A New Addiction for a Freak in Control

A couple of weeks ago I was given a book by a good friend and you know how sometimes a book arrives in your life and it was as if it was written only for you and you alone.

It reaches out to you and inspires you.

There is an old saying that you don't choose books, they actually choose you. Well this book found a way of finding me and it couldn't have arrived at a better time.

The book in question is 'Creative Mischief' by Dave Trott and I am rationing myself in reading it so I can relish it - is there such as thing as a binge reading, I wonder....

Anyway, the very first story was a quick hit and had me snorting and choking with laughter on a crowded tube and consequently feeling like a complete fool - nothing new there then!

I tried to explain to my fellow passengers the source of my laughter by pointing at my book but they looked at me with 'nothing sharper than a crayon for her' type looks and some were even desperately looking around for my carer!

But I'm sorry, there are no warning signs on the tube that says 'No Laughter' are there? So if you were on the Bakerloo line on Weds last week going west at 10am and thought you were sitting next to an endlessly grinning Francis Farmer type mad woman - it was me....

The first story and the one that nearly had me sectioned, is where DT talks about the head of TV at BMP reading The Exorcist on his daily commute from Brighton.

The Head of TV stated that the book was one of the most evil tomes he had ever read and that it was in fact, so much a product of the devil"s work that he couldn't finish it.

So on the weekend he went to the end of Brighton Pier and threw it as far as he could into the sea, assuming that it had now sunk out of harms way to a watery grave.

On hearing this story DT went to the book shop and bought another copy. He then ran it under the tap and left it in the head of TV's desk drawer for him to find.

The point of this story for me is that if you are going to create then there is a fine line between cruelty and humour. To be noticed and to make a difference you have to be on the edge and break the rules.

To break the rules you need to be clever and if you can make people laugh then you can get away with almost anything - well apart from laughing out loud on the tube apparently.

The rest of the stories and insights in 'Creative Mischief' are brilliantly acute observations on human behaviour in the creative advertising world made by a man who has had a deeply rich and fascinating career.

I believe this book could be applicable to almost anyone because it makes you look at life through the lenses of mischief, creativity, passion and ingenuity.

So if you fancy a break from the monotony of opinion formers repeatedly telling us we are getting through the recession but not seeing the results and suffering from the effects of this beige weather, then read this book and it will inspire you to be creative and approach life differently.

What's so brilliant about the new emerging branded entertainment landscape is that everyone has the ability to create, whether you are a brand, an accountant, a nurse, a doctor, a policeman or a student.

So to create we have to be passionate about what we are doing. I suppose this is the lesson that I am learning from setting up my own business. By the nature of what I am trying to do I am connecting with people who totally believe in what they are doing and are therefore passionate in that belief. They bring me on board to help them create and bring their brands to life.

For the last couple of weeks I have been working for Dogs Trust, a wonderful charity who are committed to what they do and who are also quite rightly very protective of their brand.

It's a great organisation that works selflessly to do good work. For Dogs Trust we are in the process of making a series of training films with the wonderful Dog behaviourist and trainer Carolyn Menteith.

The entire experience has been a joy because you work with people who have no agenda for politics because they simply don't have the time for it. This is not only a refreshing change but also an inspiration.

Anyway, Dogs don't understand politics do they?

I am fast becoming a believer that maybe dogs could do more to help decide who we should vote for in the political arena. The thing with dogs is that they either like you or they don't and as many politicians are strangers to the truth we can't always believe everything they say.

In the same way as the Police use sniffer dogs - we should employ our faithful friends to walk around the House of Commons and let them intermingle with the politicians.

When they find one that is trustworthy, they would sit down in front of them and that is the one who should get your vote.

The more I think about this idea the stronger it becomes! A Dog is supposedly mans' best friend and there devotion is selfless, so trust your Instincts and go with the canine vote.

It's all there, the campaign could write itself.

In fact raise a paw to lobby for 'Dog TV' and if you hear someone say 'the world has gone to the dogs', then smile because these days that could be a positive thing.

Well, I'd best go now. There is a lot to do and I feel the need for another injection of 'Creative Mischief'. Thank you Mr Trott for giving me a new and enjoyable addiction.