tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85871184628550964472024-02-07T19:14:02.234-08:00Daryl Hooke - The Spin DoctorDaryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-78704756338194202742023-03-18T11:26:00.002-07:002023-03-19T09:55:12.541-07:00Advice for living a happy life<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />In September of 1971, I was randomly assigned a high school locker next to a kid who would become a constant force in my life for over fifty years. Unlike the rest of us teens wearing dark t-shirts and surly expressions, Larry was always dressed in something bright to match his ubiquitous, engaging smile. Through all the highs and lows that a person experiences in a lifetime, Larry was there. He was the best man at my wedding and I was the best man at two of his. His friendship was unconditional. I could call him at two in the morning to say, "I need your help getting rid of a body" and his only response would be "Whose car are we taking?" In case any law enforcement officials are reading this, I never actually made that request - it wasn't even my joke, but that level of loyalty described my buddy, Larry. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">One of us was always percolating some adventure, outrageous joke or plain old stupid idea and the other was always ready to go along. It was the kind of friendship that became a core of your own identity; I have a profession, I'm a husband, a father and Larry's friend. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">In February of 2022, Larry was diagnosed with brain cancer. While in treatment, Larry met Ben Stelter, who was in his own battle with brain cancer. "That kid is my hero," Larry told me after meeting him. Over the long summer, he underwent radiation and chemo, fighting valiantly. I'd visit him and we would have many toasts of 'Fuck cancer', but tragically, it was less than a year later when he passed - January 1st, 2023. Of course, in lieu of flowers, he asked friends and family to make a donation to the <a href="https://stolleryci.crowdchange.ca/27588" target="_blank">Ben Stelter Fund</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">He didn't have a traditional funeral - I'm not sure I could have delivered a eulogy. If he had asked me to, I would have done it, but it would have been about six hours long and there would have been a lot of blubbering. Manly blubbering, but yeah, I would have been a mess. Instead, I have decided to share a few worthy life lessons that Larry lived by. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKPSaDKYnEMwbeSFMygf-LAw39kWy6WKD7fvkpNz2g0RbG3KZKOQe3AodIMKy18bwoCZeWZJjAC1V4j73yygCL-d-j_v1yraQedWjN8VzydTJG9XLm1oHxYvgdJkSHfvNLtchZGO9ptq0tcLCwLi_eKPb_LNg9F0IxcGl0sXHvD4q3S-UH63IhfB1RA/s2387/3B5617D9-0F42-4E80-9336-E671122BD4FE.jpg" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2387" data-original-width="2387" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKPSaDKYnEMwbeSFMygf-LAw39kWy6WKD7fvkpNz2g0RbG3KZKOQe3AodIMKy18bwoCZeWZJjAC1V4j73yygCL-d-j_v1yraQedWjN8VzydTJG9XLm1oHxYvgdJkSHfvNLtchZGO9ptq0tcLCwLi_eKPb_LNg9F0IxcGl0sXHvD4q3S-UH63IhfB1RA/w546-h546/3B5617D9-0F42-4E80-9336-E671122BD4FE.jpg" width="546" /></a></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We said goodbye to my best friend, <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/larry.mcgale?__cft__[0]=AZVovNAifHILbdMylO1Dls04CGWpoOS7wDYt7jbjK84kdoo2HztRaRBNtABYTQ3FQOHVUIPgDD3Xb89JLfmjbpUTplShZgleCNb4FtG_USRZ1pIDPUxCZOxllz4l3d7FmRMCxyXeoLXeKORpemXNgNVJClMzvfd9gzUpPLYGbHt4EA&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span class="xt0psk2" style="display: inline;">Larry McGale</span></a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"> last night with an Irish wake for a proud Irishman on St. Patricks Day. What could be more fitting? Larry loved and embraced life and I think we could all benefit from being more like Larry. To that end, I've created a Top 5 List: </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Top Five Ways to be more like Larry McGale!</b></span></span></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Number 5 - Every chance you get… talk to Strangers</b>. And when you do, be sure to tell them the most intimate details of your life. Nothing is off the table. If they’re <a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a>walking away, the polite thing to do is follow them until you finish the story.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Number 4 – At least once a year, drop your drawers and moon someone</b> Preferably - in public especially when someone has their camera aimed at you. Pre-drinking is encouraged but not mandatory. Canada flag on a stick between your butt cheeks is optional. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Number 3 - When faced with any new task, challenge, opportunity or double-dog dare - say this out loud: What could possibly go wrong?</b></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">Of course things are going to go wrong. Shit happens. Do it anyway. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Number 2 – Never EVER tell a story the same way twice</b>. Each time you retell it, add some new exciting detail. Do not let your story suffer by being limited to the laws of physics or hindered by reality. One time Larry told a story that I had heard several times because it was about me. This particular version of the story involved girls lining up to kiss us while we were in school. When he finished, I took him aside and said, "Larry, I have no recollection of girls lining up to kiss us in high school and I think that's something I might remember." He was scandalized that I had challenged him. "Well..." he stuttered, "...of course I know you've heard that story! That's why I had to make it bigger. I didn't want you to be bored!" </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCH-BoaLmaF0e4LSe5yo9wsu-uDUcKRYsyI2eCBE--VLi-aZiNHlBaauZGmJi-hCBza6zhG1bm2yXXlN4dU6om2b8pgTL3HSyOBM07jc0KjJziIotB-U3p3PdSNycFThE9TcRes1ylcwlHpD-_OS9ptbc8wBZiVzW_3zSyRegwvuYsHkbx_tzbXThrw/s1440/216DA031-56B9-4981-84D3-3E5BD2E6DAF7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCH-BoaLmaF0e4LSe5yo9wsu-uDUcKRYsyI2eCBE--VLi-aZiNHlBaauZGmJi-hCBza6zhG1bm2yXXlN4dU6om2b8pgTL3HSyOBM07jc0KjJziIotB-U3p3PdSNycFThE9TcRes1ylcwlHpD-_OS9ptbc8wBZiVzW_3zSyRegwvuYsHkbx_tzbXThrw/s320/216DA031-56B9-4981-84D3-3E5BD2E6DAF7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Number 1 Way to be like Larry McGale: Live Large, Embrace Life, and Tell People You Love Them!</b></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">At some point in our lives, Larry and I started to say, "Love ya, man!" when we were leaving an event. The key was to be the first one to speak because "Love ya, man" sounds way cooler than, "Yeah, I love you, too". You never want to fall into that dreaded 'second speaker' position, it's like being in a meeting at work and your wife calls and you have to whisper "I love you, too" in front of your coworkers when you hang up. Blech! Nobody needs that. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">Larry may not be with us in body, but he will live in spirit and live in our hearts forever. His kindness, zest for life and his unquenchable humour touched everyone he met. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm also certain he was with us last night - after all, the whole evening was about him and he was always a total attention whore, and I mean that as a compliment. In fact, I sense that he's here with me now as I'm writing this. I'm sure I can hear his voice. What's that, Larry? Did you say something?</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh...</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanks.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">I love you, too.</span></div></div></div></div>Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-81284929020559594602018-10-19T20:43:00.000-07:002018-10-19T20:43:25.831-07:00Grant Fuhr's Most Important Victory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyOkTucHQlYWeda4adFenGX40IFlCv6Z2f1s_bVpWwjI-dCrtpWMT1u6xywJbC6aP1TvO0gNnPYt-3nrBtLcrOmrp7aMhTz5elRM_yJkF_XaPCYlsQI4k6sV1zjGQp-Mhg7FQx9ivm4oM/s1600/Coco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyOkTucHQlYWeda4adFenGX40IFlCv6Z2f1s_bVpWwjI-dCrtpWMT1u6xywJbC6aP1TvO0gNnPYt-3nrBtLcrOmrp7aMhTz5elRM_yJkF_XaPCYlsQI4k6sV1zjGQp-Mhg7FQx9ivm4oM/s320/Coco.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the recent Edmonton premiere of 'Making Coco', Kevin Lowe, in a post-game hot stove setting, talked about a game that he considered to be Grant Fuhr's most important victory. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was the first game of the Stanley Cup Finals of the 83/84 season. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The year before, Edmonton had met the New York Islanders in the Stanley Cup Finals and lost in four straight games. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the regular season of 83/84, Edmonton met the Islanders three times and lost each game. Now they had to face them again and even though they had plowed through the competition on their way to the finals, there was not a lot of confidence in the dressing room prior to Game One. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Throughout the season, the Oilers were winning games 7-5, 6-4... they'd get goals scored against them, but they'd usually manage to outscore the opposition. In this game, they were destined to only get one goal. To win the game, Grant Fuhr would have to play a perfect game - and he did. The Oilers won 1-0 and left the ice filled with confidence. Although they lost game two in Long Island, they came back to Edmonton and dominated games three, four and five as they won their first Stanley Cup. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From there, the team continued it's dynasty, winning a total of 5 Stanley Cups in 7 years. In 1990, Edmonton teams won the Stanley Cup and the Grey Cup; the city declared itself the City of Champions and the whole town had a swagger. In a league that competed with teams from New York, Chicago, Toronto, Los Angeles, we upstarts were not just competing, we were dominating. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now imagine... 'what if?' </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What if Grant had allowed even one goal in regulation? If the momentum would have swung to the Islanders allowing them to win in overtime, the Oilers would not have left the game with the same confidence. If they had come back to Edmonton down two games, they might have clutched their sticks more tightly, second guessed themselves and could easily have lost the series. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What if... the team had gone to the finals two years in a row, only to be sent away empty handed? They would be known as 'that team' - the one that plays well all season and tanks in the playoffs. Glen Sather would have had no choice but to make trades, never realizing he would be breaking up a core of players that was destined to be the best team of all time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The city would never have adopted the 'City of Champions' handle which grew to include much more than sports. We might still be searching for our first Stanley Cup, assuming we were lucky enough to still have the team. When the Oilers went through rough years in the 90s with low attendance, maybe the 37 individuals who joined to form the Edmonton Investors Group would have decided there was no appetite for professional hockey here and not have stepped in to save the team from being sold to Houston. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the record, although this 'what if' scenario came from Kevin, these are not his words. I took some liberties in telling the story and I realize it's pure speculation. There absolutely could have been hundreds of different outcomes had the team lost that first game. They may have rebounded and won after all, but certainly history <i>could</i> have written a much different story than we know today. </span><br />
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<br />Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-34089593102987069162015-04-19T11:00:00.000-07:002015-04-19T11:04:37.258-07:00 It was the summer I turned 10 years old. I was visiting my older cousin who lived on 149th Street on the west end. The land across the street had been the town of Jasper Place but on this day in August it was being annexed by the city of Edmonton.<br />
Across the street from my cousin's house, a strip mall was hosting an event to commemorate the occasion and we wandered over to check it out. One of the first booths we came upon belonged to 630 CHED. They were hosting a remote broadcast and passing out souvenir key chains. We eagerly got in line behind the other fans and eventually worked our way to the front. My older cousin was in front of me and was handed a key chain when he got to the booth. I moved up as he stepped aside and held out my hand for the coveted treasure.<br />
I still remember what happened next as if it happened last week.<br />
"Sorry kid," the disc jockey said. "That was the last one."<br />
I stared at him in disbelief but he had already turned away.<br />
There is a particularly bitter sting to disappointment when it follows the absolute belief you are going to succeed.<br />
<br />
Flash forward fifteen years.<br />
Twenty five years old and I'd already been working at CHED full time for six years. My 8 week practicum with the Advertising and Public Relations had turned into a full time job and the old building downtown felt like my second home. On this particular day I was in a storeroom on the rarely-visited third floor looking for an envelope. I reached to the top of a shelf and accidentally knocked over a small box. When it hit the floor, a familiar looking key chain rolled out.<br />
I stood there looking at it as the memories raced back. The logo was now out of date and the original key-chain promotion was long forgotten, but to me it was the most beautiful thing in the world.<br />
Over the years, I've lost and re-found that keychain a hundred times. And it always seems to show up at some significant time when I need a reminder such as; never give up on your dreams, or some things are just destined to happen. So many years have passed and CHED is still a huge part of my life.<br />
On Friday morning I wrote a heart felt tribute to people I met through CHED. On Saturday I found the keychain in some obscure bowl tucked away in a cupboard. Perfect timing and perhaps a reminder to always keep your eyes open for the next keychain and the next opportunity.<br />
Like happiness and love, sometimes opportunity is not where it' looked for but where it's found. <br />
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<br />Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-74825665560979511422015-04-17T09:14:00.003-07:002015-04-17T09:21:50.310-07:00Thank you <div class="MsoNormal">
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<br />
I was honoured last night for 40 years in radio and when it
was my turn to speak I found myself overwhelmed by the emotion of the moment.
If I could go back in time and have a ‘do-over’ on my thank you speech, it may
have sounded like this:<o:p></o:p></div>
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First off, let me just say thank you to every one of you for
taking time out of your busy lives to be here tonight. A number of you this
evening have told me that I was an influence in your life, which is both
surprising and gratifying. It may also be a surprise for you to know you were
also an influence in my life. There is an interesting lesson I’ve learned in
life, and I hope I’ve passed this on to my kids: everyone you meet has
something to share with you. When you meet someone, try to make the most of the
engagement. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I was fortunate enough to work in an environment that
encouraged this. Under the mentorship of Jerry Forbes, 630 CHED was truly a
family of people who genuinely cared about and engaged with each other. People
were encouraged to explore new opportunities and were embraced for their
strengths. Jerry cultivated an atmosphere in which people <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wanted</i> to perform because they didn’t want to let down their leader
or their coworkers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Marty, thank you for your kind words tonight. You embody all
the best qualities of your dad and have felt like a brother to me for four
decades… whether your damn brothers vote to accept me or not ;) You have a
passion for excellence and continue to amaze me with your drive and insight.
It’s an honour to be worthy of your friendship. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Tamara, thank you for your continued friendship and
thoughtfulness. The book you and Jen put together is brilliant. I’ve never been
good at archiving memories but you’ve managed to capture my career perfectly. I
can’t imagine how much work must have gone into that project but I appreciate
it more than I can express. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Gord, thanks for your friendship. When I was a new Program
Director moving upstairs to guide the juggernaut known as 630 CHED, I had no
idea what I was getting myself into. You were always willing to spend time with
me, share your insight and offer support when I needed it most. I always value
the times we get to chat because I know it will be interesting and often lead
to an exchange of stories and laughs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Doug, thanks for your comments tonight and for being another
valued mentor. It was an honour to serve on your senior management team. Under
your leadership the team always felt comfortable sharing their opinions,
knowing that our ideas would be well received and carefully considered. There
was often passionate and heated debate and always with the best outcome for the
collective staff as our objective. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To my wonderful family… where do I start? My time at work
often meant that you were making a sacrifice so I could be there. I am so proud
of all of you. Ben, you are pursuing your dreams with passion and showing
everyone what you can do. You’ve always walked to your own beat and I love
watching the journey. Alexa, you’ve always been an insightful, mature soul and
now you’ve become an amazing mother. Both of you kids are the kind of people I
would want as friends if we weren’t related. Jill, you are the best thing to
come out of my years at CHED. We were great friends at the station for years
before we fell in love. I still remember the day I was pulled into the Program
Director’s office and given a raise unexpectedly. When I left his office I
walked directly to your desk to tell you about it until I remembered that you
had left the station a week earlier. I turned around, disappointed and realized
that events in my life didn’t mean as much when I couldn’t share them with you.
Thanks for being my wife. I’m proud of you and I love you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To everyone I’ve worked with – thanks for allowing me to
contribute and to be a small part of the magic. It really was magic… teamwork,
passion, commitment and decades of memories. I treasure every day spent with
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carry on. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And as for me… stay tuned. The best is yet to come! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-44284446058220641472015-03-11T10:58:00.000-07:002015-03-11T10:58:41.507-07:0050 Steps To A Great Cup Of CoffeeAt some point in my morning, I take time for a cup of coffee. Here are the steps I took to get it done today:<br />
<br />
1: decide to have a coffee<br />
2: select flavour pod from my son's Nespresso collection<br />
3: pick pod and open Nespresso machine to insert<br />
4: realize the collector bin for used pods is full<br />
5: get a bag from the wardrobe in front hall to collect pods for recycle<br />
6: multiple bags fall out<br />
7: decide to attach extra bags to dog leash so I'm ready for his next walk<br />
8: find leash and attach bags<br />
9: put dog leash away and realize I left broom in front porch when I answered the door earlier<br />
10: return broom to basement<br />
11: return to coffee machine<br />
12: remember I need a bag<br />
13: retrieve the bag I left in the front porch<br />
14: empty used pods in bag<br />
15: hang pod on front door handle so son 'might' see it and take it in<br />
16: return to coffee machine<br />
17: realize machine is out of water<br />
18: disconnect reservoir and walk to sink<br />
19: son has left empty milk carton in sink<br />
20: rinse out milk carton and crush it<br />
21: put milk carton in recycle in back porch<br />
22: return to kitchen<br />
23: fill water reservoir and attach to machine<br />
24: can't remember if I've put a new pod in machine<br />
25: open machine and pod falls into used pod bin<br />
26: retrieve new pod from used bin and re-insert<br />
27: close lid<br />
28: select cup from cupboard<br />
29: insert cup and press start<br />
30: watch with eager anticipation as steaming coffee fills cup<br />
31: answer phone<br />
32: Sears delivery guys are early - new washer & dryer will be here in 10 minutes, not two hours<br />
33: move car from front<br />
34: disconnect washer and dryer<br />
35: clear crap off stairs<br />
36: lock dog in back porch<br />
37: lock cat in bedroom<br />
38: Sears arrives<br />
39: old machines out<br />
40: new machines in<br />
41: re-connect washer and dryer<br />
42: return to kitchen<br />
43: pour out old, cold coffee<br />
44: select new flavour pod<br />
45: make a new coffee<br />
46: answer phone<br />
47: wife asks "So what are you up to?"<br />
48: I respond "Having a coffee."<br />
49: wife responds "Must be nice to have all that free time on your hands."<br />
50: nod silently<br />
<br />Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-51185818310969389132015-01-30T10:29:00.001-08:002015-01-30T10:41:34.649-08:00Write Your Book, Dammit<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When I was 12 years old the one thing I knew I wanted to
do more than anything else was write a book.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When I was 19 I started working full time writing
advertising for 630 CHED and I thought this would be a fun way to pass time until
I published my first book in a few years. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At age 50 I woke up and said, “What the hell happened to
my book?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sure, I had ‘started’ several books over the years but
for one reason or another I gave up on them all. Lost interest, wrote myself
into a corner, got lazy… the excuses piled up. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The solution<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
On that fateful morning of my 50<sup>th</sup> birthday I
realized that I was letting life pass me by. It scared the hell out of me and I
swore I would write my book.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The first thing I had to do was identify everything that
had been holding me back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The discipline<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Although a lifetime of advertising gave me the ability to
be ‘creative on demand’, I still only wrote when I ‘felt like it’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My commitment to myself was to devote a
minimum of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">one hour a day without fail</b>
until the book was completed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The story<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I loved the writing process – it’s like painting a room
of your house. Rolling the paint on is fun; it’s all the painstaking prep work
that is not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I committed to mapping out
my entire story so I knew what would happen in each chapter before I allowed
myself to write a single word. Working an hour a day this process took me
almost nine months. Best investment of time I ever made on anything. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The characters<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Every time I introduced a key character into the story, I
created a detailed four page character profile for that character so he or she
was vividly imprinted in my mind. I also had a better understanding of the
character’s motivation utilizing backgrounds that were never revealed in the
story, but critical to the continuity of the character’s actions. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The writing<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The writing was glorious. Finally I was crafting a story
with confidence. I wasn’t seeing a novel as a huge, daunting obstacle that had
to be scaled all at once. I saw a series of small, manageable steps (chapters)
that could easily be coaxed into existence. Never missing a day, no matter
what, I worked for two years to complete the novel. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And if it sounds like I’ve taken the spontaneity out of
the process, I was happy to find that wasn’t the case. Knowing where the story
was going allowed me all kinds of freedom to play with the characters and make
the story more detailed with every new element supporting the final outcome. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Goal setting<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My biggest mistake. My goal had been to ‘finally write my
novel’. The minute I was finished I breathed a sigh of relief and put it aside
‘for a few weeks’ before I picked it up again to begin editing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A few weeks turned into six months. When I finally forced
myself to pick it up again, I found out editing is even more painstaking than
planning and the work went very slowly. Plus, I was not nearly ruthless enough
with myself. At some point, I put it aside and forgot about it. My goal should
have been “to write, edit and publish my book”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Think big picture.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Another year went by before I finally picked it up again.
I had ‘allowed’ real life to be an excuse for not following my passion. I made
another commitment to myself: a minimum of an hour a day editing the book and
researching the intricacies of self-publishing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Editing<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I started with the big picture, reviewing my notes and
original story structure. My original investment of 9 months planning had
produced a solid outline which required only minor tweaking. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Then, chapter by chapter, paragraph by paragraph, word by
word, I went over my book, revising, correcting, cutting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I shared the manuscript with a dozen friends who each
came back with critical corrections, omissions and changes. My request to them
was always the same – Don’t tell me if you ‘like’ it, just tell me which parts
aren’t clear or don’t make sense. If you put people in an awkward position, the
feedback you get will be of no help. Get them to focus on grammar and
structure. Ultimately, if you can afford it, hire a professional editor. No
matter how much you ‘self edit’, your book will end up going public with
mistakes. (Deep sigh) Trust me on this. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Engage other
writers<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As I was writing my book, a friend of mine was writing
his first novel as well. He beat me to the punch with self-publishing and, once
I overcame the urge to break into his house and smother him in his sleep, he proved
to be a valuable resource. Most writers I’ve met or talked to via social media
love to talk about their experiences with writing. Engage them. Ask lots of questions.
Take notes. Learn. Share. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Daryl</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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Last year I uploaded my novel "The Ghosts of Sundown" on Amazon. </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Ghosts-Sundown-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B00IVYC3QG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422642452&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Ghosts+of+Sundown">http://www.amazon.ca/Ghosts-Sundown-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B00IVYC3QG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422642452&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Ghosts+of+Sundown</a></div>
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Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-18238068710752281122014-08-23T13:57:00.001-07:002014-08-23T13:57:46.590-07:00The 'Sin' of Boredom<img src="webkit-fake-url://FFAA7DE9-7A8D-4199-9BE2-13B591E922EA/imagejpeg" /><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As my 'once vibrant' father sits withering away with Alzheimer's and dementia, unable to dress himself, eat properly or even turn on the TV, I am reminded of all the people who have ever told me they were bored. Really? Boredom in any able bodied person with a sound mind is a sin. Damn it. Read a book. Go for a walk. Visit a friend. Learn to dance. Buy groceries for a senior. Paint a picture. Change the batteries in your smoke detector. Perform a random act of kindness. Have your prostate checked. Find a hobby. Adopt a cat. Count the stars. Plan a project with your kids. Set an impossible goal. And then achieve it. Check your tire pressure. Make someone feel beautiful. Write a letter. Plan a trip to a destination on your bucket list. Master a musical instrument. Ask someone how to say 'I love you' in their native language. Laugh easily and often. Pick a wall in your home and paint it scarlet. Make eye contact with a stranger and nod knowingly. Visit a restaurant you've never been to and tell the server to 'Surprise me'. Have your mom teach you how to knit, then make a pair of gloves for a homeless person. Look at the glass as half full. Hug someone who needs it. And someone who doesn't. Make bread. Strike up a conversation with a stranger. Run. Blow bubbles. Watch a storm. Get a tattoo. Compliment someone on a job well done. Or do none of the above. But find a passion, large or small and pursue it. Think when you don't have to. Breathe just to feel your body respond and live because you can. And never, ever be bored. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">DC Hooke </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">August 23, 2014 </span>Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-44739396677876688012013-06-16T08:35:00.004-07:002013-06-16T08:35:57.846-07:00Things I Hope I've Taught My Kids1 Most rules are actually 'guidelines'<br />
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2 Every person you meet has something about him or her that is unique and interesting. Try to find that.<br />
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3 When someone hires you to do a job, give them more than they expect.<br />
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4 When you choose friends, look for people who laugh easily and make eye contact.<br />
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5 Find balance in your life. Work hard at something that matters to you but don't let it consume you. Life is short.<br />
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6 Your victories are my victories and your defeats are my defeats. If you don't always see that in my face it's because I want you to 'own' them first. I will share them when you've told me it's okay to do so.<br />
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7 If you have love in your home, you can make mistakes.<br />
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8 Age is a state of mind. That doesn't mean you shouldn't have your prostate checked.<br />
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9 I <b>love</b> you unconditionally. You have to <i><b>earn</b></i> my respect as I have to earn yours.<br />
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10 Spend your life doing what makes you happy, but set time aside to look after yourself. Finances are a fact of life. Invest time in yourself and your future.<br />
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And... The One Thing I WISH I Would Have Taught My Kids<br />
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That white thing, under the counter to the right of the sink... it's the dishwasher.<br />
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<br />Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-46757740390067736292012-11-03T13:02:00.002-07:002012-11-03T13:02:22.117-07:00Time to sharpen our skates? <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Before Wayne Gretzky joined the NHL, the patch of ice behind the net was a free flow zone. Gretzky turned it into his ‘office’ by making it a destination from which to quarterback a dangerous team attack. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">With his natural creative instincts, Wayne Gretzky changed the game forever. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">How many of us perform our jobs the way we were taught? Or worse, how many of us do it the same way it was done by the person who was there before us? How often do you schedule time to step away from the computer and the phone and just think about how you could change the approach you take to your job? Once a week? Once a month? Ever? </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">By not making (and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">keeping</i>) an appointment to challenge the status quo, you could be depriving yourself of an opportunity to make the job more compatible with your natural skills, therefore – more enjoyable for you as well as more productive for your company. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">It’s not only about finding the right position on the team; it’s about putting your own signature on the position. </span></span></div>
Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-8613078080292749052012-09-26T20:59:00.001-07:002012-09-26T21:11:27.088-07:00Saba's Story<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve been struggling with the opening line of this story because it really touched me and I wanted to do it justice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At one point I was going to highlight my story with the juxtaposition of teens sporting meaningless tattoos, more concerned with fitting in than making a statement. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After that idea was scrapped, I researched the historical significance of the Peacock according to Hinduism in the hopes of finding a natural bridge to the story, but it seemed a little contrived. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I settled on this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would like to tell you a story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s a simple story of love and creativity, so I will tell it simply.
My son has a friend named Saba, a confident young lady who makes eye contact and conversation easily. Recently, Saba was at our house when my son hosted a birthday party for a friend and I noticed that she sported a tattoo of a Peacock feather on her back, beneath her left shoulder.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mBqHd99Adj298h0iEENIat0X1UDVWLLR8sh2uRTXsayx4Fm3RZzkPH1pLYuPPCQ2f7OXY8zPH0LgSjP6sEHM6q5PpeNlN-orhlAk3iqip6lOUAwSG3thruMk_hlUZSy2dhiOAqRxVCGr/s1600/Saba.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mBqHd99Adj298h0iEENIat0X1UDVWLLR8sh2uRTXsayx4Fm3RZzkPH1pLYuPPCQ2f7OXY8zPH0LgSjP6sEHM6q5PpeNlN-orhlAk3iqip6lOUAwSG3thruMk_hlUZSy2dhiOAqRxVCGr/s320/Saba.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I meant to ask, but got caught up in another conversation and didn’t pursue it. Fortunately, my wife Jill took the time to explore the history of Saba’s tattoo and uncovered an incredibly touching story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Saba was a little girl, one of her best friends was her grandpa Al, or as she called him... ‘Baba’. Al was a simple man with a contagious smile who probably never thought of himself as being clever. He worked hard as a young man, and now as a grandfather his greatest pleasure was spending time with his granddaughter. Baba used to take Saba for walks in the park, treasured times for both of them but especially for Saba because on many of these journeys they would find a Peacock feather. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saba loved the brilliantly coloured feathers and was always amazed at their continued good fortune. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Throughout Saba’s early childhood, her grandparents cared for her while her parents were working and her relationship with her Baba continued to flourish. Today, as a young adult, Saba considers grandpa Al to be the single most influential person in her life. High praise indeed for a grandfather to have played such a role. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When she was in her early teens Saba made a discovery that revealed something else about her grandfather. Saba discovered that in the area in which she grew up, there were no Peacocks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before Baba would appear for one of their cherished walks, he would go to the store and buy a Peacock feather. Then he would meticulously hide it along the route for Saba to ‘find’. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was an enchanting game for him, and it became a magical, unforgettable memory for her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Baba passed away some years ago, but he was still alive and well when Saba made this discovery. She was able to thank him in person for creating those memories although I suspect she had already given him the greatest gifts he could receive. Every giggle of uncontrolled delight and every expression of wide-eyed wonderment were no doubt precious snapshots that Al reflected back on fondly and often. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Without knowing it, Baba’s simple gesture of love and creativity forged a relationship that would never be forgotten and shaped a life that would forever be a tribute to him.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zaJsbhqFbMBsLW7M4BnOqDu8iFMhKCVhfnjvEZhOoPseIvv22Z3eefd19ZWXjAPaG_bG2U75ZqnWXaPbfmDek1nBUsJdZ8yKYafqrr3iQaMQXXQz2-SvYHcxJhS7Lx1gEfxpy8jDkXEM/s1600/Saba+and+baba+close+up.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zaJsbhqFbMBsLW7M4BnOqDu8iFMhKCVhfnjvEZhOoPseIvv22Z3eefd19ZWXjAPaG_bG2U75ZqnWXaPbfmDek1nBUsJdZ8yKYafqrr3iQaMQXXQz2-SvYHcxJhS7Lx1gEfxpy8jDkXEM/s320/Saba+and+baba+close+up.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you, Saba for letting me share your story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daryl</span></div>
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Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-38255025090087097382011-12-06T12:06:00.000-08:002011-12-06T12:06:40.657-08:00Suburban Auto thinks outside the trunk<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This campaign has been around for a long time but it makes me laugh every time I watch it. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't know where they found the lead actor who appears in each of the commercials, but he is magnificent. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are four spots for your viewing pleasure. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daryl</span><br />
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</span>Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-72392396461527426462011-11-10T15:50:00.000-08:002011-11-10T15:50:11.412-08:00IT'S ABOUT TIME<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the best lessons I learned in advertising is: don’t sell the journey, sell the destination. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You could spend a million dollars advertising “Air Botswana” – the airline may have the most luxurious airplanes, the most efficient hosts and world class cuisine, but if people aren’t interested in going to Botswana, you’re wasting your time.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Montblanc sells elegant, efficient and well crafted time pieces. You know… watches. Remember them? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know about you, but most people I know have stopped wearing a watch because they get the time from their cell phone. So, if you’re Montblanc, your challenge is to help people appreciate ‘time’. The value of a minute. The fleeting wonder of a second. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I won’t lie to you. I’m not getting a gut-instinct one way or the other about this campaign. I have no idea if it will rekindle an interest in wearing a timepiece again. I think it does a great job getting people excited about their promotion, and I think it makes them about time. Buying a watch may be another thing. It’s an exciting gamble and I’ll be interested to see how it turns out. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All I know is, when I watched this ad… for just a moment… I missed my watch. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/mJ2VmUOobCQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-55624087341238813902011-09-27T08:18:00.000-07:002011-09-28T08:14:36.928-07:00Hey you... BEND OVER<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey you… BEND OVER!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes advertising <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">coaxes</i></b> its target audience.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes it <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">begs</i></b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">seduces</i></b> or even <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">threatens</i></b> the intended audience to sell a product. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the odd occasion, to my delight, advertising will <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">slap you upside the head, knee you in the groin and throw you down a flight of stairs</i></b> to get your attention. You gotta admire spunk. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why would someone have to take such drastic measures? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well… someone would have to do this when the target audience is very resistant to the product or service that is being promoted. The message I’m referring to in this blog is ‘long life and good health’. Yup, someone is selling ‘long life and good health’ but the target audience (men) isn’t interested. In their minds, someone is selling them ‘a finger up the ass’. Naturally, the only way to get through to these guys is to take their childish fears and anxieties, stomp on them and throw them right back in their face to show them how foolish they are. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enjoy. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/_653fwqWSRA/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_653fwqWSRA&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_653fwqWSRA&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-54948580063396861262011-09-26T08:36:00.000-07:002011-09-26T08:36:09.519-07:00The Encounter<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At 5 AM one July morning in 2007, I awoke to the sounds of my daughter screaming. I flew down the stairs to her room on the main floor and found her sitting up in bed, staring at the foot of the bed and still screaming. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She was yelling that someone had grabbed her foot. A quick search of the room confirmed that no one was hiding in the closet or under the bed. The alarm was still set. No one had entered or left the house. At the time, my daughter was 17;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she had always been very responsible and we had no reason to believe that she was lying. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She recounted the story for my wife and I. A few moments before the incident, she had woken up and was lying in bed on her back, relaxing. Suddenly, she felt a distinct pressure on her right foot. At first she wasn’t alarmed because she thought it might be her cat, Mozart, reaching up and pulling on her to get her attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mozart often slept in her room and let her know when he needed to leave. What my daughter didn’t know was that Mozart was in our room at the time. When she sat up, intending to shoo him away, there was nothing there. She could still feel the firm pressure pushing on her foot, but there was no cat clinging to her. In fact, it felt like a human hand was holding her foot and when she started to scream, it let go.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My daughter was so convinced that this wasn’t her imagination, she didn’t sleep in that room for several weeks. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is why we believed her. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we first moved to our current neighbourhood, we lived in a smaller house just down the street. Over the years, we got to know Mark and Sandra in the ‘big white house’ down the street. They had made a number of improvements to their house including the addition of a large back porch and a bedroom for their oldest daughter. We always admired their house and when Mark got a job offer in the states, they offered it to us before they listed with a realtor. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two years after we moved in, we received a phone call informing us that Mark had been killed in a plane crash. The crash happened in June, 2007, one month before my daughter’s paranormal encounter.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the first few weeks, none of us spoke about our thoughts concerning the encounter; we didn’t want to make it more ‘real’. But when we did start discussing it, we all had the same feeling. If there is such a thing as spirits, it would make sense that Mark would be drawn back to the house he lived in for so long… to a room that he had built for his oldest daughter. If the essence of the person we knew was suddenly ripped from his corporeal existence in a violent crash, he could be forgiven for being confused and returning to the wrong home. He probably felt it was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">his</i></b> daughter he was reaching out to, in a comforting sense to let her know he was there. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although she always believed that the encounter was not hostile, my daughter was uncomfortable returning to her room. I had to sleep there for a few nights to show her that the ‘haunting’ had passed. I have to admit though, for the first night, I kept my feet away from the end of the bed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eventually, my daughter resumed sleeping in her room again, and to the best of our knowledge, Mark has never returned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently, we had another bizarre experience with more sinister overtones, but that’s a story for another time. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Out of respect for our friends, their names in this story were changed. However, all other facts in this story were recounted as accurately as possible. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-66414480343209334792011-09-23T18:21:00.000-07:002011-09-23T18:21:51.975-07:00Hey... catch this!<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My mind is reeling with old adages to get this started. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Truth is stranger than fiction. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Don’t <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tell</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>them how it works… <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">show</i></b> them. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Wash your hands before you eat. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">If you keep making that face, it’ll stay that way.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Okay, that last one has nothing to do with this blog, but it’s memorable for me because it was the comment that made me realize my parents may not have been 100% truthful with me for the first five years of our relationship. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Is truth stranger than fiction? </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Probably not. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Is it scarier than fiction? </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Maybe. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The people who marketed the movie Contagion realized that the premise of the movie was grounded in some truths that we all take for granted. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We are surrounded by germs. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">They grow. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">They can do bad things to humans. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The genius of this campaign is that they didn’t just <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tell</i></b> the movie-going public, they decided to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">show</i></b> them. And, with the beauty of a good viral video, they didn’t just impact people who passed the sign on the street. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Sadly, the video didn’t get the attention it deserved. When I watched it, there had been just over 357,000 views. I’m not sure what they used to get people to the video, but it deserved a better fate. Maybe the germ threat didn’t resonate with the heavy user younger demo. Maybe they prefer their horror to be masked and wielding a chain saw.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Check it out… and then, go wash your hands. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/LppK4ZtsDdM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-14333725374387380012011-09-13T07:08:00.000-07:002011-09-13T07:08:27.033-07:00This was the ad they should have made 20 years ago.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why is this ad effective? It's incredibly well done, it totally sells the product and it reinforces the brand. Really, I could go on, but less is more in this case. I can't even tell you the name of the product because it will ruin your enjoyment of the ad. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tell the person who holds your calls to hold your calls (I wish I had someone who could hold my calls) click on the rather ungainly link below and give yourself 90 uninterrupted seconds of pleasure. </span><br />
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=22984504&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=1&loop=0">http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=22984504&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=1&loop=0</a>Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-17068705798661025972011-07-11T11:56:00.000-07:002011-07-11T11:56:52.848-07:00A tribute to my dad on his birthday<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's odd that some things which should be obvious remain obscure until you've experienced them for yourself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">When I was in my mid thirties, my wife, Jill, gave birth to our daughter, Alexa. I loved being a parent and discovering the simple but incomparable joy of holding my baby girl. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Four years later, we had our second child, Ben. As I held him for the first time and felt him snuggle into me, I remember thinking that I should enjoy this feeling while it lasts. Boys don't hug their dads once they hit their teens... at least that must be what I believed as I hadn't hugged my dad since I was twelve. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Sluggishly, the cerebral gears began to turn. Well, <strong><em>why</em></strong> didn't I hug my dad? Who stopped it? Me or him? Was there some unwritten rule about two men hugging? It was something I hadn't even thought about as the father of a girl. It was perfectly acceptable for a dad to hug his daughter no matter what age they were... but somehow I had been secretly harbouring the belief that sons and dads didn't hug. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">However, after only knowing my son for a few minutes, I was certain beyond any doubt that I would want to hug him whenever I felt like it for the rest of my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">That was when the epiphany happened. A creeping realization slowly dawned on me that I might not be the first dad in the world to feel this way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">In fact, it might even be possible that my dad felt the same way about me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I was only months away from turning forty, which meant that I probably had gone more than twenty-five years without giving my old man a hug. It wasn't something that had happened intentionally, but it had happened none the less and I resolved to put my new theory to the test. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">A few weeks later, we had a family event at my house. When it began to wind down and my father was about to leave, I followed him to the front door. After he put on his shoes and coat, I stepped forward and gave him a hug. A simple hug. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">For one brief moment, he reacted as if I'd jumped out from around a corner and startled him. His body flinched, then he hugged me back. Fiercely. I thought he was going to crack one of my ribs and I couldn't help but wonder if he had been waiting all those years for my permission to hug again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Today, my son is closing in on eighteen. He's a man in his own right, and he good-naturedly endures my random hug ambushes. Cherished friends and co-workers are also included in my spontaneous displays of affection. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And naturally... </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">whenever I see my dad, I give him a hug goodbye.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">It seems like a small thing, and I'm sure most people take it for granted but if I hadn't had a son of my own, I wonder how long it would have taken me to realize that my dad was patiently waiting for a hug from his son. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Happy Birthday, Dad. </span>Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-88064936084578664122011-05-13T15:09:00.000-07:002011-05-13T15:09:07.163-07:00Shiny Chrome<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Are you the type of person who looks at a blank piece of paper and sees a million possibilities? Stories to be written? Artwork to be created? Emotions to be expressed?</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Google Chrome is betting that heavy users of the internet have a creative spark waiting to break loose and ignite the world. Their ‘Savage Love’ video campaign plays to that innate desire to be a creator. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The first time you see the video, you might wonder what the association is between Google Chrome and Dan Savage’s “It gets better” campaign. As far as I can tell, there <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i></b> no actual association. Google Chrome piggybacks on the warm and fuzzy feelings generated by an on-line campaign encouraging gay teens not to commit suicide. The message is: you’re not alone, there are thousands of us who know what you’re going through and… it gets better! </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Google Chrome is ultimately inviting other people who have a message and a mission to use the tools in Chrome to share it with the world. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In this commercial, as you watch the page views grow, you can’t help but get swept up in the experiential excitement… <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How long will it be until my campaign gets viral support from Anne Hathaway and Woody from Toy Story</i>? </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Google Chrome got it right. They started with a simple idea, demonstrated the end results and made a solid emotional connection. In a way, Google walks away with more emotion than they’ve really earned. It’s somewhat like a company that makes hammers sharing credit for the accolades heaped on the your new home. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">They make this advertising stuff look so easy, you have to wonder why everybody doesn’t do it just as well. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/7skPnJOZYdA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-51301868243646379262011-05-09T08:52:00.000-07:002011-05-09T08:52:41.201-07:00Searching for gold<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello, my name is ‘Daryl the Magnanimous’. I was considering ‘Daryl the Magnificent’ but my mind-reading skills still need work so… I’m kind of a work in progress, and um… whatever. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where was I?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh yeah. We’ve never met, right? If we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">have</i> met, just play along. Even though I don’t know you at all, I am seeing that recently… or many years ago… or somewhere in between… you attended a seminar!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please… hold your applause. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You were really looking forward to this seminar but when it was over, tragically, you walked away with nothing. You were deluged with information, scribbled a bunch of notes but ended up remembering nothing. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">may </i>be possible, it’s very unlikely that a seminar would contain absolutely nothing that you could use and benefit from in the future. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My personal goal in seminars, meetings or even chance encounters with people I respect, is to walk away with one nugget. That’s it. If I can leave with one idea that I can incorporate into my life, the engagement was worthwhile. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twenty years ago I took a time management course. It was part hocus-pocus and part ‘heard it before’. I was almost fully checked out when the instructor dropped the nugget. “After you finish a task, ask yourself – what is the most important job I need to do next?” </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The premise was - if you finish a task at 11:30 and you know you’re leaving for lunch in 20 minutes, you might do a few “C” jobs on your to-do list because you can get them done in a matter of minutes. That means you leave the important “A” job untouched. The instructor said – start the “A” job. In 20 minutes, you might only have time to lay it out and start thinking about it, but you <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i></b> thinking about it. Over lunch, you might have an epiphany, or someone might say something that triggers an idea, and when you come back from lunch you’ve already organized your plan of attack. Your “A” job is well on its way to being completed because you decided to do it first. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twenty years later, I still ask myself several times a day, “what is the most important job I need to do next?”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You never know when you’re going to find a nugget. My good friend C.R. Nichols was interviewing a man who was celebrating his 100<sup>th</sup> birthday. At one point in the interview, C.R. asked him how his life had changed as he got older and he shared this simple thought. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“The days are long, but the years are short.” </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Keep your mind open to finding the nugget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might miss that brief flash of gold in the pan if you’re not looking for it. </span></div>Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-29887791990971432262011-03-19T22:21:00.000-07:002011-03-20T20:33:44.533-07:00Live The Dream<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was originally going to write about creative triggers that will help you generate "creativity on demand", even when you're suffering through the soul-sucking 'blahs'... but I was in one of these 'moods', and I just didn't feel like it, so maybe next week. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first lesson you learn in advertising school is "don't say it when you can show it". This series of ads is a perfect example of that philosophy. The fun items virtually explode out of the dreary ones. Of course you'd rather be surfing than ironing, wearing flip-flops than patent leather and sitting in a lounger by the pool rather than an office chair. These ads are simple, bold and memorable. The creators of these ads, from DDB Vancouver, understood how to maximize a visual medium. Congrats team - it wasn't luck that won this lottery. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_nhWxChVPNcMYf3IjSsBGGvM8PMqfkRYcyOPGV8zdmBAv9uXi_b51XGExT1gqipL3YQfLfKU3KRRmmCJV7sjRv8mQvJwsqF0N7hqDxH3cdaTNwU1hAiijP2-_0sZn14DEdjT8GQ_58WV/s1600/Lotto-649-ironing-412x206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_nhWxChVPNcMYf3IjSsBGGvM8PMqfkRYcyOPGV8zdmBAv9uXi_b51XGExT1gqipL3YQfLfKU3KRRmmCJV7sjRv8mQvJwsqF0N7hqDxH3cdaTNwU1hAiijP2-_0sZn14DEdjT8GQ_58WV/s320/Lotto-649-ironing-412x206.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5usd2Q4XiA-QXo3TAUTQ0pF-u7ITgfY0VZQ3dkSUMR6eFCOCKJVBKafYcxb6jdwMRg2PHAIFv8pnVQuSUjPxzQ4G8U3Nk38WOhzk7-LO7bE0AaczsaBoVkx1YMvzxl-b-cfqkXKqXtQ3R/s1600/Lotto-649-shoe-412x206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5usd2Q4XiA-QXo3TAUTQ0pF-u7ITgfY0VZQ3dkSUMR6eFCOCKJVBKafYcxb6jdwMRg2PHAIFv8pnVQuSUjPxzQ4G8U3Nk38WOhzk7-LO7bE0AaczsaBoVkx1YMvzxl-b-cfqkXKqXtQ3R/s320/Lotto-649-shoe-412x206.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLZnhM2H5VwWpO9qFQUCHFOQgO5Y6vumhst0w40EPzHZxfYbAhA0HhDR9EmlRddA6elPJsqIdNwxu5Bu0_JMQUei391ea1iEuSQeBB59N5rf4KujJ61C8bBTF4hVqXtrHGHJUpktC6HlM/s1600/Lotto-649-chair-412x206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLZnhM2H5VwWpO9qFQUCHFOQgO5Y6vumhst0w40EPzHZxfYbAhA0HhDR9EmlRddA6elPJsqIdNwxu5Bu0_JMQUei391ea1iEuSQeBB59N5rf4KujJ61C8bBTF4hVqXtrHGHJUpktC6HlM/s320/Lotto-649-chair-412x206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</span>Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-48442697439316283992011-03-06T22:50:00.000-08:002011-03-06T22:51:40.396-08:00Common Sense – Another stumbling block to Creativity<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Sometimes common sense just gets in the way of a good decision.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">After all, common sense will point you towards the safe route which is in the opposite direction of a creative adventure… or even the odd misadventure. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And, while common sense should play a major role in your life, occasionally you should leap <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">before</i></b> you look. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And when it comes to taking a chance, don’t leave it too long. You might decide that you’re too old to do it. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">But do it anyway. </span></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div>Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-72247988587954320162011-02-28T15:20:00.000-08:002011-02-28T15:21:59.664-08:00Where do ideas come from?<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Good athletes make the most remarkable plays look easy. It isn’t easy, but their minds and bodies are trained to work in harmony so it becomes ‘natural’. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A stand-out creative idea looks remarkable for the same reason. The creative idea works in harmony with the product to look ‘natural’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">One of my favorite classic campaigns was the “Big Mac Attack” for McDonalds. I have no idea how it originated but I like to believe that a six year old kid randomly said, “Hey dad, I’m having a Big Mac Attack”. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">It was memorable, quickly became a pop culture trend and the idea worked in harmony with the product… effortlessly. It was a natural.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">While planning a campaign for the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, someone at Euro RSCG likely said, “Listening to this music is like riding a roller coaster”… and they were right. </span><br />
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</div>Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-39185384646359381652011-02-26T11:15:00.000-08:002011-02-26T11:18:31.571-08:00Creativity's biggest stumbling block - the Client.Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) once said he wouldn't make movies in America because he didn't do 'comedy by committee'. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbLdT6GrRFc58dr6EivYyDjlwUxHYgGHqWkJp0r8XY19elc9sYtHfxrJl4Uenp99snQawpj0VKqKOofIr2s8KfpbBy_KQFpWHV62Tp7RqQ0EYeY_IvDbTc1yERHLTiWm48jNdGbYjKTc7/s1600/bean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbLdT6GrRFc58dr6EivYyDjlwUxHYgGHqWkJp0r8XY19elc9sYtHfxrJl4Uenp99snQawpj0VKqKOofIr2s8KfpbBy_KQFpWHV62Tp7RqQ0EYeY_IvDbTc1yERHLTiWm48jNdGbYjKTc7/s320/bean.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">image from fanpop.com</span></div><br />
Creativity in the world of advertising is a lot like that, even if the committee is just two people; you and the client. <br />
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The rule of a good copywriter is to give the client what he <strong><em>needs</em></strong>, not what he <strong><em>wants</em></strong>*. When those two things are in conflict, and the client insists on having it his way because he is paying for it, copywriters often default to the second position. That would be - give the client what he wants, and do your best to craft it in such a way that it is palatable and compelling for the target audience. <br />
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This is why copywriters die young. <br />
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If you possess a warped and devious mind, there is a third option. <br />
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Give the client what he wants. <br />
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Give it to him just the way he asked for it. Don't go overboard to add more warts to the concept - it is probably odorous enough as it is. <br />
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Then do the concept the way you <em>know</em> it should be. Often, a client won't have the ability to envision a concept the way a writer can but if he can see it, hear it, or experience it then he will understand the benefits and strategy of the professional idea. <br />
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I must confess that in my industry, radio, it was not a huge commitment of time or resources to do two concepts. If you're in television or web design, producing two finished products may not be feasible. But if you're looking for a long term relationship with a client, the short term pain and investment could earn you the trust and freedom you need to create brilliance for an appreciative client. <br />
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*Largely Unnecessary Gender Disclaimer That I Am Enclosing Mostly For My Own Amusement: <br />
I started writing "he/she" whenever I referred to the client but it was making things clumsy to read and my rambling copy is confusing enough without that, so I defaulted to 'he' and I will use 'she' next time. Can we all not be offended now? Thank you.Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-33641606395283661002011-02-24T23:46:00.000-08:002011-02-24T23:46:57.469-08:00Time to grow up...At some point in everyone's lives, they realize they might as well just say what's on their mind because... oh, I don't know... they've finally figured out that political correctness is highly over-rated, or they've realized that they're getting older and running out of time. <br />
(On the other hand, we all know people who come out of the womb shooting their mouths off and seem to have been born without any governor at all... but that's grist for another blog.)<br />
In my humble observations, people generally wait too long to express themselves. Here's a test for you. Do you have more regret about things you said, or things you <strong><em>wish</em></strong> you would have said? Sure... I'll bet you have a few big blunders that you'd like to undo somewhere in your past, but I'm also betting you have one of those comments that you <strong><em>didn't</em></strong> say and it probably happened as recently as yesterday. <br />
Unless you're old. Then you probably just said it. <br />
A few years ago, we had an elderly gentleman named Les who worked around the building doing odd jobs and maintenance. One year, at the Christmas party, as one of the staff was called up to the front of the room, Les remarked to the people at his table, "Well, she's put on some weight!" <br />
"Les," chided a female co-worker. "I hope you don't talk about <strong><em>me</em></strong> like that." <br />
"No, no..." he replied, brushing off the idea. "You've <strong><em>always</em></strong> been a big girl." <br />
Just to be clear, I'm not saying that you should go out of your way to make people miserable; I just think that there's room in the world for a little more honesty. As for those people who couldn't quite see their way to being honest, well, I suspect they'd be much more cautious about what they said and the questions they asked, if they knew the rest of the world was likely going to give them an honest response. <br />
Don't wait until you're too old to enjoy it. Take a chance on the truth. It's incredibly liberating.Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587118462855096447.post-39717844866429575132011-02-20T12:22:00.000-08:002011-02-20T12:49:43.220-08:00Is Creativity The Tortoise or The Hare?A number of people have told me that they simply aren't creative. Many of them draw this conclusion because they aren't the quick, flashy and funny people who entertain crowds at cocktail parties. <br />
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Creativity isn't a race. And speed is not a factor. <br />
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Creativity can be a beautiful and spontaneous experience, but it can also be slow and laborious. It can be impulsive, wild and breathtaking, but it can also be precise, painful and painstaking. I love the way Robin Williams' mind works - his thoughts move so fast it's like he is actually several people all trying to take control at the same time. I also appreciate the meticulous genius of Tom Robbins; he creates truly unique images by defining objects or moments or feelings with traits not usually associated with them. When you read these passages, they ring so true and seem so obvious, you wonder why you never thought of them that way before. I've never watched Tom Robbins write, but I'm guessing it doesn't happen at Robin Williams velocity. <br />
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Next time you're in your office struggling to make your presentation 'snap', or writing an inscription in a special book for a life-long friend and hoping it will be memorable... remind yourself that David wasn't chiseled in a day. <br />
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Photo: <a href="http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/artwork/michelangelo.htm">http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/artwork/michelangelo.htm</a>Daryl Hookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08608297813029786415noreply@blogger.com0