I think that one of the biggest issues people face is their own inner voice that holds them back.

Next time you come up with an angle or positioning, try it in a conversation first. If you feel uncomfortable saying it face to face, don't say it via an ad. Try telling someone 'you should try that Aperol Spritz because together you'll joy' ?

Early in my career my father gave me this advice. 35 years later I had dinner with one of my old mentees who recalled how she tried to live by it.

If something is so big and obvious you can't ignore it.

It's by Mark Twain on the futility of worrying.

Courtesy of brand legend Robin Wight and one of my favourites.

There is no evidence that this was said by Michelangelo or Ruskin. However, it is still a pretty good thought in how you change and shape companies.

One from my grandfather.

Paraphrasing Maya Angelou. American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. Hollywood’s first female black director.

One I have increasingly tried to remember the older I get.

What Chris's dad always said to him. The one thing Linda says you can still always rely on with me.

I discovered it’s from Voltaire. It’s cherished wisdom handed down to me by my Dad. A great aphorism and a reality check when business gets weird.

You can't learn when you are talking.

The advice I got from my mother on leaving Uni into the big wild work of work. Thanks Mum!!

From Carl Jung (psychoanalyst) as it requires consideration. Until you make conscious and integrate the hived-off elements of your own psyche you will keep meeting them in your day to day life

From Dr. Seuss. There is a greek word, telos, which means purpose. As in the purpose of a knife is to cut. Your purpose is to be you. Now then, how are you going to change the world or make it a better place?

Dalai Lama XIV.

Explanation on joining the board at Saatchi & Saatchi.

Courtesy of Thomas Edison.

From Adventures in the Screen Trade - William Goldman.

Taught to just about any officer in the UK/US Armed Forces.

Read that out loud! Slogan Creative Orchestra had painted in big letters on the wall. I have no time for people who give up or say it can't be done before they tried.  

Advice to me by Steve Richards then COO at brand consultancy Woolf Olins.

Great advice across all areas. We live in a world that seeks to make the simple complicated, but the person who can simplify the complicated is the greater.

Totally stolen and mildly bastardised from the great ad creative Dave Trott.

Courtesy of Frank Cockman my first Board Account Director in advertising.

One I would share with my teams at various times along the way from my working experience.

My father told me and I've never forgotten it. I've also passed it on to a few people who had awkward life decisions to make and it really helped them.

Courtesy of George Bernard Shaw

Everyone says it but it’s no less true for that.

Don’t aim off what you really want for fear of failure. It’s as easy to to go for it as it is to guarantee missing the mark. Courtesy of Nick Horswell.

My dad said most people (especially bureaucrats) say "no". So just do it and face the music afterwards. 9 times out of 10 no one says anything and if you pull a success off you get the praise.

Treat people the way you want to be treated.

Written by Rob Siltanen who wrote the Think Different ad campaign for Apple.

From my dad on salesmanship. His philosophy was that you had to go out there and make opportunity.

When someone asks you to do something you can ask why?

I picked this up from Simon Woodroff (founder of Yo Sushi!) Basically "Don't do average."

Said to me by a CEO before meeting the lawyers. If you want to get the best return from time with someone think what you really need to ask.

As a blogger I've experienced the wisdom in this. Many of my original pieces would probably have caused me no end of problems (as well as contradicting my rule - never move jobs for money).

Media is a ruthless game with not too many principles. Be good, be honest and trust people well and whilst it might cost in the short-term, it pays off in the long-term.

Learned from my father. Be prepared for the worst, in other words. When it doesn't happen, 99.99% of the time you can be pleasantly surprised.

From Viktor Frankl. Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, author, and Holocaust survivor.

Even a crappy situation has some positive upside! As true in life in general as professionally.

Based on decades of research, a day that starts having to empty a dishwasher holds less creative promise than using that time to sit and think about what you are going to achieve.

My dad's words of wisdom. He was all about playing fair but said we should never let ourselves be taken advantage of.

From Katie Vanneck Smith, former Global President, Dow Jones - as I entered my first job in marketing. This has helped me hugely in soliciting and listening to a wide range of feedback and knowing when to take it on or not.

Courtesy of Einstein.

Fom my first boss at ad agency Young and Rubicom.

Taught to me by Chris Sutcliffe. I still use this today as a problem agitator, to run through some random stimulus to try and solve that problem. I did it today actually.

My father's DIY advice has saved me on many occasions and is applicable beyond carpentry.

That's helped me literally (especially travelling through Africa) as well as figuratively in careers and personal life.

One of the many pieces of wisdom learned from legendary agency leader Nigel Sharrocks.

From Mark Ormrod MBE. Former Royal Marine, Invictus Games athlete

Courtesy of Amelia Earhart.

Atributed to fellow dyslexic Henry Ford. Sometimes bend is replaced with break or rewrite. Essentially it divides us into 3 types, the latter being the creative, innovators.

Courtesy of Henry Ford.

The reward for great work is more work.

Courtesy of Frank Zappa. American composer, guitarist, and satirist.

From Einstein on the essence of problem solving.

Find your passion and follow it and you'll be a very happy person. Sadly few people follow their passions.

The Fifth habit of Stephen Covey's “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”.

Courtesy of Wayne Gretsky Ice Hockey Legend.

Courtesy of Sam Malone (barman in Cheers TV show).

Courtesy of Steve Covey's seven success lessons.

Meant as encouragement originally to women whose voices are heard less frequently. All it takes for evil to flourish is for good people to remain silent.

Courtesy Michael Jordon.

Anon.

From my mum.

Not philisophical, but comes in handy when you have seen as many ad briefs as I have.

Take the job if it advances your career, if it will make you happier by allowing you to fulfill your potential. If it comes with more money, great. But never move only for the money.

Remember who is making the decision.

Borrowed this from Scott Adams (Dilbert cartoonist) many years ago.

Advice from my dad. It served me pretty well...but you should probably ask some of my bosses.

This is one all us dyslexics love.

The advice I got from my mother on leaving Uni into the big wild work of work.

Maybe not always great advice but essentially it's all life is better for taking risks