March 4, 2010 / Kosal

One For the Wall

Quotes are great. But how many do you print out and put up on the wall. In the main room where I spent countless all-nighters in college, my Graphic Arts professor, Edward LeShock, had painted a giant one-word quote on the wall: 

It meant simply that you always had to consider whether or not you had made every element of what you’re doing as absolutely perfect as it could be; made sure you’d pushed it enough. It also made you realize you were never quite done. You’d always be looking for ways to improve things.

This kind of obsessive behavior isn’t limited to our creative department. As we’re working on a big assignment for a client, we’ll be just as worried about the strategy. We’re always pushing for more inventive, lower cost media ideas. We’re constantly exploring new online opportunities. Obsessing, it seems, is a game everyone can play.

The key is focus

My wife constantly chides me about being obsessive about new marketing ideas, but not nearly as focused on that big pile of clothes on the bedroom floor I keep forgetting to put away. While I know better than to try and defend the pile of clothes, I’ve read that this is a common trait among extremely focused individuals. (That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.)

The ability to aim your attention at a problem and dig in is a trait we look for in the people we hire. We’ve been very successful in planting this trait in every department of our agency.