tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958990354598975042.post2599089321522238610..comments2024-03-26T16:33:07.870-07:00Comments on Round Seventeen: The Bridge Must be BuiltRich Siegelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01863451214232651917noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958990354598975042.post-4880195834810557192012-10-09T15:56:51.391-07:002012-10-09T15:56:51.391-07:00@Bob, Steve. i love both of those stories.@Bob, Steve. i love both of those stories.Rich Siegelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01863451214232651917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958990354598975042.post-69398018696104227352012-10-09T15:40:55.041-07:002012-10-09T15:40:55.041-07:00I remember the gentleman well. He had a sidekick w...I remember the gentleman well. He had a sidekick who came with him and helped with the English but of course, the sidekick's English wasn't so good either. English as a Second Language? Try fifth.<br /><br />One time I went with Scott to Lexus headquarters. I forget where Tom Cordner was. I remember the big long table. Several clients, and Chikuma and the Sidekick. I don't think we were presenting work. I think we were there to hear from the man himself what he expected. Chikuma said something. He said it to me but of course he didn't look at me. He never did. The Sidekick translated or amplified or clarified or whatever. The problem is, I couldn't understand what he was saying. So I asked him to repeat himself. He did. Still no go. I tried saying what I thought he had said. Nope. Again the Sidekick said something. I stared at them. The sidekick stared at me, Chikuma stared at the ceiling titles until finally Scott turned to me and with a completely straight face said, "Chikuma wants the car to come out of a spaceship. Does that help clarify things, Steve?"<br /><br />The Sidekick smiled. I believe he explained that they didn't mean a spaceship literally, but to think outside the box, although I am sure he didn't use that actual expression.<br /><br />I met and worked with many excellent Lexus and Toyota clients. Chikuma was not among them.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12269540058212556220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958990354598975042.post-79861401631252399092012-10-09T10:08:02.048-07:002012-10-09T10:08:02.048-07:00Back in the late '80s, I had a Japanese client...Back in the late '80s, I had a Japanese client on a certain color copier account. We did some print ads that focused on how simple they were to use. He killed them all for one reason or another, but bought an execution that featured a chameleon. Because their color adapts to every situation, right? (I never said it was a good ad.) Anyway, in his limited English, he said, "Do that one. But chameleon sign of infidelity. Use lion." And walked out of the room. Bobnoreply@blogger.com