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10 Lessons from a Career in Advertising

Lessons from Advertising Career Towards the end of my 19th year in this world, I found myself trying to sell the most awful copy test (a set of lateral thinking problems agencies used to test a person’s ability to approach advertising briefs) to Johannesburg’s advertising industry. Of course, I thought I was a genius and I couldn’t understand why nobody was clambering to hire me. That’s when I learned my first lesson: 1: You’re not as good as you sometimes think you are. Imagine that. I was learning, and I hadn’t even got in yet. A very kind headhunter took pity on me and tried to find me a gig. I held on to a belief deep inside me, that I did have what it takes, but I just needed the right environment to prove myself. Of course, I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was right.  Talent is nothing without the right environment - the right coaching and the right inspiration.   Because you know - 2: Success never happens in a vacuum. Lesson 2, done and dusted and I haven’t even ...

Why Are Infertile Couples Increasing?

What Causes Infertility? Why has infertility become so widespread now, whereas it wasn’t as common 40 years ago? Is this due to diseases among people or something bigger, like a conspiracy? The 2005 Cotton Conference in Gujarat In 2005, a conference on Integrated Cotton Cultivation was held in Gujarat. Dr. Swaminathan’s institution partnered with the Gujarat government to launch BT Cotton (genetically modified cotton). The unique trait of BT Cotton: Its leaves contained a genetic modification that prevented pests from reproducing after consuming it. In essence, it spread infertility among pests. The Impact of BT Cotton on Society Farmers saw initial benefits, such as increased cotton production and reduced crop diseases. However, cottonseed oil, extracted from BT Cotton, entered the food chain and became widely consumed in Gujarat and across India. Concerns Raised During the conference, a warning was issued about the potential effects of genetically modified BT Cotton on humans...

How to Survive an Elevator Free Fall

  We never know when and where accidents will happen to us OR people  around us.  Read on and hope this piece of information may help any of  us when things do happen to ourself, our friends and our loved ones. One day, while in a lift, it suddenly broke down and it was falling  from level 13 at a fast speed.  Fortunately, I remembered watching a  TV program that taught  you must quickly press all the buttons for all  the levels.  Finally, the lift stopped at the 5th level. When you are facing life and death situations, whatever decisions or  actions you make decides your survival.  If you are caught in a lift  breakdown, first thought in mind may be  'waiting to die'... But after reading below, things will definitely be different the next  time you are caught in a lift.

My brain and heart

  My brain and heart divorced a decade ago over who was to blame about how big of a mess. I have become eventually, they couldn't be in the same room with each other now my head and heart share custody of me. I stay with my brain during the week and my heart gets me on weekends they never speak to one another. Instead, they give me the same note to pass to each other every week and their notes they send to one another always says the same thing: "This is all your fault" On Sundays my heart complains about how my head has let me down in the past and on Wednesday my head lists all of the times my heart has screwed things up for me in the future they blame each other for the state of my life there's been a lot of yelling - and crying So, lately, I've been spending a lot of time with my gut who serves as my unofficial therapist. Most nights, I sneak out of the window in my ribcage and slide down my spine and collapse on my gut's plush leather chair that's ...

The Goalkeeper of 1937

In December 1937, a football match between Chelsea and Charlton football clubs at the Stamford Bridge stadium London was stopped in the 60th minute due to thick fog. Charlton’s legendary goalkeeper Sam Bartram remained oblivious and kept on shielding the goal 15 minutes after the game had stopped, as he did not hear the referee’s whistle because of the crowd behind his goal post. He stood there with his arms outstretched and completely focused, looking forward so as not to be surprised by the opponent’s shots. Fifteen minutes later, when the stadium police approached him and informed him that the match had been abandoned, Sam Bartram said these famous words with great sadness, “How sad that my friends forgot me when I was guarding their goal post.” Bartram thought his team was attacking and not allowing the opposing team to get close to the goal post. There are so many players in the field of life whose goal post one defends with enthusiasm and support, but when the situation becomes l...

Just Love Me For Who I Am!

I never quite figured out why the sexual urge of men and women differ so much. And I never have figured out the whole Venus and Mars thing. I have never figured out why men think with their head and women with their heart.    FOR EXAMPLE: One evening last week, my girlfriend and I were getting into bed. Well, the passion starts to heat up, and she eventually says, 'I don't feel like it,I just want you to hold me.' I said, 'WHAT??!! What was that?!' So, she says the words that every boyfriend on the planet dreads to hear... 'You're just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman enough for me to satisfy your physical needs as a man.'   She responded to my puzzled look by saying, 'Can't you just love me for who I am and not what I do for you in the bedroom?'   Realizing that nothing was going to happen that night, I went to sleep.    The very next day I opted to take the day off of work to spend time with her. We went out to a nice lunch a...

Let Yourself Lose - Inspirational Poem

You've not felt pain Till you've let yourself feel. You must let the pain in Before you can heal. Let it crumble you, crush you, Destroy your soul. Piece by piece, Till it consumes you whole. 'I've faced pain', you think. But what you've really done, Is block it out with numbness. And you think that you've won. Then it happens again. And you think that you know How to win this once more, Since you've done it before. So you pull out your shield, And stay safe behind. You hide in the cave that the pain cannot find. Running the other way is easier than to face it. But to truly find peace You have to embrace it. You'll feel it break your bones And crush your thin skull. Till all that is left of you Is a withered empty hull. You'll wonder how you fell For pain and its tricks. But as you walk away broken You'll see yourself fix. You'll be glad you welcomed it And drew down your shield. This time you didn't switch off. This time you healed. ...