The ad I'm the most proud of my career.

When I started my job at Gravity Thinking in December 2014, the first project I was briefed in on made me go "Wow." It has been a long time since my days on Gillette that a feeling about a project like that has happened.

I was shown a video about the science of cymatics, in which sound waves affect the shape and patterns of thin layers of solid and liquid matter. A petri dish with dark liquid danced and performed intricate shapes while resting on an active sound speaker. I've never seen anything quite like that before and the creative team working on this turned to me and said, "So, what do you think?"

To be honest, it was both exciting and frightening as it was a project scope I have never encountered in my life. The concept was simple - show how the Glenfiddich 21 Year Old whisky, which is matured in oak barrels for 21 years and finished in Caribbean rum casks to give it its sweet flavour. Cymatics and musicians performing a song would help show that idea of the whisky being raised in Scotland and roused by the Caribbean in a metaphorical sense. It was the "how are we going to do this" that was the mountain to climb ahead.

There was a song to consider, talent to recruit, a location to find and a cymatics instillation to build and at first, four months before production to do it all. Surprisingly, the latter wasn't the issue - having found a creative technologist team through our production company, Ten Hertz, took on the task of conceptual design to final build like they've done this before. When I first saw the devices being tested, I felt like a kid at the science museum with my nose pressed up against the glass.

Our original sneak peek of the cymatics at work. 

What ended up being the most difficult was landing a song. I do not envy producers who have to scroll through lists of music and listen to clips just to find the "perfect" fit. Then, it's trying to sell in a cover and new arrangement that both the Clients and the artist licensing the song rights would both enjoy. Seriously, I don't think I want to go through another discography list again having done about four rounds of music selection.

Thankfully, we pushed back the film production so there was more time for us to do it right - two days and 30 hours on set, it was all coming together. Sitting off set with the patch into what was happening on screen was just like that moment I had when testing the cymatics. Unlike other shoots, I wasn't bored or just hanging out around the craft services table.

So after 11 months of hard work and difficult conversations, I'm proud to share with you what I helped to create. I'm even more proud of this work as it'll likely be one of the last I'll work on in the advertising world and it's not a bad one to leave the industry with.

To have a behind the scenes view of how the film came together, take a look here:

Phew...now for that dram. Sláinte!

Saying goodbyes...

Yesterday was a tough day. My last day of work for a long, long time. Most people must be thinking, "You're fucking crazy! How can you possibly find it so tough to leave work?!" The answer is simple, it's hard to say goodbye to such amazing people who've made you laugh, learn and grow as an individual.

I often joke about how I don't have any emotions - strict Asian parenting has reinforced the message that crying is a sign of weakness. But I'll admit it was hard even after the first couple of handshakes and hugs to not get that lump in your throat feeling - that step right before you're about to bawl your eyes out. Thankfully, Sailor Moon tears did not emerge from my eyes, but a sad face was crying on the inside.

What made it even harder to say goodbye was the fact that so many people showed up Thursday evening at the Pilot for goodbye drinks - it truly made me feel special. My agency friends from my past three agencies showed up to my sendoff and it was was great to be reminded of how many awesome friends I've made in the last five and a half years. I truly appreciated all of you showing up and helping me get intoxicated to the point that I had trouble remembering where I lived.

I left work just a tad early yesterday afternoon and as I walked out of the doors of 2 Bloor St. West for the last time, I repeated to myself, "I'm really doing this. I'm done working for a long time." Then a big silly grin appeared on my face.

To all my lovely friends in advertising - much love and mad respect. You're good, kind-hearted and hard working people who have made a big impact on my life. Thank you.

Appreciate Awesome Bosses

A person once told me at the start of my career in advertising, "You'll never appreciate an amazing boss, until you have a bad one." It's been something that has been ringing in my head recently as I count my way down to my last day of work. (FOUR MORE DAYS! Yippie!)

Rather than focus on the bad bosses I've had (thankfully, there were only three in these last five years), I've decided to dedicate this blog to identifying the qualities I found most admirable about the awesome bosses I've had. Love to hear your opinion on if you agree on the points I've listed out below:

1) Awesome bosses teach, mentor and take an active interest in developing an employee's career.

When I started in this business, I thought I knew my shit - at least that's what my career development department and every other professor at school told us. There were these high expectations set that in two years, I would take over the world. Well, I guess it came as a bit of a shock that on my first day of work in advertising, I spent 12 hours designing circles with random words in them, cutting them out and pasting them onto large black boards. My boss who hired me, Kim Hunter (who happened to be an Ivey grad as well) told me, "trust me, there's a reason for this." Like any good employee, I put my head down and quietly cut circles, something I'm sure I mastered in junior kindergarden art class.

It wasn't until all the craziness of the big corporate meeting was over (which was why we were prepping these boards with circles) that she sat me down and explained the craziness. Although she didn't have time then to explain to me how I was contributing to the bigger picture, she certainly did afterwards. From that day and all the way until I stopped working with her, Kim took and active role in explaining (sometimes more than once), teaching and helping understand why things happened the way they do at the agency.

She also played a key role in developing my career from lowly intern to an Account Executive. We had honest conversations about where I wanted to go in the agency and I didn't realize it then, but conversations like that were rare in this industry because some bosses couldn't care what you want to do 2 years from now, all they want is for you to do the work for them now. And since then, ever since we've stopped working together (which was about four years ago) she continues to be a great friend who I've talked about some big career decisions and thoughts with.

It is truly impressive that a person would spend that much time and energy into helping you grow and develop in your career. This is certainly something I've taken away and practiced with those interns and Account Coordinators that worked with me - hopefully, I lived up to the same standards that Kim set!

2) Awesome bosses are secure with their skills and abilities.

They know when to give their two cents and know when to back away to allow their team members to run the show. They recognize when they have to talk and when they have to listen. They believe that when their employees shine, they do too in association. I've been very lucky that there have been bosses that have let me run with projects full speed and trust I'd get the work done. They've let me step out and present even when my title wasn't anywhere close to theirs. Andreas Doerig really fit this to a tee. When we worked together, he let me present work, he allowed me the freedom to run with my own projects and was always there when I needed help. He had a calm approach but knew exactly when it was necessary to step in and add his input so that nothing fell off the rails. He always credited me and the team and called us out for the great work we did. When we shined, he did too. Couldn't have asked for a better boss there.

3) Awesome bosses are good people, both in and outside of the office.

These are the people who you want to have a drink with at the end of a long, stressful day and talk about other things besides work. They are good judges of character because they have great character themselves and know how to read others well in order to help them when they need it the most. They are understanding and put more value on the emotional quotient of their jobs than the intellectual part. I'm not saying these people are dumb feeling obsessed people; these are super smart individuals who just treat others as human beings because they know how they'd like to be treated themselves. There was no other boss that upheld this more than Jane Prendergast - also calm and collected, she was always happy, never let anything bother her and really empathized with me when I faced a challenge. She's one tough Account Director too - I've seen her go head to head with Clients, but she always finishes the conversation with a smile on her face and still holds the standard for me as the happiest person I know in advertising.

Those to me are the three main characteristics I valued in my awesome bosses - there are other's to mention, but I can go on and on. The three I've pointed out above, Kim, Andreas and Jane, really embodied all three of those characteristics and I truly thank them, and all of the other great bosses I've had for helping me in my career.

Cheers to you all.

(Kim and I in 2008 at a cottage with other TBWAers)

What I'll Miss About Toronto: #21 - The Inappropriate Things About Advertising

It's been a full week since I've been able to post - as much as I want to blame work for not being able to put my thoughts towards this blog, I can only blame myself.

On the topic of work, this is my last week of advertising (ever?) - counting down the days seem surreal. I've left other workplaces before, but this time it's different. I won't be starting anywhere new - I will be funemployed (by choice, I might add).

This leads me to think about some of the great things I get to do at work and to be my crazy, eccentric self without having HR breathing down my neck. Here's just a couple of things I get to do at work that make other people both judge me and secretly (and sometimes openly) envy me.

(1) Forward Inappropriate Photos and Viral Videos

Why are people in advertising some of your coolest friends? It's because they are always the first to get the viral video forwards and then finally share with you non-industry folks on Facebook. One of my favourite photos of all time was forwarded to me by a co-worker, it made me crack up for about 5 minutes and it's a t-shirt having fun with Tourettes. In fact, I bet you if you search all of the reaction videos to 2 Girls, 1 Cup, the three biggest demographics would be teenagers (obvs), military (they are a bit messed up with all that war stuff) and ad people (we do it for the shits and giggles - no pun intended).

I believe at other companies, this would be flagged and you'll get a warning email from IT and HR. Cunts.

(2) Drinking is OK because we have a beer / spirits client

One of my friends asked me about five months ago at dinner, "Terence, honestly, how much do you drink every week?" In her eyes, I saw some true concern while waiting in anticipating the answer. When I said, I probably drink about 7 - 8 drinks a week (1 per day, really folks), her face fell. I guess she was thinking I would say about 15 - 20.

Alright, Mad Men has certainly helped perpetuate the fact that we are consistently drunk. It doesn't help that we have a party for absolutely about any occasion - someone's goodbye party (drink), Christmas (drink), a new client win (drink), showing up to work (drink).

But look, when you have a client that is a beer or liquor manufacturer / distributor, you have the obligation to help support that client, just like I do with any other Clients I've worked on (well, with the exception of that time I worked on hair colouring).

We work hard, we play hard and we show up the next day (with dark sunglasses and the garbage can placed strategically near our feet).

(3) We're mean and judgmental (and like making close to the line racist comments).

At the casting session I was at today, I looked down at my notes and was so shocked that I could write such blunt comments down - if ever expressed to that actor directly, I am pretty sure it would reduce him to tears. But hey, if you're saying it, it's likely others will too; as agency folks, we have to be critical.

Besides casting, there's just some other fun moments that help break up tense moments at work - those moments where you really need a joke to help elevate everyone's spirits again. Thankfully, I've been able to leverage my ethnic background to help lighten the mood. Using a Chinese accent while saying "Oh solly, so solly" or exiting stage left like a Japanese Geisha while pretending to play the mandolin has always worked for me to get people to do what I want. Now that that secret's revealed, I guess I can't use it anymore. Shit, now I have to get the old rice hat and planter's outfit out of storage.

Boy, I can go on and on, but I'll likely get myself and other people in trouble - this should be enough to keep you slightly entertained. Whatever, I'm sure there will be even more incriminating blogs coming out soon. Just you wait until my "Things Good Bosses Do" post.

What I'll Miss About Toronto: #25 - The Industry Parties

In my last couple of weeks here in Toronto, I've obviously started thinking about what I'll miss and all of the fear of missing out (FOMO - thanks Vanessa Ewen for that amazing acronym) moments when I'm away in Asia.

So to help me cope, like it always does, I've made a list and from now until I leave, I'll reveal a new item on my list of "What I'll Miss About Toronto" along with other posts.

Sitting at #25, are the incredibly fun industry parties that agencies and their suppliers hold every year. I've been fortunate enough that throughout my five years in advertising, I've attended my fair share of industry parties - many good, some, well, let's just say I didn't RSVP the following year.

These past two months had been crammed full of parties - most recently was Yahoo! Canada last night (not impressed that I had to wait in a line, to go into another line to get in so that I can line up for coat check, but nonetheless, it was still a good time) and AdBall that happened tonight (a bit of a snore - the only saving grace was the company of Rebecca Ho and Kim Hunter and the poker tables).

Coupled along with the industry parties are the many fun agency internal parties we have had at the various agencies I've had the privilege of working for. Most notable was my appearance at the 2007 TBWA\Toronto party where I danced so much that somehow I ripped my pants in the back all the way down my butt crack. From there, a lovely coworker who I shared my embarrassing moment with decided to make the tear even bigger by ripping it open (see side photo) and by that point, there was no going back. Go big or go home. So I went big (thankfully, I had black boxers that night under my black pants, so it wasn't that obvious that I've just ripped my pants open.

I'll miss these fun drunken times. Thankfully, there are a couple of going away parties along with my own - scheduled Feb 9th at the Pilot Tavern - so I can still hold onto one last chance of partying like a Mad Man.