This document is a slide presentation by Peter Collingridge given at the London Book Fair in 2009 about failing and learning from failures. Some of the key failures mentioned include not getting into his desired university, failing to get desired jobs, business ventures that did not succeed as hoped, and projects where the execution did not match the vision. However, Collingridge argues that all these failures ultimately led him to where he is now, having learned valuable lessons along the way. He encourages the audience to take risks, fail cheaply and quickly, and view their careers as an ongoing process rather than being defined by a single point in time.
Gregory Maurice had a lifetime career in art production that spanned three generations of his family. His mother and grandmother were both successful artists. He began his career in animation in the 1970s, working at various studios and pioneering the use of computers in animation production. In 1982, he opened the first computer-based animation studio, Allied Visual Artists. However, due to unethical actions by others, he lost his studio and career and was forced into bankruptcy in the early 1990s. He later found work in other visual production fields until being offered the opportunity to direct a major project on the Shroud of Turin in 1995.
Avoiding data breach using security intelligence and big data to stay out of ...IBM Security
Attackers and exploits are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and the pressure to protect business critical data is only getting more and more intense. Security Intelligence transforms the playing field by adding analytics and context, and shifts the balance in favor of the good guys. Today forward thinking organizations are looking at extending Security Intelligence even further by combining it with Big Data to form a solution that allows them to analyze new types of information, and data that travels at higher velocity, and in larger volume. This powerful combination yields new insights that can more effectively identify threats and fraud than ever before.
In this session, attendees will learn how to combine Security Intelligence and Big Data, and deploy a solution that is well suited for structured, repeatable tasks. We will also cover the addition of complementary new technologies that address speed and flexibility, and are ideal for analyzing unstructured data. This session will also highlight how organizations are using Security Intelligence to pro-actively detect advanced threats before they cause damage, and take effective corrective action if a compromise succeeds.
View the On-demand webinar: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/657029698
Fail harder - Pecha Kucha given at the London Book Fair to the Society of You...Peter Collingridge
7-minute pecha kucha (21 slides @ 21 seconds each) given to a room full of publishing students at the 2009 London Book Fair by publishing entrepreneur Peter Collingridge
Peter spoke on the vital process of failure early (and throughout) one's career, with ample personal examples.
The document provides an overview of De Pijp, a neighborhood in Amsterdam known for its eclectic mix of residents and vibrant culture. It highlights several local businesses, including De Fietsfabriek, a bicycle factory and shop run by a Turkish metalworker and his Dutch partner. They aim to create high-quality, customized bicycles to meet customers' needs, such as a delivery bike for a dog owner. The neighborhood is also known for its large outdoor market and diverse population of over 144 nationalities.
Triumph and Disaster: Passle #mystartupstoryPassle
The story of dot-com boom and bust and boom! And starting again with Passle - the Expert to Expert marketing platform.
We did this originally for a Slideshare competition (which we won!)
Tony Kaye is a renowned film director and former advertising director known for his unconventional and controversial work. In the interview, Kaye discusses his passion for filmmaking and advertising. He praises guerilla artist Banksy as the greatest advertising agency for his subversive work. Kaye believes that to make great advertising, one must "kill ego" and have the courage to take creative risks. He emphasizes the importance of trusting relationships between clients and creatives. Throughout his career, Kaye has pushed boundaries with his bold vision and uncompromising approach to storytelling.
How Donald Trump can help you become a better Art Director
The 2017 updated version of the ADMA Creative School Art Direction lecture designed to help and inspire all young creatives hoping to get a job in an agency creative department.
Jeremy Fish got his start in the skateboard industry through connections with friends who worked at printing companies producing boards. He was offered a job at a large print shop that did work for major skate brands. This experience taught him the professional process of board graphics production. Fish later started his own underground brand called The Unbelievers, but it has since ended. He now focuses on his artistic career creating surreal illustrations outside of skateboarding.
Gregory Maurice had a lifetime career in art production that spanned three generations of his family. His mother and grandmother were both successful artists. He began his career in animation in the 1970s, working at various studios and pioneering the use of computers in animation production. In 1982, he opened the first computer-based animation studio, Allied Visual Artists. However, due to unethical actions by others, he lost his studio and career and was forced into bankruptcy in the early 1990s. He later found work in other visual production fields until being offered the opportunity to direct a major project on the Shroud of Turin in 1995.
Avoiding data breach using security intelligence and big data to stay out of ...IBM Security
Attackers and exploits are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and the pressure to protect business critical data is only getting more and more intense. Security Intelligence transforms the playing field by adding analytics and context, and shifts the balance in favor of the good guys. Today forward thinking organizations are looking at extending Security Intelligence even further by combining it with Big Data to form a solution that allows them to analyze new types of information, and data that travels at higher velocity, and in larger volume. This powerful combination yields new insights that can more effectively identify threats and fraud than ever before.
In this session, attendees will learn how to combine Security Intelligence and Big Data, and deploy a solution that is well suited for structured, repeatable tasks. We will also cover the addition of complementary new technologies that address speed and flexibility, and are ideal for analyzing unstructured data. This session will also highlight how organizations are using Security Intelligence to pro-actively detect advanced threats before they cause damage, and take effective corrective action if a compromise succeeds.
View the On-demand webinar: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/657029698
Fail harder - Pecha Kucha given at the London Book Fair to the Society of You...Peter Collingridge
7-minute pecha kucha (21 slides @ 21 seconds each) given to a room full of publishing students at the 2009 London Book Fair by publishing entrepreneur Peter Collingridge
Peter spoke on the vital process of failure early (and throughout) one's career, with ample personal examples.
The document provides an overview of De Pijp, a neighborhood in Amsterdam known for its eclectic mix of residents and vibrant culture. It highlights several local businesses, including De Fietsfabriek, a bicycle factory and shop run by a Turkish metalworker and his Dutch partner. They aim to create high-quality, customized bicycles to meet customers' needs, such as a delivery bike for a dog owner. The neighborhood is also known for its large outdoor market and diverse population of over 144 nationalities.
Triumph and Disaster: Passle #mystartupstoryPassle
The story of dot-com boom and bust and boom! And starting again with Passle - the Expert to Expert marketing platform.
We did this originally for a Slideshare competition (which we won!)
Tony Kaye is a renowned film director and former advertising director known for his unconventional and controversial work. In the interview, Kaye discusses his passion for filmmaking and advertising. He praises guerilla artist Banksy as the greatest advertising agency for his subversive work. Kaye believes that to make great advertising, one must "kill ego" and have the courage to take creative risks. He emphasizes the importance of trusting relationships between clients and creatives. Throughout his career, Kaye has pushed boundaries with his bold vision and uncompromising approach to storytelling.
How Donald Trump can help you become a better Art Director
The 2017 updated version of the ADMA Creative School Art Direction lecture designed to help and inspire all young creatives hoping to get a job in an agency creative department.
Jeremy Fish got his start in the skateboard industry through connections with friends who worked at printing companies producing boards. He was offered a job at a large print shop that did work for major skate brands. This experience taught him the professional process of board graphics production. Fish later started his own underground brand called The Unbelievers, but it has since ended. He now focuses on his artistic career creating surreal illustrations outside of skateboarding.
Job Finding Apps Everything You Need to Know in 2024SnapJob
SnapJob is revolutionizing the way people connect with work opportunities and find talented professionals for their projects. Find your dream job with ease using the best job finding apps. Discover top-rated apps that connect you with employers, provide personalized job recommendations, and streamline the application process. Explore features, ratings, and reviews to find the app that suits your needs and helps you land your next opportunity.
Resumes, Cover Letters, and Applying OnlineBruce Bennett
This webinar showcases resume styles and the elements that go into building your resume. Every job application requires unique skills, and this session will show you how to improve your resume to match the jobs to which you are applying. Additionally, we will discuss cover letters and learn about ideas to include. Every job application requires unique skills so learn ways to give you the best chance of success when applying for a new position. Learn how to take advantage of all the features when uploading a job application to a company’s applicant tracking system.
A Guide to a Winning Interview June 2024Bruce Bennett
This webinar is an in-depth review of the interview process. Preparation is a key element to acing an interview. Learn the best approaches from the initial phone screen to the face-to-face meeting with the hiring manager. You will hear great answers to several standard questions, including the dreaded “Tell Me About Yourself”.
Jill Pizzola's Tenure as Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at THOMSON REUTERS...dsnow9802
Jill Pizzola's tenure as Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at THOMSON REUTERS in Marlton, New Jersey, from 2018 to 2023, was marked by innovation and excellence.
Leadership Ambassador club Adventist modulekakomaeric00
Aims to equip people who aspire to become leaders with good qualities,and with Christian values and morals as per Biblical teachings.The you who aspire to be leaders should first read and understand what the ambassador module for leadership says about leadership and marry that to what the bible says.Christians sh
2024 State of Marketing Report – by HubspotMarius Sescu
https://www.hubspot.com/state-of-marketing
· Scaling relationships and proving ROI
· Social media is the place for search, sales, and service
· Authentic influencer partnerships fuel brand growth
· The strongest connections happen via call, click, chat, and camera.
· Time saved with AI leads to more creative work
· Seeking: A single source of truth
· TLDR; Get on social, try AI, and align your systems.
· More human marketing, powered by robots
ChatGPT is a revolutionary addition to the world since its introduction in 2022. A big shift in the sector of information gathering and processing happened because of this chatbot. What is the story of ChatGPT? How is the bot responding to prompts and generating contents? Swipe through these slides prepared by Expeed Software, a web development company regarding the development and technical intricacies of ChatGPT!
Job Finding Apps Everything You Need to Know in 2024SnapJob
SnapJob is revolutionizing the way people connect with work opportunities and find talented professionals for their projects. Find your dream job with ease using the best job finding apps. Discover top-rated apps that connect you with employers, provide personalized job recommendations, and streamline the application process. Explore features, ratings, and reviews to find the app that suits your needs and helps you land your next opportunity.
Resumes, Cover Letters, and Applying OnlineBruce Bennett
This webinar showcases resume styles and the elements that go into building your resume. Every job application requires unique skills, and this session will show you how to improve your resume to match the jobs to which you are applying. Additionally, we will discuss cover letters and learn about ideas to include. Every job application requires unique skills so learn ways to give you the best chance of success when applying for a new position. Learn how to take advantage of all the features when uploading a job application to a company’s applicant tracking system.
A Guide to a Winning Interview June 2024Bruce Bennett
This webinar is an in-depth review of the interview process. Preparation is a key element to acing an interview. Learn the best approaches from the initial phone screen to the face-to-face meeting with the hiring manager. You will hear great answers to several standard questions, including the dreaded “Tell Me About Yourself”.
Jill Pizzola's Tenure as Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at THOMSON REUTERS...dsnow9802
Jill Pizzola's tenure as Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at THOMSON REUTERS in Marlton, New Jersey, from 2018 to 2023, was marked by innovation and excellence.
Leadership Ambassador club Adventist modulekakomaeric00
Aims to equip people who aspire to become leaders with good qualities,and with Christian values and morals as per Biblical teachings.The you who aspire to be leaders should first read and understand what the ambassador module for leadership says about leadership and marry that to what the bible says.Christians sh
2024 State of Marketing Report – by HubspotMarius Sescu
https://www.hubspot.com/state-of-marketing
· Scaling relationships and proving ROI
· Social media is the place for search, sales, and service
· Authentic influencer partnerships fuel brand growth
· The strongest connections happen via call, click, chat, and camera.
· Time saved with AI leads to more creative work
· Seeking: A single source of truth
· TLDR; Get on social, try AI, and align your systems.
· More human marketing, powered by robots
ChatGPT is a revolutionary addition to the world since its introduction in 2022. A big shift in the sector of information gathering and processing happened because of this chatbot. What is the story of ChatGPT? How is the bot responding to prompts and generating contents? Swipe through these slides prepared by Expeed Software, a web development company regarding the development and technical intricacies of ChatGPT!
Product Design Trends in 2024 | Teenage EngineeringsPixeldarts
The realm of product design is a constantly changing environment where technology and style intersect. Every year introduces fresh challenges and exciting trends that mold the future of this captivating art form. In this piece, we delve into the significant trends set to influence the look and functionality of product design in the year 2024.
How Race, Age and Gender Shape Attitudes Towards Mental HealthThinkNow
Mental health has been in the news quite a bit lately. Dozens of U.S. states are currently suing Meta for contributing to the youth mental health crisis by inserting addictive features into their products, while the U.S. Surgeon General is touring the nation to bring awareness to the growing epidemic of loneliness and isolation. The country has endured periods of low national morale, such as in the 1970s when high inflation and the energy crisis worsened public sentiment following the Vietnam War. The current mood, however, feels different. Gallup recently reported that national mental health is at an all-time low, with few bright spots to lift spirits.
To better understand how Americans are feeling and their attitudes towards mental health in general, ThinkNow conducted a nationally representative quantitative survey of 1,500 respondents and found some interesting differences among ethnic, age and gender groups.
Technology
For example, 52% agree that technology and social media have a negative impact on mental health, but when broken out by race, 61% of Whites felt technology had a negative effect, and only 48% of Hispanics thought it did.
While technology has helped us keep in touch with friends and family in faraway places, it appears to have degraded our ability to connect in person. Staying connected online is a double-edged sword since the same news feed that brings us pictures of the grandkids and fluffy kittens also feeds us news about the wars in Israel and Ukraine, the dysfunction in Washington, the latest mass shooting and the climate crisis.
Hispanics may have a built-in defense against the isolation technology breeds, owing to their large, multigenerational households, strong social support systems, and tendency to use social media to stay connected with relatives abroad.
Age and Gender
When asked how individuals rate their mental health, men rate it higher than women by 11 percentage points, and Baby Boomers rank it highest at 83%, saying it’s good or excellent vs. 57% of Gen Z saying the same.
Gen Z spends the most amount of time on social media, so the notion that social media negatively affects mental health appears to be correlated. Unfortunately, Gen Z is also the generation that’s least comfortable discussing mental health concerns with healthcare professionals. Only 40% of them state they’re comfortable discussing their issues with a professional compared to 60% of Millennials and 65% of Boomers.
Race Affects Attitudes
As seen in previous research conducted by ThinkNow, Asian Americans lag other groups when it comes to awareness of mental health issues. Twenty-four percent of Asian Americans believe that having a mental health issue is a sign of weakness compared to the 16% average for all groups. Asians are also considerably less likely to be aware of mental health services in their communities (42% vs. 55%) and most likely to seek out information on social media (51% vs. 35%).
AI Trends in Creative Operations 2024 by Artwork Flow.pdfmarketingartwork
Creative operations teams expect increased AI use in 2024. Currently, over half of tasks are not AI-enabled, but this is expected to decrease in the coming year. ChatGPT is the most popular AI tool currently. Business leaders are more actively exploring AI benefits than individual contributors. Most respondents do not believe AI will impact workforce size in 2024. However, some inhibitions still exist around AI accuracy and lack of understanding. Creatives primarily want to use AI to save time on mundane tasks and boost productivity.
Organizational culture includes values, norms, systems, symbols, language, assumptions, beliefs, and habits that influence employee behaviors and how people interpret those behaviors. It is important because culture can help or hinder a company's success. Some key aspects of Netflix's culture that help it achieve results include hiring smartly so every position has stars, focusing on attitude over just aptitude, and having a strict policy against peacocks, whiners, and jerks.
PEPSICO Presentation to CAGNY Conference Feb 2024Neil Kimberley
PepsiCo provided a safe harbor statement noting that any forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and are subject to risks and uncertainties. It also provided information on non-GAAP measures and directing readers to its website for disclosure and reconciliation. The document then discussed PepsiCo's business overview, including that it is a global beverage and convenient food company with iconic brands, $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, and nearly $14 billion in core operating profit. It operates through a divisional structure with a focus on local consumers.
Content Methodology: A Best Practices Report (Webinar)contently
This document provides an overview of content methodology best practices. It defines content methodology as establishing objectives, KPIs, and a culture of continuous learning and iteration. An effective methodology focuses on connecting with audiences, creating optimal content, and optimizing processes. It also discusses why a methodology is needed due to the competitive landscape, proliferation of channels, and opportunities for improvement. Components of an effective methodology include defining objectives and KPIs, audience analysis, identifying opportunities, and evaluating resources. The document concludes with recommendations around creating a content plan, testing and optimizing content over 90 days.
How to Prepare For a Successful Job Search for 2024Albert Qian
The document provides guidance on preparing a job search for 2024. It discusses the state of the job market, focusing on growth in AI and healthcare but also continued layoffs. It recommends figuring out what you want to do by researching interests and skills, then conducting informational interviews. The job search should involve building a personal brand on LinkedIn, actively applying to jobs, tailoring resumes and interviews, maintaining job hunting as a habit, and continuing self-improvement. Once hired, the document advises setting new goals and keeping skills and networking active in case of future opportunities.
A report by thenetworkone and Kurio.
The contributing experts and agencies are (in an alphabetical order): Sylwia Rytel, Social Media Supervisor, 180heartbeats + JUNG v MATT (PL), Sharlene Jenner, Vice President - Director of Engagement Strategy, Abelson Taylor (USA), Alex Casanovas, Digital Director, Atrevia (ES), Dora Beilin, Senior Social Strategist, Barrett Hoffher (USA), Min Seo, Campaign Director, Brand New Agency (KR), Deshé M. Gully, Associate Strategist, Day One Agency (USA), Francesca Trevisan, Strategist, Different (IT), Trevor Crossman, CX and Digital Transformation Director; Olivia Hussey, Strategic Planner; Simi Srinarula, Social Media Manager, The Hallway (AUS), James Hebbert, Managing Director, Hylink (CN / UK), Mundy Álvarez, Planning Director; Pedro Rojas, Social Media Manager; Pancho González, CCO, Inbrax (CH), Oana Oprea, Head of Digital Planning, Jam Session Agency (RO), Amy Bottrill, Social Account Director, Launch (UK), Gaby Arriaga, Founder, Leonardo1452 (MX), Shantesh S Row, Creative Director, Liwa (UAE), Rajesh Mehta, Chief Strategy Officer; Dhruv Gaur, Digital Planning Lead; Leonie Mergulhao, Account Supervisor - Social Media & PR, Medulla (IN), Aurelija Plioplytė, Head of Digital & Social, Not Perfect (LI), Daiana Khaidargaliyeva, Account Manager, Osaka Labs (UK / USA), Stefanie Söhnchen, Vice President Digital, PIABO Communications (DE), Elisabeth Winiartati, Managing Consultant, Head of Global Integrated Communications; Lydia Aprina, Account Manager, Integrated Marketing and Communications; Nita Prabowo, Account Manager, Integrated Marketing and Communications; Okhi, Web Developer, PNTR Group (ID), Kei Obusan, Insights Director; Daffi Ranandi, Insights Manager, Radarr (SG), Gautam Reghunath, Co-founder & CEO, Talented (IN), Donagh Humphreys, Head of Social and Digital Innovation, THINKHOUSE (IRE), Sarah Yim, Strategy Director, Zulu Alpha Kilo (CA).
Trends In Paid Search: Navigating The Digital Landscape In 2024Search Engine Journal
The search marketing landscape is evolving rapidly with new technologies, and professionals, like you, rely on innovative paid search strategies to meet changing demands.
It’s important that you’re ready to implement new strategies in 2024.
Check this out and learn the top trends in paid search advertising that are expected to gain traction, so you can drive higher ROI more efficiently in 2024.
You’ll learn:
- The latest trends in AI and automation, and what this means for an evolving paid search ecosystem.
- New developments in privacy and data regulation.
- Emerging ad formats that are expected to make an impact next year.
Watch Sreekant Lanka from iQuanti and Irina Klein from OneMain Financial as they dive into the future of paid search and explore the trends, strategies, and technologies that will shape the search marketing landscape.
If you’re looking to assess your paid search strategy and design an industry-aligned plan for 2024, then this webinar is for you.
5 Public speaking tips from TED - Visualized summarySpeakerHub
From their humble beginnings in 1984, TED has grown into the world’s most powerful amplifier for speakers and thought-leaders to share their ideas. They have over 2,400 filmed talks (not including the 30,000+ TEDx videos) freely available online, and have hosted over 17,500 events around the world.
With over one billion views in a year, it’s no wonder that so many speakers are looking to TED for ideas on how to share their message more effectively.
The article “5 Public-Speaking Tips TED Gives Its Speakers”, by Carmine Gallo for Forbes, gives speakers five practical ways to connect with their audience, and effectively share their ideas on stage.
Whether you are gearing up to get on a TED stage yourself, or just want to master the skills that so many of their speakers possess, these tips and quotes from Chris Anderson, the TED Talks Curator, will encourage you to make the most impactful impression on your audience.
See the full article and more summaries like this on SpeakerHub here: https://speakerhub.com/blog/5-presentation-tips-ted-gives-its-speakers
See the original article on Forbes here:
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2016/05/06/5-public-speaking-tips-ted-gives-its-speakers/&refURL=&referrer=#5c07a8221d9b
ChatGPT and the Future of Work - Clark Boyd Clark Boyd
Everyone is in agreement that ChatGPT (and other generative AI tools) will shape the future of work. Yet there is little consensus on exactly how, when, and to what extent this technology will change our world.
Businesses that extract maximum value from ChatGPT will use it as a collaborative tool for everything from brainstorming to technical maintenance.
For individuals, now is the time to pinpoint the skills the future professional will need to thrive in the AI age.
Check out this presentation to understand what ChatGPT is, how it will shape the future of work, and how you can prepare to take advantage.
The document provides career advice for getting into the tech field, including:
- Doing projects and internships in college to build a portfolio.
- Learning about different roles and technologies through industry research.
- Contributing to open source projects to build experience and network.
- Developing a personal brand through a website and social media presence.
- Networking through events, communities, and finding a mentor.
- Practicing interviews through mock interviews and whiteboarding coding questions.
Google's Just Not That Into You: Understanding Core Updates & Search IntentLily Ray
1. Core updates from Google periodically change how its algorithms assess and rank websites and pages. This can impact rankings through shifts in user intent, site quality issues being caught up to, world events influencing queries, and overhauls to search like the E-A-T framework.
2. There are many possible user intents beyond just transactional, navigational and informational. Identifying intent shifts is important during core updates. Sites may need to optimize for new intents through different content types and sections.
3. Responding effectively to core updates requires analyzing "before and after" data to understand changes, identifying new intents or page types, and ensuring content matches appropriate intents across video, images, knowledge graphs and more.
A brief introduction to DataScience with explaining of the concepts, algorithms, machine learning, supervised and unsupervised learning, clustering, statistics, data preprocessing, real-world applications etc.
It's part of a Data Science Corner Campaign where I will be discussing the fundamentals of DataScience, AIML, Statistics etc.
Time Management & Productivity - Best PracticesVit Horky
Here's my presentation on by proven best practices how to manage your work time effectively and how to improve your productivity. It includes practical tips and how to use tools such as Slack, Google Apps, Hubspot, Google Calendar, Gmail and others.
The six step guide to practical project managementMindGenius
The six step guide to practical project management
If you think managing projects is too difficult, think again.
We’ve stripped back project management processes to the
basics – to make it quicker and easier, without sacrificing
the vital ingredients for success.
“If you’re looking for some real-world guidance, then The Six Step Guide to Practical Project Management will help.”
Dr Andrew Makar, Tactical Project Management
Beginners Guide to TikTok for Search - Rachel Pearson - We are Tilt __ Bright...
Fail Harder - with notes - Pecha Kucha to SYP
1. “Fail Harder.” Peter Collingridge 1
www.aptstudio.com / fail@aptstudio.com
- Talk given to Society of Young Publishers
- London Book Fair
- Pecha Kuch (21 seconds per slide!)
- 21 April 2009
2. “Success is the ability to go from failure to failure 2
without losing your enthusiasm.” Sir Winston Churchill
- Asked to do this 12 months ago
- “Fail” seemed apt then
- Since then - lots of big failures - capitalism, economy.
- Failure seems a bit grand for my minor personal disappointments
- Some things you want just don’t work out
- Inspire you to fail
- Winston quote
- Twitter?
3. 3
Who Am I?
Why am I here?
- Not existential dilemma
- Don’t consider myself publisher
- On fringes of publishing for 12 years: Canongate, Film, Apt, Enhanced Editions
- Evangelising about technology, creativity, beauty and the web
- PASSIONATE that Books and web made for each other
- Uphill struggle for last 11 years
- Suddenly all going on
4. 4
How Did I Get Here?
By failing to get what I wanted.
- If you had asked me when I graduated where I would be 12 years later, not here
- Here is glamourous Acton, where I live
- But actually I’m very happy. Working on incredible projects with great people, making beautiful stuff
- But only because I failed to get what I wanted
- Harry Beck’s tube map: struck me on this slide that similar: Harry was evangelical about technology improving something (Tube map) so did it on his own,
and believed it would ultimately work out. It did.
- So - here’s some failures
5. 5
1993: Wanted Oxford.
Fail. Got Edinburgh.
- School. Wanted to do graphics. Made me do as 4th A level so I could go to Oxford.
- Worked hard and focused on going to oxford to read english and French. Fail
- Went to Edinburgh, found out had to do 9am lectures on linguistics in this building. Fail.
- Tried to switch to School of Art - wouldn’t have me. Fail.
- French department rubbish. Dropped it. Fail.
- BUT! English Literature was perfect for me.
- Courses on hiphop, film, cultural theory, economics, history, psychology.
- Made me decide I wanted to be “paid to be pete”
6. 6
1995: Wanted Paris.
Fail. Got Vienna.
- Heart set on Paris as part of lit (hey, I was a 18 year old arts student!)
- Applied ERASMUS. Fail.
- Got Vienna.
- Only requirement of literature was to speak English. Yay!
- Spent all time listening to hiphop and writing my thesis on Tricky (see picture)
- And getting into books, literature, finally.
- Also got into the internet.
- But - still had 8 am jacobean poetry seminars on a MONDAY!
7. 7
1996: Wanted to be a hiphop DJ.
Fail.
- Had been in bands at Uni.
- Taught me about being a “producer”.
- All about the getting the crowds (and the girls) in.
- No musical talent.
- Worse than drummer: Scratch DJ
- Loved it. Minor success, but incompatible with career.
- Abandoned in 1998 other than Book Fair party slots. Which don’t count!
8. 8
1997: Wanted to be an ad exec.
Fail.
- Ah. Advertising.
- Perfect communion of my love for language & visual communication
- Glamour, creativity, wealth, recognition
- Fuckers wouldn’t have me
- Application forms dripping with 2:1 post-Marxist / Jameson theory.
- No dice.
9. 9
1997: Wanted a (Guardian Media) job.
Fail. Lots.
Fails:
JWT.
Kiss FM.
Grey London.
The Guardian.
Pentagram.
Penguin.
HarperCollins.
Wieden + Kennedy.
Mook.
Poke.
- When graduated had zero interest in publishing.
- Lots of job applications that I convinced myself i REALLY wanted
- Ended up setting up a cashmere outlet for friend’s dad
- Thank fuck not at JWT, KissFM, Grey.... other ones I’m still bitter about!
- Then met girl through band who lived on a canal boat
- She was editor at Canongate....
10. 10
1997: Joined Canongate Books
(Parent) Fail.
- Got job Canongate: knew Jamie from Chocolate City (funk club)
- Pre-life of pi days
- “Lucky” to get £10 day. Parents supported me.
- First task was counting the books in every store in Ediburgh. Yup.
- Most visible part of Canongate (to my parents) was Rebel Inc: Irvine Welsh. Gave appearance of publishing the odd pamphlet from smacky stairwells.
- Really good for me: entrepreneurial, cult, fun, creative. Taught me to be maverick in approach.
11. 11
The Pocket Canons
Second Coming.
- Fantastic project: republish bible in individual books with celebrity introductions (Nick Cave, Bono, Will Self)
- Most staggeringly beautiful book design I’ve ever seen
- Brilliant. Audacious.
- Taught me that people buy good ideas.
- But it’s all in the execution.
- Also, my parents got it. It was in the paper! And they were proud!
- “Second coming of the bible”. Jamie compared to jesus etc (hair!). Blasphemy.
- Talking of second comings....
12. 12
“Amanuensis.”
Fail.
- This is _really_ embarrassing failure. Ego.
- I thought I was doing well at canongate, really enjoying working with Jamie
- Flourishing under his leadership
- Drinks with one of the board, late at night (common occurrence)
- He said “We thought you were Jamie’s amanuensis when you joined”
- Yay!
- I thought this was some Christian word and that I was destined to be the second coming of Byng.
- Until I looked it up in a dictionary.
- It means gimp.
- FAIL.
13. 13
Wanted to be an internet entrepreneur.
First business plan.
- Realisation at Canongate that I was not going to be a designer or art director, or editor or publisher
- Self-glorified PA
- Had been getting increasingly into the web
- Friends filmmakers
- Decided to have creative business ideas instead
- business plan: pop promos for books
- taught by ex-MBA how to write business plan
- learned a huge amount and am indebted to him (David Graham)
- Submitted business plan to Scottish Arts Council for £25,000 funding
14. 14
Got Funded!
(Premise fail.)
- And it worked!
- Was good idea: make good films, let people watch them, they will buy books from a site that is converting 8% of visitors to customers
- Well executed: Gil, Life of Pi (3m). Others not so much.
- Flawed strategy. People watched but didn’t buy. In their millions.
- Fail.
- Made me resolute to focus on commercial AND creative success.
- To this day more focused on it than some of our clients!
15. 15
2000: Really wanted this jacket to be better.
Fail.
- All going well at Canongate then? Good company, good job?
- Also acquiring books.
- The Testament of Yves Gundron, Emily Barton.
- I was the only one who had read it.
- Someone briefed in the most awful jacket.
- I had a vision for Angus (Pocket Canons) to do it: could see it in my head. Instead sub-Tolkein fantasy photoshop disaster.
- In the end I had to fight to get US edition (above) used.
- Epiphany: no room for me here. Not being listened to.
- Accepted offer from Screenbase, company who had built Canongate web site with me
- Left publishing.
16. 16
2001 - 2005: Dot Com Dream
Full of Fail.
- Dot Com Dream - all going off - be part of a rock group in a bubble
- Boss who promised me everything and, in particular, trusted me and gave me space and latitude
- Also offered me bigger salary.
- Bubble burst. FAIL!
- Perversely, I decided to focused new business on publishing (not famous for technophilia or pecunious)
- Boss was weird mix of trust and micromanager: whenever we did something, he’d come in and change it at the last second
- I ended up running new business and production - learned a huge amount
- Personal clashes led most of us to leave and set up on our own: company died
- Owed lots of money. Horrible. Horrible.
- But luckily learned some very very valuable lessons - which jobs to take on, cashflow, running a small business and team - whilst (just) being paid - during a
recession.
- Left in May 2005.
17. 17
2005: Apt
Fail-free!
- Set up Apt to consult to publishers
- Joined in 2007 by James Bridle. Wasn’t looking for people to join, but he was just awesome and very convincing.
- Done great work together: Granta, 4th Estate, James Frey
- Had some minor failures together: lost pitches really wanted, been close to killing clients, some twitter-based indescretions
- But maintained focus on quality of idea and execution
- Evening Standard “50 most influential” in publishing
- Both shortlisted British Council Young Publishing Entrepreneur: India trip above
- Update: UKYPE FAIL! (Congrats to Davy the winner)
18. 18
2006: BlenderTen
Decision Fail
- 2006 Apt was fine, growing, but I was in a bit of a rut. Still “dark ages” in publishing and the web
- Had lots of very rich friends in superstar industries
- Still had/have advertising hangup
- Massively talented friend / colleague and I cooked up a brilliant idea for getting rich quick
- Both “had a clue” about web. Independently and jointly very experienced.
- High-quality, high-price “White label” web stuff for the legions of design and (particularly) ad agencies who don’t have a clue.
- I was moving house, to London, having babies - couldn’t commit. Couldn’t decide.
- He went off and got a £250,000 year job....
- Source of very great frustration to me
19. 19
2009: Enhanced Editions.
- 2008 the day Apple launched the App store
- Blogged as to why publishers were not in there
- Decided that this is what I would do instead
- Broke rule that would never become publisher
- Set up “A team”
- Used all 12 years experience of books and tech
- Enhanced eBooks on iPhone
- Launching this summer
- No idea if it will fail
- Got a good feeling....
20. 20
Fail Harder.
- Enhanced Editions pulls together all my working passions (as did English Lit)
- Where I’m at now is the logical conclusion of my failures.
- Failure recently got me to India with the British Council
- Persistent, tenacious, ambitious failures.
- Mini revelation in India (predictably!). “Found myself”
- UKYPE made me comfortable with “entrepreneur”
- Encourage you to...
21. “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. 21
Fail again. Fail better.” Samuel Beckett
- Most of you at beginning time in career.
- See yourselves as an object in movement, not at a point in time
- Economic climate great time to think things through.
- I would encourage you to be wildly ambitious.
- Take risks, CHEAPLY!
- Follow your passion with integrity and quality.
- Do what makes you happy, not rich.
- Fail quickly, cheaply, forwards.
- If I’d got what I wanted I’d be very unhappy now.