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Obligatory about page

So. The obligatory about page. A page that populates pretty much every website that you visit.

Usually the about page will waffle on about the history and founding fathers of a company, or provide some kind of CV esq list of achievements if its a personal business page.

Traffic to these pages generally consists of students writing essays or curious friends, colleagues or prospective employers that want to know more about you.

Is my about page going to be different? Well yes and no.

About pages do serve a purpose and I feel it’s important to honour that purpose, if only to provide some visitors with something to chuckle about.

Where I hope to be a little different, not a lot, just a little, is to focus this more around who I am as a person. I’ll touch on what I do professionally but I think from the content of this site you’ll instantly see where my passion lies. If I can get across a smidgen of what I’m about beyond the four walls of the office then I’ll be happy!

Right then, let’s get this show on the road.

ME:

My name is James! Had anyone guessed that before reading this? If not, email me. I have either fallen at the first communication hurdle, or you would be a great guinea pig to test adverting effectiveness against.

I currently work in London, the English one, not the Canadian equivalent at Microsoft as a Brand Strategist. I haven’t spent all my time here, I’ve previously worked at Universal McCann and OMD, as well as a few independent communication shops. Some of the brands I’ve helped build are represented through the images on the left of your screen. I do hope you recognise what they all are otherwise I haven’t been 100% successful at my job...although technically many of you won’t have been exposed to the work I have done!

As a person I like to think of myself as a thinker! Thinking creatively and strategically about advertising and communication. It’s my passion, and something that seems to be hardwired into my brain. Meaning I can’t switch it off! None the less it’s something that I enjoy therefore I’m not too concerned by my strange genetic makeup.

Beyond work and odd DNA problems I’m a family man without a family yet. I recently married my 1st and last wife and we are happily building our home and lives together. We live in South East London in our 2 bedroom flat with a giant polystyrene stuffed gorilla that I won at a carnival in Leicester square. This is possibly only the 2nd thing I have won within my personal life other than a Ronald McDonald colouring competition when I was 6 and a free travel card from a radio station.

I enjoy many things that life has to offer, mostly bad (but all the best things are) such as great tasting but often fatty food, English ale and poker. I’d throw exotic travel in there as well and since I am yet to fully offset my carbon emissions from flying I’ll count this as bad too.

I like to think I’m an easy going, inquisitive and intelligent person although I’ve never asked anyone to corroborate this for fear that I don’t like the answer!

BLOG:

So why write a blog? Well firstly I feel a little bit retro doing so! Working in digital at Microsoft I see change and innovation happen at an astounding pace. So much so that there never seems to be a status quo because we don’t have time to define one!

As the digital pace picks up and consumers flit from one new site, application or form of expression to the next I’ve decided to put some roots down in one of yesteryears forms of social media. A blog! What I mean by yesteryear is that blogging as this blog demonstrates is not the hot form of communication anymore. Consumers and audience have moved on, currently toward twitter and will no doubt flock to something else in the near future

Blogging however, for me, gives me space and it gives me time. Time to think. Which I feel has become forgotten in recent years. A great example is the culture around email. Specifically the email distribution lists or reply to all feature. In today’s speed addicted society those that respond quickest to an email are exalted, while those that take the time to think are labelled as being inattentive!

Sad but true!

YOU:

Well if you have read to here I’m going to assume you have a passing interest in what I say. I hope this continues and that I can inspire thinking, promote debate or even just entertain in the future. If you are so able, I ask one small favour and that is that you consider supporting my efforts, and no I don’t want money! Commenting, giving your opinion, emailing posts to friends, or simply adding me to your blog roll will be perfectly adequate for me.

Thanks for reading and please drop by again

James