Make Stuff

As you might expect from someone who has spent the last 10 years blogging on an almost daily basis, I have no problem expressing an opinion.

In fact, the older I get the less I care about how people react, so the expression of those opinions is likely to increase, not decrease.

From this you might rightly conclude that when I was an ad agency staffer I made it a habit to stuff the organizational Suggestion Box. Those little slips of paper might have been unsigned, but I'm pretty sure the brass knew exactly where the "suggestions" were coming from.

Today, I'm going to share one.

When digital/interactive/social media platforms burst on the scene, the folks at the top were very excited. Or at least they feigned excitement. Because while significant and lucrative revenue was leaving TV and print, new outlets would spawn new income streams and imaginative outlets for creativity.

The 128 X 78 banner ad notswithstanding, those hopes have yet to be realized.

Nevertheless the profiteers and soothsayers of our industry pushed the notion of a new creative revolution. We would no longer be ad agencies, we would be Makers. Little Idea studios that would have at our disposal a whole array of digital weapons at our disposal.

Yeah sure.

There was a lot of Talk, not a lot of Walk.

So I suggested agencies devise a new system of currency that would encourage employees to explore, invent and Make. It's pretty simple really. Overtime hours would be accounted for. Lost weekends would be accounted for. Extra effort (euphemism for sweat shop expectations) would be accounted for.

And at the end of the year, employees would be rewarded with dollar amount of credit. That credit could then be exchanged -- like company scrip-- for the use of tools and equipment already in the agency's possession.

For instance, a hard working art director could use her scrip to use the agency camera and shoot a short film.

A zealous copywriter could use his scrip to use the agency editing facilities to cut some music videos.

A team of dedicated interns could use their scrip to stage an art show.

Seems like a simple win/win scenario, right?

Employee morale improves because staffers feel like their hard work pays off. The agency benefits because they fulfill their self proclaimed mission of being Makers. And then, there's the plenty of back-patting, self congratulatory PR buzz to go around.

Shortly after I made this suggestion I received a call.

"HR wants to see you. Oh and grab a cardboard box."