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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.  

The reward for great work is more work.

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.

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

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

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

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.

You can't learn when you are talking.

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

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

Courtesy Michael Jordon.

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

Courtesy of Amelia Earhart.

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

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.

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

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

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).

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

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.

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

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

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.

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 of Thomas Edison.

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.

Remember who is making the decision.

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

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

Courtesy of Henry Ford.

Treat people the way you want to be treated.

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.

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

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

Courtesy of Wayne Gretsky Ice Hockey Legend.

Dalai Lama XIV.

Fom my first boss at ad agency Young and Rubicom.

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.

Anon.

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

From Einstein on the essence of problem solving.

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

Courtesy of George Bernard Shaw

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?

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

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

From my mum.

This is one all us dyslexics love.

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

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.

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

From Adventures in the Screen Trade - William Goldman.

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

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.

Explanation on joining the board at Saatchi & Saatchi.

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' ?

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Courtesy of Steve Covey's seven success lessons.

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

Courtesy of Einstein.

One from my grandfather.

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

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.

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

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

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