jay/day

I recently put out an all-points-bulletin trying to locate one of my favorite suits, Marty Wenzell. (He’s one of the favored few for whom a jayday flashmob has been organized.)

I figured one of you would still be in touch with him and could identify his whereabouts. Who should turn up in my inbox but Marty himself! And Toto, he’s in Kansas! At an agency named Barkley.

I left Goodby last spring to take a job here in Kansas City....most people ask why, my only answer is I was actually bored after 18 years in the same place and I needed to get out before they found out I was dying there and threw me out. (Goodby was cool about it, he knew I had to reinvent myself).

Good job, decent clients and the challenge is much the same as it was when I started on Olympic Blvd. for a relatively unknown fellow named Jay. Except this time we are starting with 300 people.

Some family news....the twins started college this fall...Derek at American U. in D.C., and Collin at Wittenberg U. in Springfield, Ohio. So I guess my lively and lovely wife Margo is happier that we are closer to them.

Haven’t sold the house in Half Moon Bay, but not for a lack of trying....I’m drowning in mortgages.

My folks both passed away just recently, 7 days apart at Christmas...it is weird but true about couples being so connected.

I’m getting grey, or more grey....and it’s odd to be the “senior” guy that is supposed to have the wisdom to pass along. But as usual I start with my extensive knowledge of drinking establishments and go from there.

Hang in there, life is too short to piss it away.

M

Posted by alburty at 01:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Jane Newman sent me a copy today of Steve Jobs' commencement address at Stanford U. Adelaide Horton had also sent me a copy recently. Since we're at that time of year when we think about beginnings, I thought I'd post it here for you to enjoy, as well.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

Posted by alburty at 02:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bonnie Lunt, ad agency and talent recruiter extraordinaire, is as much a Chiat/Day alum as any of us.

Through her charitable organization, People Helping People, Bonnie and C/D Alum Nancy Hill are deeply involved in a philanthropic effort called the Azama Project in Otavalo, Ecuador. This project has given a community of 3000 a primary school and medical clinic and is currently awaiting donations to purchase a water purification system.

She is looking for a donation of 14 PC-based laptops that are loaded with Microsoft Word and Excel. If you are in the process of upgrading your systems and would like to donate them to a worthy cause (and receive a substantial tax deduction), please contact Bonnie’s assistant, Kathleen Ward at (212) 545-0363.

Posted by alburty at 09:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Many of you remember, no doubt, the irrepressibly upbeat C/D NY planner, Heather Harris. What you may not know is that for the last 15 years she has been a dynamic Personal & Professional Performance & Effectiveness Coach. You can visit her website, Red Resource, here.

I myself have availed myself of her services and I am a changed man!

This being a new year and all, isn't it time for you to "Bring Your Best Self To Life?"

Posted by alburty at 08:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

According to New York-based Landor Associates, Google is the top brand of 2006, beating out Las Vegas to claim the top spot for the first time.

Read

Posted by alburty at 10:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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C/D alums and still friends for over two decades! Lori Gaffney, Terri (Foye) Gray, Lily Katz, and Melanie (Axtman) Steinbach at Melanie's birthday party on December 16th in Welches, Oregon. Says Lily ....

We worked together in the media dept. of Chiat/Day L.A. and after leaving C/D, we're still all working as Media Directors at various agencies now... we've stayed friends since C/D 20+ years, started at the Biltmore hotel, then on to the Warehouse, the Binocular Blg. and Terri and Mel were at Playa Del ray location.

You all look wonderful! And happy belated birthday, Melanie!

[Ed. note: my pet name for Lori was "gaffee!"]

Posted by alburty at 02:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

This being New Year's an all, it's a good time to be thinking about long-term goals. Here, for some inspiration, is a site that reminds us of the humble employment routes some of today's greatest stars had to take before they hit the big time.

Visit

Posted by alburty at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)