The 7 Steps towards a REAL heart of GOLD

7. Walk in their shoes - ADDY’s judges are people, too.
Remember that the ADDY’s judges are made up of regular people, just like you, me, and your local librarian. These are copywriters, designers and art directors who, at one point, have probably lost in awards competitions too. They feel you. DON’T send drugstore spam or fork their yards or sign them up for endless copies of Land’s End and Cabella’s catalogues. DO love them for who they are and think about the last time you had to ump your kid’s tee ball game.

6. Great work is relative.
Abraham Lincoln, our Nation’s 16th President said it best: “A Man’s worth is only relative to the Men he stands with.” Which loosely translated, means that there are a lot of people doing a lot of things, and the ADDY’s is only one competition. Case in point: Genevieve, one of our longest board members, entered the American Advertising Group of America’s Fife Chapter, the Aggie Awards, last spring after not winning an ADDY in the fall for her work with Lucas Carpet Warehouse and won GOLD.

5. Happiness isn’t a thing, it is a state of being.
I read this on a greeting card once at Big Lots and I felt that it needed to be included. We are all seeking to find fulfillment through our work, and possess a constant need for affirmation that stems either from, depending on our age, not being loved as a child or our Baby Boomer parents telling us constantly that everything we do is the best in the world and we can be whatever we want when we grow up. As my mentor Steve once said, “Reality is getting to Old Faithful only to find it forecast foggy for the next week, and the stereo is broken, and the marshmallows you brought were stale but it didn’t matter anyway because when you got back to your campsite the Ranger had already cleaned up your fire pit and wrote ‘no fires’ with a stick on the ground.” Well said, Steven.

4. Watch reality TV.
Seriously! One of my best ways to cope with failure I’ve found is shows like American Idol, Survivor, and the Bachelor. When those people go through what they do only to be kicked off or voted off the show, it reminds me of how much less I had to do to enter the ADDY’s. Sure I had to pay the entry fee and gather up a bunch of photos, but at least I didn’t have to fly out to studios in New York, pay for a hotel, or eat a scorpion. Life could be much worse. Remember that.

3. Drink alcohol.
Recent studies have shown that one to two drinks of alcohol is actually good for your heart and can extend your life for up to TEN YEARS! Through personal experience I have also found that certain substances can help me cope with my various shortcomings. But remember to consult your doctor first, and if you are out in public, always use a paper bag.*

2. Consider a different career.
I’m just throwin’ it out there. If you’ve been entering your best work every year and losing every year, maybe you should think back to what you wanted to be when you grow up. No, that other thing. Be that. It is potentially going to be much, much more fulfilling. Buck up and face it, dude, you stink. Your works stinks. It always has. And if you don’t think so, at least that’s the kind of talk you need to hear if you think you can make it in this business. Shape up or ship out. But seriously if this is causing you to sink into a very serious depression, please call our emergency help line NOW. Or click here to chat live with one of our volunteers.

1. It’s probably not you, it’s probably your creative team.
Assuming you got past number two....and you’re positive that you ROCK the advertising world better than David Ogilvy in his early years, then as my last girlfriend once said while pointing to my next door neighbors prior to moving out of my apartment, “It’s not you, it’s them.” Remember that designer who pushed you so hard on that creative decision, telling you that typeface just HAD to be Helvetica Neue Extra Bold, and that divider line just had to be at 45% opacity? And rather than trust your instincts, you seceded. THAT is what lost you that ADDY. Had you been in charge of the entire account you’d be winning awards left and right. Which you could do next year.... And hey!! That’s right, there’s always....next.....year....... Sniff!

*Please note that we at ARAA are not advocating substance abuse. Be responsible.