Pssst…..it’s not in pill form. At least not yet.
So, recently, a blogger and now friend (at least I hope I can call him a friend) was writing a story about Mad Men, the popular television show on AMC, relating the show to a few business lessons about creativity, life and ingenuity.
Very intriguing stuff.
I love that show myself and his point of view on the show and the relationship he draws to creativity was and remains solid. I can understand why he enjoys Mad Men as his approach to writing has a similar feeling to the purity albeit reckless abandon prevalent in the series.
There is a video link there and if you decide to watch it be warned that it will literally make you well up. Don Draper sells an idea in such a stellar manner that it actually leaves you breathless. Undeniably brilliant.
Check it out here. Yep, you have to look around a bit and maybe even read his post but it will be worth it.
That particular hour of television is as good as anything I have ever seen.
Well, for those that don’t know, we are all about management and leadership over here and with respect to management, in general, we saw an episode of Mad Men (Ep 03 S 05) the other evening which left us thinking about something that is, hopefully, not seen outside the annals of the make-believe very often. We are concerned that this might not be true but hey, who knows.
Personally, I was struck by a casual comment made in a scene between two characters discussing the hire of a new copywriter. In flipping through a pile of portfolios of work they came across one that was a clear standout. Both were astonished at the calibre of the work that was displayed. After some brief discussion on the content one said to the other, “Its better if you stick to mediocre. You’ll sleep better at night.”
It’s better if you stick to mediocre.
My mind was literally blown.
Left sitting there with a smouldering and charred neck (head, a distant memory) I began to imagine myself as a mediocre manager and what I would do in this situation. Along comes someone with talent and drive. Would it not be an endless challenge just to keep from getting blown out of the water or at minimum exposing my self-inflicted weaknesses? I mean, come on, how am I supposed to feel when I have been coasting along all this time and now I have this young, eager, hungry, know-it-all nipping at my heals every day? Sanctimonious prick that he is. Imagine that? Imagine the work that I will have to do to keep ahead of that guy. Dammit.
“Why don’t you just bury his talent ridden portfolio at the bottom of the pile?” I ask myself. Be done with that.
So, what do you think happened?
Well you may just have to watch the episode.
In order to comply to the blog post length issue pointed out by Jayme Soulati over at Soulati-tude this post is about to end abruptly. I made my point and I hope, for your sake, you got it.
So, tell me, is there even any point in trying to hire or let alone mentor an ambitious talent like that?
I thought so.
You would sleep better though.
A quirky sense-o-humour coupled with an indelible sense of stylish sarcasm makes it difficult to take the world too seriously doesn't it? My faves: fun, passion and hard work. I work here everyday: www.designdialog.ca
I've heard that show, but haven't watched it yet.. It seems interesting, as I read the comments below..
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