Unbelievable. Yeah, the design sucks. Yeah, the colors suck (hello, you have no dark anchor color now, just bright primaries. There goes half your sweatshirt sales). But what really sucks is how much they spent going outside of kansas. I mean how many design studios here (yes there are very good ones) would appreciate that project and work their butt off for half the cost? Look at the "integrated marketing plan" on the KU page, the audience is specifically current and prospective students, alumni, business leaders, and the KS legislature (who seem to want intelligent design anyway...). No one in Portland should be designing for this audience, period. Students would be a place to start, but certainly that money could have been spent here, not Oregon. Idiots.
Good read, no solution though. Lived in San Francisco and Kauai, but I'm back here 7 years later. Live a few other places and you realize no place is truly perfect...it's all about mindset. If you aren't happy here, there's a good chance you won't be happy anywhere else after the newness wears off.
Lawrence ain't so bad, just gotta set the reference point first. Can't tell you how much I like being back here, but I'm sure it will be time to leave in a few years. I think your time is now, when you feel the need to escape, chances are that you need too.
Oh, this was incredible. MJ I don't know you, but damn you are amazing. Seriously, well done. Best part? The formula actually works.
Now we need to expand your Nobel quality theorem to other actors, say Kevin Costner, for determining overall suck factor or enjoyment "absorption" if you will. Basically I see the potential in your formula to assign each actor a potency value, or individual PSH factor. Like a litmus rating, each actor having a negative or positive influence on the films they star in.
For instance J Depp would have a high positive potency, increasing the experience of a film like Pirates of Orlando some 60%. Costner has high negative potency, guaranteed to reduce overall enjoyment 15-70% depending on the base VoF.
I was being cynical (too obvious?), most of that is my own load to carry and I see you in a place that was a few years ago: too talented for the local scene, ambitious and ready to take on the world. Combine that with a desire to make your employers happy no matter what, and you've got a recipe for certain people to take advantage of you. It becomes a Catch 22, you can let them and feel your career takeover your life, or you say "no" too much and fail to see the rewards. You have to find balance, and every employer has their fulcrum in different place.
I say "certain people" because they are not ALL like this, but the bigger the market (read city) and the more recognized the agency/publication/brand the tougher it is.
Trust me, your 3 years of time and energy isn't wasted, it will lay the foundation for whatever direction you go. And if you really want to succeed, expect many more years of time and energy--not matter what you decide to do. So, don't fret such an insignificant amount of time overall.
Admittedly, I have a lot to be cynical about. I have spent over 8 years working my way through school in this industry, both here and some of biggest markets in world, taken there by my talent and willingness to "go the extra mile". When the economy blew up, it was very close to my face and I was already getting burned out. Only the pay was keeping me going, which looked nice on paper, but never really covered the cost of having no time for the things I enjoyed or forging meaningful relationships. Suddenly the "token-for-your-trouble" pay is gone, and it dawns on you that you worked you ass off building someone else's dream....
So, you re-evaluate. All of a sudden family and personal happiness become more important than the great career illusion, so you move back to a little town where no one knows you anymore and attempt to refocus and plan the next phase. And maybe, if you're bored, you respond to a blog that reminds you of all the shit you've been through. Oh yeah, I forgot number 4 in my options above:
4) Have so much talent that you can say fuck the bullshit ("FTB" for short) and make the time to have a drink, catch a good wave, and kiss a stranger...even if it makes you look like a party girl.
hmmn... to my knowledge "party girls" don't write blogs. As for me, if your work is good and on time, I'd hire anyone with the discipline to write a weekly blog and deal with the kind of criticism you get.
First off, obviously part of all this is from sadly age-old sexual inequality in the workplace problem. It sucks, but millions of women deal with and fight it everyday. Not to mention the current job market gives you almost no power (leverage) to work with. Being hired for "T&A" also sucks and I don't condone it, however be thankful you have it--do you realize how many women (and men) that are out of work right now would kill to be hired for T&A or any other reason? Getting hired for your looks won't go away until humans are replaced by robots, so complain all you want, but be happy that you have these qualifications.
Second, business means making a profit. If you aren't holding up your share, you're out, period. Maybe you were, maybe you weren't, not our call.
Third, I'm sad to say that a big part of it is just the industry (advertising/journalism?). It burns people out, chews them up and spits them out. The only way you make real money in this industry is to get people to work long, hard hours at cheap rates and manage them. That's what this guy does, that's why he has the leather-clad Audi. I know the formula all too well: get anxious young talent to do your work and come up with ideas, while keeping them hungry (interns are perfect for this). This industry has a built in glass ceiling for profit's sake, and it doesn't care what sex you are or what kind of life you want outside of work. To get through this glass you have to do one of the following:
1) Have a strong will and prove to be just as much of a hard-ass slave-driving son of a bitch (or daughter) while taking on more responsibilities. This may or may not be in your nature.
2) Get pissed off and start your own business. Business leadership, talent, capital and luck all play a role, but make no mistake, if you want to do really well you have to implement the same 'ol Young 'n Cheap formula. Can you do that?
3) Burn out, change jobs, or just be willing to live on the pay you receive and accomplishments you make no matter how small.
KU Logo Finalists Stun Design World
Unbelievable. Yeah, the design sucks. Yeah, the colors suck (hello, you have no dark anchor color now, just bright primaries. There goes half your sweatshirt sales). But what really sucks is how much they spent going outside of kansas. I mean how many design studios here (yes there are very good ones) would appreciate that project and work their butt off for half the cost? Look at the "integrated marketing plan" on the KU page, the audience is specifically current and prospective students, alumni, business leaders, and the KS legislature (who seem to want intelligent design anyway...). No one in Portland should be designing for this audience, period. Students would be a place to start, but certainly that money could have been spent here, not Oregon. Idiots.
Here KU, a free jump start on another round of design from me to you: http://www.myfonts.com/browse/categor...
May 26, 2005 at 1:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lawrence.com 'FEAR' memorial ribbon
http://www.bobfromaccounting.com/shiz...
December 24, 2004 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )
Everyone else is complaining, so why shouldn't I?
Good read, no solution though. Lived in San Francisco and Kauai, but I'm back here 7 years later. Live a few other places and you realize no place is truly perfect...it's all about mindset. If you aren't happy here, there's a good chance you won't be happy anywhere else after the newness wears off.
Lawrence ain't so bad, just gotta set the reference point first. Can't tell you how much I like being back here, but I'm sure it will be time to leave in a few years. I think your time is now, when you feel the need to escape, chances are that you need too.
August 7, 2004 at 10:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
'I'm coming!' Victor Continental returns to Lawrence
Who the fuck is Victor and why should I care?
August 7, 2004 at 10:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
PSH factor
Oh, this was incredible. MJ I don't know you, but damn you are amazing. Seriously, well done. Best part? The formula actually works.
Now we need to expand your Nobel quality theorem to other actors, say Kevin Costner, for determining overall suck factor or enjoyment "absorption" if you will. Basically I see the potential in your formula to assign each actor a potency value, or individual PSH factor. Like a litmus rating, each actor having a negative or positive influence on the films they star in.
For instance J Depp would have a high positive potency, increasing the experience of a film like Pirates of Orlando some 60%. Costner has high negative potency, guaranteed to reduce overall enjoyment 15-70% depending on the base VoF.
August 27, 2003 at 2:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Glass
Hey Dex, thanks for the drink!
July 30, 2003 at 7:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Glass
"...surely people will stop classifing and judging"
Get real.
July 29, 2003 at 8:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Glass
Hey Sara, don't let me get you down!
I was being cynical (too obvious?), most of that is my own load to carry and I see you in a place that was a few years ago: too talented for the local scene, ambitious and ready to take on the world. Combine that with a desire to make your employers happy no matter what, and you've got a recipe for certain people to take advantage of you. It becomes a Catch 22, you can let them and feel your career takeover your life, or you say "no" too much and fail to see the rewards. You have to find balance, and every employer has their fulcrum in different place.
I say "certain people" because they are not ALL like this, but the bigger the market (read city) and the more recognized the agency/publication/brand the tougher it is.
Trust me, your 3 years of time and energy isn't wasted, it will lay the foundation for whatever direction you go. And if you really want to succeed, expect many more years of time and energy--not matter what you decide to do. So, don't fret such an insignificant amount of time overall.
Admittedly, I have a lot to be cynical about. I have spent over 8 years working my way through school in this industry, both here and some of biggest markets in world, taken there by my talent and willingness to "go the extra mile". When the economy blew up, it was very close to my face and I was already getting burned out. Only the pay was keeping me going, which looked nice on paper, but never really covered the cost of having no time for the things I enjoyed or forging meaningful relationships. Suddenly the "token-for-your-trouble" pay is gone, and it dawns on you that you worked you ass off building someone else's dream....
So, you re-evaluate. All of a sudden family and personal happiness become more important than the great career illusion, so you move back to a little town where no one knows you anymore and attempt to refocus and plan the next phase. And maybe, if you're bored, you respond to a blog that reminds you of all the shit you've been through. Oh yeah, I forgot number 4 in my options above:
4) Have so much talent that you can say fuck the bullshit ("FTB" for short) and make the time to have a drink, catch a good wave, and kiss a stranger...even if it makes you look like a party girl.
July 25, 2003 at 12:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Glass
hmmn... to my knowledge "party girls" don't write blogs. As for me, if your work is good and on time, I'd hire anyone with the discipline to write a weekly blog and deal with the kind of criticism you get.
First off, obviously part of all this is from sadly age-old sexual inequality in the workplace problem. It sucks, but millions of women deal with and fight it everyday. Not to mention the current job market gives you almost no power (leverage) to work with. Being hired for "T&A" also sucks and I don't condone it, however be thankful you have it--do you realize how many women (and men) that are out of work right now would kill to be hired for T&A or any other reason? Getting hired for your looks won't go away until humans are replaced by robots, so complain all you want, but be happy that you have these qualifications.
Second, business means making a profit. If you aren't holding up your share, you're out, period. Maybe you were, maybe you weren't, not our call.
Third, I'm sad to say that a big part of it is just the industry (advertising/journalism?). It burns people out, chews them up and spits them out. The only way you make real money in this industry is to get people to work long, hard hours at cheap rates and manage them. That's what this guy does, that's why he has the leather-clad Audi. I know the formula all too well: get anxious young talent to do your work and come up with ideas, while keeping them hungry (interns are perfect for this). This industry has a built in glass ceiling for profit's sake, and it doesn't care what sex you are or what kind of life you want outside of work. To get through this glass you have to do one of the following:
1) Have a strong will and prove to be just as much of a hard-ass slave-driving son of a bitch (or daughter) while taking on more responsibilities. This may or may not be in your nature.
2) Get pissed off and start your own business. Business leadership, talent, capital and luck all play a role, but make no mistake, if you want to do really well you have to implement the same 'ol Young 'n Cheap formula. Can you do that?
3) Burn out, change jobs, or just be willing to live on the pay you receive and accomplishments you make no matter how small.
I've tried all three, good luck to you.
July 24, 2003 at 8:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )