remember the hugs, the comments of praise and the moments we just sat, saying/doing nothing. Those are the ones that you tend to miss the most.
The whole point of this is to not bring tears to everyone or even myself. It's for everyone to know that at 21 years old you should be too young to learn these lessons. I did though and I've never been prouder of myself. I'm able to see the big picture now, and it has the potential to be a masterpiece.
You know someone once told me I'm young in age, but have an old soul. I only have one man to thank for that, and it's not me.
Do yourself a favor, enjoy the moments you have with your father...nobody deserves to go through those moments without one.
For my Dad.
Mark Wills
January 3, 1955 - June 22, 2006
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
A Little Campaign I Helped Build...
Every Generation Y representative has a sense of entitlement. They don't call it the "Me" Generation for nothing. But I haven't been abiding by this rule and in true team player fashion I was looking for an assist rather than a goal. The time has come for me to put my name to a campaign I helped build.
When I started in my current position, the first task was to build our brand. This was a relatively simple step since, there had been little marketing efforts to the day; it was a clean slate for my work and i've built it into a small/medium sized empire!
A great man once told me,"You have the loyalty of a Labrador Retriever."
In typical Lab fashion I sought out Concerto Marketing Group to begin the building of my empire. The smallish, gastown shop was run by the father of a player on my PeeWee AAA hockey team at the time. Peter had a helping hand in offering morsels of guidance as I ventured into the Vancouver job market; morsels I appreciated and felt should be rewarded by new business.
The process began and my vision was met. Nonprofit publications are filled with valuable information and, unfortunately, poor, boring, text-filled ads. I wanted to stand out. I saw a simple ad using our affliation with the color green as the focal point. Three campaigns were produced I was immediately drawn to them - like a moth to a flame. Maybe it's because I believe standing out in advertising is how leaders are made; or maybe it's because I hate playing it safe.
Love them, hate them; but most of all, enjoy them.
'Excuses'
When I started in my current position, the first task was to build our brand. This was a relatively simple step since, there had been little marketing efforts to the day; it was a clean slate for my work and i've built it into a small/medium sized empire!
A great man once told me,"You have the loyalty of a Labrador Retriever."
In typical Lab fashion I sought out Concerto Marketing Group to begin the building of my empire. The smallish, gastown shop was run by the father of a player on my PeeWee AAA hockey team at the time. Peter had a helping hand in offering morsels of guidance as I ventured into the Vancouver job market; morsels I appreciated and felt should be rewarded by new business.
The process began and my vision was met. Nonprofit publications are filled with valuable information and, unfortunately, poor, boring, text-filled ads. I wanted to stand out. I saw a simple ad using our affliation with the color green as the focal point. Three campaigns were produced I was immediately drawn to them - like a moth to a flame. Maybe it's because I believe standing out in advertising is how leaders are made; or maybe it's because I hate playing it safe.
I'm extremely proud of these ads and have enjoyed the outpouring of support for them, by the nonprofit industry. They are different. They take a stance many organizations have never taken and most of all, they follow the K.I.S.S. principle (Keep It Simple Stupid).
Love them, hate them; but most of all, enjoy them.
'Excuses'
This campaign speaks directly to the hearts and minds of charity representatives who have heard every excuse under the sun from people trying to avoid donating. However, it turns those lame excuses into positive reinforcement by introducing the product benefits of the IATS process which make giving easier, safer and more rewarding.
‘Good Company’
This campaign features the varying range of impressive and sometimes eclectic charities that we service and support. For a prospective charity client, it immediately tells them that they will be traveling in good company and that by association, IATS is a credible and reputable, service provider with a uniquely dedicated focus on the non profit sector.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Raw Emotion At Its Finest...
As I sat, staring at my TV, anticipating NBC's newest video montage of the NHL playoffs - to help build even more excitement for the game to come - I wasn't prepared for the commercial break amazingness to be.
The montage came and went and I was even more jacked up now - It's the Cup at stake...1 more series before I get to look forward to the Entry Draft and the greatest day in all of the NHL, Free Agent Signing Day July 1st.
My emotions were high because I, to some degree, understand the heartpounding excitement and knee-shaking nervousness the players were feeling (more on that in a second). "It's just another game" is a line coaches tell you to take your mind off the butterflies nesting in your stomach walls.
The first commercial break began and to my disbelief, a non-"History will be made" NHL commercial came on. It was better. It was humbling. It was raw.
About that feeling I knew. I won a National Baseball title back in 1999. Those were the days. "The Boys of Summer" we were titled by the local media. But when we won, we were interviewed by various outlets to describe the feeling. The only thing I could muster, through tear-filled eyes, was "It's amazing!" Because it was. It was better than amazing, it was Superamazingawesomeness to be exact.
This "There Are No Words" ad re-established those feelings I felt back in the 20th Century. The thing is, every man, woman or child, who has ever won anything - be it a spelling bee, cook-off or a national championship - felt the same thing I did.
These men are held at the same level as superheroes. Cities can be crushed, or resurrected by them. I know some of them personally and am astonished at two things; 1. They were one of the "less than 1%" of hockey players worldwide that made it & 2. Their job is to play something they love.
Regardless, they are human in the end. To see Mark Messier drawn to tears -after he crushed the city of Vancouver's dreams in '94 - allowed me to think of him not as a villian, but a hockey player humbled by a trophy he'd won before...then I snapped out of it and cursed the Rangers out.
This has been a hell of a playoffs for the NHL's marketing team. Well done to you and to Young & Rubicam for offering guidance into an eternal place in NHL advertising history.
The montage came and went and I was even more jacked up now - It's the Cup at stake...1 more series before I get to look forward to the Entry Draft and the greatest day in all of the NHL, Free Agent Signing Day July 1st.
My emotions were high because I, to some degree, understand the heartpounding excitement and knee-shaking nervousness the players were feeling (more on that in a second). "It's just another game" is a line coaches tell you to take your mind off the butterflies nesting in your stomach walls.
The first commercial break began and to my disbelief, a non-"History will be made" NHL commercial came on. It was better. It was humbling. It was raw.
About that feeling I knew. I won a National Baseball title back in 1999. Those were the days. "The Boys of Summer" we were titled by the local media. But when we won, we were interviewed by various outlets to describe the feeling. The only thing I could muster, through tear-filled eyes, was "It's amazing!" Because it was. It was better than amazing, it was Superamazingawesomeness to be exact.
This "There Are No Words" ad re-established those feelings I felt back in the 20th Century. The thing is, every man, woman or child, who has ever won anything - be it a spelling bee, cook-off or a national championship - felt the same thing I did.
These men are held at the same level as superheroes. Cities can be crushed, or resurrected by them. I know some of them personally and am astonished at two things; 1. They were one of the "less than 1%" of hockey players worldwide that made it & 2. Their job is to play something they love.
Regardless, they are human in the end. To see Mark Messier drawn to tears -after he crushed the city of Vancouver's dreams in '94 - allowed me to think of him not as a villian, but a hockey player humbled by a trophy he'd won before...then I snapped out of it and cursed the Rangers out.
This has been a hell of a playoffs for the NHL's marketing team. Well done to you and to Young & Rubicam for offering guidance into an eternal place in NHL advertising history.
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