Mike Byrne, Founding Partner and Global Chief Creative Officer of Anomaly, discusses his career in the advertising industry, the challenges and joys of being a founding partner, the importance of connecting with influential people, leaving Nike, and launching a cannabis products company. He also highlights the importance of building trust in client relationships and the art of selling ideas, including their experience pitching to Levi's.
Building trust with clients by being proactive and going above and beyond is crucial for success in the advertising industry.
Taking mental breaks and striving for authenticity in client relationships contribute to a comfortable and productive working environment.
Embracing creativity, unconventional thinking, and being open to new perspectives are key to fostering innovation and generating impactful ideas.
Deep dives
Investing in Creative Potential and Building Trust
To build trust with clients, Mike Byrne believes in being proactive, thinking about their business, and demonstrating a willingness to go above and beyond. He understands the pressures and challenges that CMOs face, and aims to get them promoted and make them look great. Building strong relationships and trust is a priority for him.
The Importance of Mental Breaks and Authenticity
Mike Byrne emphasizes the importance of taking mental breaks throughout the day and not being constantly tied to screens. He acknowledges the need for authenticity in client relationships and strives to be his genuine self, ensuring that clients feel comfortable working with him and the agency.
The Value of Morning Pages and Creative Exploration
Mike Byrne values the practice of writing morning pages, which involves writing three pages long-hand every morning as a way to gain clarity, release negativity, and generate fresh ideas. He also advocates for the exploration of creativity and ideation, embracing unconventional thinking, and being open to new and diverse perspectives.
Being Decisive and Embracing Great Ideas
Mike Byrne believes in being decisive and embracing great ideas when he sees them. He strives to create an environment where creativity can flourish and encourages his team to take risks and trust their instincts. He emphasizes the importance of positivity and decisiveness in bolstering team morale and boosting productivity.
Importance of Ambitious Ideas
Having ambitious and out-of-the-box ideas is crucial, even if they are rejected or considered overwhelming. The speaker highlights the value of aiming for the second type of bad meeting, where the idea is deemed too ambitious or challenging. This type of rejection often leads to more good meetings in the long run, as it shows a willingness to push boundaries and explore innovative solutions. Despite the disappointment of not meeting the expectations, the speaker emphasizes that it is more important to strive for ambitious ideas that generate discussion and excitement.
The Significance of Craft and Preparation
Craft and thorough preparation are essential elements in the creative process. The speaker acknowledges the importance of execution in turning good ideas into great ones. They highlight the need to interrogate and meticulously think through every aspect of a project, including visualizing it in their mind. Collaboration with directors and the ability to provide a clear and inspiring presentation are seen as vital for success. The speaker also stresses the importance of staying committed to the craft, regardless of budget and time constraints, in order to deliver outstanding work.
Mike Byrne is Founding Partner and Global Chief Creative Officer of Anomaly, whose clients include Nike, Coca Cola, Beats by Dre and Anheuser-Busch. Under Mike's leadership, Anomaly has become a revered creative powerhouse, winning every major award including AdAge Agency of the Year, and Fast Company's Most Innovative.
Prior to Anomaly, Mike built his career at Wieden+Kennedy, where he served as the Co-Creative Chief on Nike. During his tenure, W+K amassed more awards than any other agency in America, including two Agency of the Year honors. Mike has made some of the most famous and impactful work in the history of Nike advertising, including Lance Armstrong's "Yellow Band" campaign that helped raise over $50 million for the LiveStrong charity, and the Emmy-winning film, "Nike Tag."
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