If you ever think about your career, you'll enjoy this.

This is the Ted Talk I listened to the other day while walking around town. If you ever think about your career, what you should be doing, what does it all mean - do listen to this. It is sharp, funny and makes lots of sense.

Alter ego

I like this. Although not sure my soul wants to going shopping. If anything, when I'm shopping, my soul wants to be on the sofa. But interesting take and kept me watching.

Found via adland.

Listening to the internet

Do you remember when using the internet meant reading something? Reading webpages etc. Now it feels like we mostly watch stuff on the internet. I'm not sure when this shift in our description changed.

Although these days, I often find myself listening to the internet on my iPhone while out and about. I like to listen to Ted Talks. Strongly recommend it.

Marketing job available

Dublin-based digital agency, Cybercom, are looking for an account manager. The details are on their site. Rob and the guys in Cybercom are a good bunch to work with. No doubt the role will be filled quickly.

Diet coke outdoor

I like the latest Diet Coke outdoor. Created by the folks in McCanns. More about the campaign itself at their blog.

I'm not going to lie to you

For my 12 or so regular readers out there, I'm aware that I've been slow with posts recently. Apologies.

I'd like to say this is because I've been catching up on my reading or due to heavier than normal workloads. But the truth is I bought all five seasons of The Wire about a month ago. This is about 60 hours of solid watching. It takes focus and determination to work through these night after night but this is what I've been doing. I strongly recommend it.

Paint the big picture for them

When talking shop a couple of weeks ago, a friend told me she didn't see how her work was connected to her company's strategy. While this is a common complaint, I was surprised. She works in marketing - on some of her company's most important projects. In a critical role too.

If she couldn't see why or how her day to day work fitted into the bigger picture, what are the chances for the many others working on the smaller initiatives? It reminded me of a story Peter Drucker wrote in one of his many insightful management books:

Three stonecutters were asked what they were doing. The first replied that he was "making a living". The second proudly said he was doing the "finest work of any stonecutter in the country". The third replied "I am building a cathedral".

Peter Drucker explains that the first man knows what he wants from his job. He puts in his 8-hour day in return for a fair wage. That's fine. But the problem is with the second man. He may get caught up polishing the steps of the cathedral for weeks without understanding his job is to build the cathedral.

I've always felt this story was relevant to us marketing folk.

We can get caught up in how beautifully our ads have been executed. We fight for hours on how a line of copy reads. Don't get me wrong - copy is important. Very. (And we do fight for hours over words). I want our ads to be the finest they can be. I want to be proud of the work we do. I want to work with people that love what they do. But the work must always be connected back to the big picture. As the phrase goes, "Strategy without sharp execution is a dream. And execution without strategy is a nightmare".

As managers, our role is to make sure our teams understand the big picture. What it is. And where they fit into it. If they can't see it, we need to paint it for them. Regularly.

Nude beach - clever Corona ad

I've heard Corona punch above their weight when it comes to advertising. They don't spend as much as their competitors on advertising - but people remember their ads.

They achieve this by consistently keeping with their beach idea, relaxed tone, the lime slice and clever play on words and visual - such as having no label on a nude beach.

I like their greedy execution too.

"I'm seeing a flash mob...". Classic stuff

"I'm seeing a flash mob...". Classic stuff. Found via Faris

This online ad picked up an award recently.

This online ad picked up an award recently. Worth clicking through to see in action.

I really like this Cadburys outdoor

Even on a dull day with a poor camera - this outdoor ad still works.