Help Your Career - Have a Child :)

Years ago I read an interview with several media directors & what the greatest event in their career was. They mentioned satellite TV, the Internet & other obvious stuff. None mentioned having children.

For me the greatest change in my career was the birth of my daughter Inez. Suddenly you see the world from a different angle. Pampers posters, previously invisible, become relevant; Restaurants & holiday destinations are chosen for child-friendliness not the Nightlife.

But most importantly from a professional viewpoint is you start watching family movies, reading childrens books again & when they get bigger - understanding new media. My daughter taught me to use Facebook, how to use an iPhone & has shown me things on YouTube which I would never have found.

In summary if you want to understand new media - get a child. Preferably your own - but in a pinch you could steal one.

My daughter showed me the video above & it started me thinking about how best to use the internet. Nearly 50 Million people have watched this. And yet it is unbranded.

In the past clients understood how to exploit new media - the term Soap Opera comes from Washing Powders sponsoring Radio programming. If you need to know how symbiotic the relationship was between marketing & media watch Quiz Show by Robert Redford.

The internet is 20 years old & no client has yet invented a Google, a Facebook or a YouTube. A poor performance from both marketing & media - maybe we all need to spend more time with our children....?