Tesar-Reynes

It is another new year. The pressure is on to develop new resolutions. What a joke; why not just reprint last years. Maybe I am being too hard on myself. A great deal did happen in 2010 that impacts 2001. And I have learned at least one life lesson: about “stuff”.

Last year we decided to downsize from a five bedroom house that we had lived in for over a dozen years into a three bedroom ranch. By any calculations of square footage, our new house was about 60-65% smaller. A great deal of “things” could not make the trip. Here are some lessons I learned.

Of almost every marketing services company I know, particularly the integrated ad agencies are going through some agonizing staffing questions today. For each question there is no easy answer. Today I will list them; in the future I will try to answer some of them.

As I took a walk outside today, on what was a beautiful Chicago weekend, I couldn’t help but to feel the somber note the day’s rains had accorded this Memorial Day.

Often, Tony and I write about the harsh effects today’s economy have had on the psyche of the American worker. Today is a good day to remember, as much as we’d like to see our GDP, investment spending, and employment figures rise, there were times when this country lost a great deal more than the worries that trouble us today.

I thought about entitling this post, “Happy Memorial Day,” but realized, as Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn did in this 2007 Memorial Day article, that would be inappropriate. I …

A couple weeks ago week I had the opportunity to attend a student networking session at my alum Columbia College Chicago. Just a year removed from school, I remember what it was like being on the other side of the table selling myself to a rep from a big firm, nervously thumbing through my portfolio. As I listened to a few students tell me about the futures they envisioned for themselves, one thought went through my head: You guys have it easy.

Maybe I’ve been watching too many negative movies, but I feel like it was a war out there last summer. The air was full of fear and pessimism, firms were cutting staff, people were being let go, and graduating seniors were taking any internship they could get their hands on. All that seems to be …

Last week I talked to a senior media person from Detroit. He has been out of work for a while and was amazingly positive on life. He has a load of kids and college starts for some this fall. As he talked, I was privately wondering whether he was independently wealthy or had a good selection of happy-meds. The good news was that his family had always lived within their means, did not incur debt, and had dual income and kids who all had outside jobs.

I asked him what he did with his time since he was let go. The answer was enlightening. He spent his time this way:

• 10% learning new business skills
• 10% additional time with his kids
• 20% seeking a new job
• 50% consulting
• 10% walking

His workday started at 7 am and was over at 4 unless he was consulting. I asked …

In the office we have watched a business attitude shift in the last three years that is pretty amazing:

2008 – This is really worse than anyone said. I am going to have to let some people go and weather the storm. I have been through this before and it will be gone by next year.

2009 – Oh my God! I wonder if I can stay in business. Nobody wants to buy anything; if they do they want a discount and are paying late. No one makes a decision anymore. Cut pay and cut more people.

2010 – The worst may be over, but I am not spending any money. If I get any new business I will make do with the stuff I have. No commitments until we have some more money in the bank.

As of the 2nd …

In the last week I have talked to a couple presidents at different marketing services providers. When I asked them if things are better, they all responded pretty much the same way:

• “The free fall is over and clients are thinking about spending money. Money in the sense of “you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t.” In other words, if I spend it now in an opportunistic manner it is gone; if I wait, something better or worse may help me make the right decision.
• A number of clients are sitting on no inventory so they have lived off the fat of product already produced and paid for. To make more will be at an incrementally higher cost of goods.
• There is no such thing as a long-term plan. The clients seem to want windows of commitment that are only …
  
  [ More ] February 5th, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in Tough Times |

We just got a job from a local agency and he needed help fast. Bob and I decided to post and tweet the position as well as do a search through the database. I was shocked by the number of ill-qualified responses! A couple of people were not even in advertising. On goes my judgment hat and I want to “correct” all the miscreants.

My suggestion for all of you who answer ads you are not qualified for is to stop. You are hurting yourself in more ways than you think. You are creating a self-fulfilling downward spiral. Here is the potential negative-feedback logic thread:

• I am a terrific employee for someone
• This is the start to my new life
• Getting a new job is my new job
• I need to get my resume out
• I will send a specific cover letter that shows …
  
  [ More ] January 20th, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in Getting a Job, Tough Times |

It’s never too late for New Year’s resolutions. Since Roland has written up and posted his, here are mine. No way getting around it; my psyche is ready for a better next couple of years. The last 2-3 have stank. (2009 in particular!)

1. Continue to work out. I have managed to get into the gym 3-5 times a week; don’t change it.

2. Lose some weight. Don’t talk about it, just do it.

3. Get back into spiritual reading. Going to church on Sunday is not my answer; continue to read about faith and other philosophies. I am pretty sure of the destination; I just don’t have the journey figured out.

4. Read more business books. Stay current with what others are thinking about business solutions. It is not necessary to agree with the author.

5. Plan the …