Gerry Graf, founder and CCO of Barton F Graf, talks about creating famous commercials, starting his own agency, reflections on worst case scenarios and ego, understanding financial aspects, trusting gut in the advertising industry, and creating a coalition to promote the Affordable Care Act.
Gerry Graf's career showcases the importance of persistence, trusting one's instincts, and embracing new challenges in the creative industry.
Graff emphasizes the need for collaboration with planners and strategic thinkers to develop strong ideas that align with the client's objectives.
Taking risks, overcoming fear of failure, and providing support to others are key aspects highlighted by Gerry Graf for personal and professional growth.
Deep dives
Jerry Graff's impressive advertising career and achievements
Jerry Graff is a highly accomplished creative director in the advertising industry. He has worked for renowned agencies like BBDO, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, and Sachi & Sachi. Graff is known for creating iconic commercials for brands like Snickers and Skittles, revolutionizing the comedic genre in television advertising. His talent and dedication have earned him numerous awards and accolades, including being named the most awarded creative director in the world in 2007. In 2010, Graff launched his own agency, Barton F. Graff, which quickly gained recognition and became the fastest-growing independent agency in America.
The challenges and lessons learned in Graff's career journey
Graff's career journey showcases the challenges and triumphs every creative professional goes through. He initially struggled to find his path, working odd jobs and feeling unfulfilled in the finance industry. However, his passion for writing and advertising propelled him to pursue a career in the creative field. Graff faced rejection and moments of self-doubt along the way, but he persisted and sought guidance from mentors like Rich Silverstein and Lee Clow. His ability to trust his gut instinct and embrace new challenges has been pivotal in his success.
Graff's approach to creating and selling work
Graff emphasizes the importance of trusting one's instincts and working tirelessly to create exceptional advertising work. He relies on collaboration with planners and strategic thinkers to develop strong ideas that are grounded in the client's objectives. Graff believes in selling ideas that are simple, elegant, and capture attention. He understands the importance of navigating the challenges that arise during the production process and ensuring that the final execution matches the initial creative vision. Graff's career is a testament to the need for continuous learning, persistence, and embracing new opportunities.
Encouraging Risk-Taking and Overcoming Fear of Failure
Jerry Graff emphasizes the importance of taking risks and overcoming the fear of failure. He believes that providing support and encouragement to others can be as simple as acknowledging their talents and validating their ideas. Graff encourages people to pursue their goals, even if there is a possibility of failure, as the act of trying sets them apart from those who never take the leap.
Lessons Learned as an Entrepreneur and the Importance of Delegating
As an entrepreneur, Graff shares his experiences in starting his own agency. He reflects on the challenges of managing different aspects of a business, from financial matters to fostering collaboration between departments. Graff acknowledges his ongoing learning process in understanding agency finances and building a cohesive working environment. He also discusses the balance between being involved in client meetings and the importance of empowering his creative teams to take charge of their work.
Gerry Graf is founder and CCO of Barton F Graf. Over a 25+ year career spanning BBDO, Goodby, Chiat NY and Saatchi, there are few more decorated creative minds in our industry than Gerry. AdAge named three of his commercials to their list of the 20 Best Super Bowl Ads of All Time. In 2007, he was named the most awarded creative director in the world. In 2014 he appeared on Fast Company’s list of the '100 Most Creative People in Business.' Business Insider named him 'The Most Creative Man in Advertising.' Newsweek called him one of 'The New Don Drapers.' In 2010 Gerry launched his own agency, Barton F Graf, and it has been on the A-List every year since. Today BFG is the fastest growing independent agency in America.
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