About this episode

Derek Day discusses his unplanned career journey and the strategic steps he took to build his creative reputation.

To hear Derek tell it, his career was totally unplanned. One impetuous decision after the next. Leading to endless mistakes. Exhibit A: Quitting the best agency in the country to go on holiday with his girlfriend. (CDP) To me, it looks as meticulously pre-planned as any of the plots in the ‘Ocean’s’ films. STEP 1: Work for the best agencies in town: (CDP, BMP and DDB). STEP 2: A reconnaissance trip to the States (Smith/Greenland). STEP 3: Create financial security (Day/Devito-French). STEP 4: Build a creative reputation at the most creative agencies of their day (WCRS and AMV). STEP 5: Practice being a Creative Director at a big, bad agency (Ted Bates). STEP 6: Now ready, you start your own shop (BDDH). STEP 7: Position the agency as the first of a new trend (Third Wave). STEP 8: Turn Marketers Directors curiosity about the Third Wave into retained business. STEP 9: Sell. Have a listen, tell me I’m wrong.

People in this episode

Host: Dave Dye

Guest: Derek Day

Topics covered

• career planning
• creative direction
• advertising agencies
• business strategy
• mistakes in career

Keywords

• Derek Day
• career mistakes
• advertising
• creative director
• business strategy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CDP, BMP, DDB, Smith/Greenland, Day/Devito-French, WCRS, AMV, Ted Bates, BDDH, Third Wave

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