The Headline-A-Day Page

The most talented is only occasionally the first promoted.

2012-01-04T11:27:00.001-05:00

Everybody’s winging it.

2011-11-06T20:28:00.001-05:00

There is always a more effective, impactful or persuasive word than “better”.

2011-06-01T13:59:00.001-04:00

Don’t kill. Execute.

2011-02-24T17:04:00.001-05:00

Inspiration is a reaction.

2010-10-27T21:18:00.002-04:00

Ironically, opportunity rarely reveals itself at opportune times.

2010-10-27T21:06:00.001-04:00

Nobody really knows what’s going on with all this internet stuff. Some are just really good fakers.

2010-08-30T10:27:00.002-04:00

Keep a pad and a pen with you. Especially if you you’re walking into a room where you know you’ll need one.

2010-06-17T17:19:00.002-04:00

Very, very rarely is everything — your chair, the temperature, your state of mind — just right.

2010-04-12T15:12:00.001-04:00

In the real world, coming up with a great idea is like leading a marathon at the 3-mile mark.

2010-03-26T14:00:00.003-04:00

This is my first-ever guest-submitted headline, but I liked it too much to pass it up. Thanks to Neel Williams, copywriter at The Martin Agency.

Downtime is brain-feed time.

2010-03-22T10:24:00.001-04:00

So sometimes you will suck. Accept it. Embrace it. And get over it.

2010-03-17T22:38:00.000-04:00

If you showed up to a meeting/class/work today still sweating, post-shower, from your workout, you are doing something right.

2010-03-01T14:50:00.001-05:00

Never run away. Only run to.

2010-02-10T06:59:00.000-05:00

This is about the misery you may be feeling right now at work. If you run away, you are leaving something behind. Make sure when you run, it’s to something, not just away from what you have.

Do not wait for someone to tell you what to do.

2010-02-09T15:38:00.000-05:00

Acknowledge inspiration, even when it’s only a random flash on the periphery.

2010-02-03T08:24:00.001-05:00

Worry less about what people will think of you and more about filling that damn blank page.

2009-11-03T21:05:00.000-05:00

Don’t shy away from sappy; make the sappy idea good.

2009-10-27T18:22:00.001-04:00

Always have a fantasy, or else you may be disappointed with your own success.

2009-10-20T17:14:00.001-04:00

Thank you for reading. I need a break.

2009-10-16T08:29:00.003-04:00

I started this daily list of ideas in December, 2007. And it was fun for a while. But recently it has been more of a burden.

Thank you, Andy Pearson and Kasia Haupt, for the inspiration to do this. I have learned a lot about the creative process and about myself over the past 432 posts. Thank you, Rusty, Patrick, Alex, Ashley, Elizabeth, Erin, Jackie from New Zealand and everyone else I haven’t named, for reading, caring and following this blog.

Now go create something great for yourself. Make us all proud.

I will still post to this page, just not daily. So don't delete the RSS feed if you subscribe, and come back every couple of weeks.

Later,

Dan

“The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” — Conventional Wisdom

2009-10-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

“You’re good. Get better. Stop asking for things.” — Don Draper

2009-10-14T07:26:00.001-04:00

Learn to recognize your own personal impediments.

2009-10-13T19:08:00.001-04:00

Connect with people. If you succeed at that, everything else becomes easier.

2009-10-12T07:19:00.000-04:00

Is Twitter a fad?

2009-10-09T07:16:00.000-04:00

An idea is not a thing. It’s what you do with the idea that really matters.

2009-10-08T06:15:00.000-04:00

There’s nothing wrong with being self-serving. Except, of course, the social and professional fallout.

2009-10-07T08:07:00.000-04:00

Beware: In advertising, everyone plays by his or her own ethical rule book.

2009-10-06T08:02:00.000-04:00

A shorter email is better 100% of the time.

2009-10-05T08:06:00.000-04:00

Are you creative? What does “creative” mean, anyway?

2009-10-02T08:22:00.000-04:00

Ask questions. People love to feel important, and you may learn something.

2009-10-01T09:21:00.001-04:00

Today is either an off day or a day off.

2009-09-30T21:53:00.000-04:00

This blog is the longest ad I have ever written.

2009-09-29T08:23:00.000-04:00

Despite your inexperience, nobody can make the decision for you.

2009-09-28T07:09:00.000-04:00

What’s your immediate reaction to the phrase, “Take the rest of the day off”?

2009-09-25T06:53:00.001-04:00

Empathy is an acquired taste.

2009-09-24T07:55:00.000-04:00

As ad creatives, it’s not our job to make someone want us. It’s our job to make someone want our client’s brand.

2009-09-23T08:44:00.000-04:00

Never blame others for your failures.

2009-09-22T08:55:00.000-04:00

An axiom is just advice that’s been typeset.

2009-09-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

If you had everything you wanted, would you be happier?

2009-09-18T08:56:00.001-04:00

That whole thing about expect the unexpected: Totally true.

2009-09-17T14:45:00.001-04:00

Willingness and work ethic are worth at least as much — if not more than — talent.

2009-09-16T06:41:00.000-04:00

It is entirely plausible that everything I say today will be incorrect.

2009-09-15T07:10:00.000-04:00

Even ad careers have layovers in ATL.

2009-09-14T08:23:00.000-04:00

What is your best skill or talent?

2009-09-11T07:13:00.000-04:00

This is no time for modesty. Sell yourself. Now.

2009-09-10T07:50:00.000-04:00

A copywriter’s job is to make it all make sense.

2009-09-09T09:09:00.000-04:00

The art director’s job is not to figure out what to show but rather how to show it.

2009-09-08T06:29:00.000-04:00

Concentrate less on getting it all done and more on the emotional damage all of it can cause.

2009-09-07T08:09:00.000-04:00

Why do most ads and commercials suck?

2009-09-04T07:11:00.000-04:00

Take risks. Try to embarrass yourself. The worst that can happen is something great.

2009-09-03T06:44:00.000-04:00

The medium is not the message. The message is the message.

2009-09-02T06:43:00.000-04:00

My hunch is that less than 3% of your imagined readers are actually reading your facebook status updates.

2009-09-01T07:07:00.000-04:00

You’re in the driver’s seat whether you’re holding the wheel or not.

2009-08-31T07:01:00.000-04:00

What wakes you up? Music? Caffeine? Deadlines? Cold water? What?

2009-08-28T08:45:00.001-04:00

As pros, our job is to disguise something brilliant as something palatable.

2009-08-27T07:54:00.000-04:00

Make it. Then sell it.

2009-08-26T07:20:00.000-04:00

Demonstrate a real commitment to your workplace so one day, when your life is upside down, it won’t be an issue at work.

2009-08-25T07:35:00.000-04:00

More often than not, even the best plans take a lot longer to see to fruition than you would want.

2009-08-24T07:06:00.000-04:00

The annual Headline-A-Day Page summer hiatus begins now.

2009-07-08T09:57:00.001-04:00

Don’t feign modesty. (Again paradoxically, it comes off as insincere and cocky.)

2009-07-07T12:41:00.001-04:00

Getting a haircut that’s cooler than you are has the paradoxical effect of making you even less cool.

2009-07-06T07:48:00.000-04:00

Alternate Headline: Be wary of those whose haircuts are cooler than they are.

Okay, so you have no ideas for your current assignment / problem / challenge. Where do you turn first for inspiration?

2009-07-03T08:19:00.000-04:00

I want ads on my social network as much as I want radio spots on my phone calls.

2009-07-02T10:36:00.000-04:00

Sometimes it’s critical to utterly, shamelessly unplug.

2009-07-01T10:24:00.000-04:00

Typos are acne.

2009-06-30T07:28:00.001-04:00

If you don’t know the difference between “its” and “it’s”, then you have no business calling yourself a writer.

2009-06-29T06:56:00.000-04:00

Do you laugh harder at other people’s Facebook posts or your own?

2009-06-26T06:45:00.000-04:00

Showing respect is the only way to earn it.

2009-06-25T07:33:00.000-04:00

Never, ever feel guilty for taking well-deserved time off.

2009-06-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

Make your idea happen, or you’ll be kicking yourself when you see that someone else has.

2009-06-23T07:16:00.000-04:00

Forgive, but never forget.

2009-06-22T07:20:00.000-04:00

What’s your favorite ad-biz perk?

2009-06-19T05:35:00.000-04:00

Be willing to kill your babies.

2009-06-18T08:44:00.000-04:00

In my world, prolific and good are synonymous.

2009-06-17T08:21:00.000-04:00

Don’t believe what you hear about people; make up your own mind.

2009-06-16T09:37:00.001-04:00

Create out of thin air, staring at a wall. (That’s how I wrote this post.)

2009-06-15T07:24:00.000-04:00

What do you do to reward yourself immediately after a great meeting, presentation or solo brainstorm?

2009-06-12T09:13:00.000-04:00

Brilliance is expected. Don’t let it go to your head.

2009-06-11T06:54:00.000-04:00

Treat every day as if it were a job interview (especially in this economy).

2009-06-10T06:55:00.000-04:00

Don’t make important decisions when you are too tired to see straight.

2009-06-09T07:23:00.000-04:00

Loosen your grip.

2009-06-08T07:24:00.000-04:00

What’s the best idea you’ve had so far this year?

2009-06-05T07:17:00.000-04:00

Save your complaints for stuff other people can actually help you with.

2009-06-04T07:15:00.000-04:00

Staring at grass is more productive than staring at most screens.

2009-06-03T07:58:00.000-04:00

Stupid idea? Do it anyway. (If, of course, it won’t hurt anyone.)

2009-06-02T08:13:00.000-04:00

A bit of advice: Never play a practical joke on your boss.

2009-06-01T07:39:00.000-04:00

So. Any big summer plans?

2009-05-29T09:05:00.000-04:00

Good intentions are meaningless if you suck at your job.

2009-05-28T07:41:00.000-04:00

Most people — even the most annoying and inept — mean well.

2009-05-27T06:40:00.000-04:00

Your best idea will come when it’s ready. You just have to be paying attention.

2009-05-26T07:35:00.000-04:00

Never be so arrogant to believe that you know where you will (or won’t) ﬁnd your inspiration.

2009-05-25T06:31:00.001-04:00

Do you know what a browser is, and if so, what’s the home page on the one you use?

2009-05-22T08:56:00.002-04:00

I figured every reader of this page would know what a browser is. However, now I’m not so sure. Right after I thought of this week’s question — but before I posted it — I saw this.

Oh, and here is browser use for this blog, as of today:

Don’t make a decision until you absolutely must.

2009-05-21T06:06:00.000-04:00

I forget where I heard this. It’s not 100% original.

Move around (mentally and emotionally) until you find a perspective that works for you.

2009-05-20T08:19:00.000-04:00

Um ... I am writing this because I have committed to doing so. Kinda like whatever you have to do/write/design today.

2009-05-19T06:59:00.001-04:00

Do what you do best. Play to your strengths. And embrace doing the things you truly enjoy.

2009-05-18T07:19:00.000-04:00

Heard any good jokes lately? I could use one.

2009-05-15T09:41:00.000-04:00

Tend to your personal relationships.

2009-05-14T07:41:00.000-04:00

Your creative director expects a lot more than any teacher ever did.

2009-05-13T08:23:00.001-04:00