StratScraps_v111
What makes your strategy yours?
Dunno what this was commented on, but feels like it was written about stratscraps.
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Speaking of “written about StratScraps” – I received this VERY kind note out of the blue this week:
“Having access to Alex Morris’ ever-evolving ‘Stratscraps’ is the marketing equivalent of the Sports Almanac from ‘Back to the Future’. When I need to access marketing wisdom beyond my mental scope or temporal dimension, I retreat to a quiet room, close the door, and peruse Stratscraps. All the while, I feel giddy and slightly guilty. Do I deserve these insights?”
Elan Levitan
Toronto, Canada
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Without commenting on whether or not that is deserved (i’m trying to get better at accepting compliments), I will say “Peruse” is exactly the method in which this is best consumed. Nothing will ever be topical or only relevant one week but not another.
Take a journey through the chaos of StratScraps Past
~~𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕞𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕞𝕖 𝕕𝕦𝕕𝕖~~
It would be hard to describe the type of freelance work I do best and enjoy most better than Tom Critchlow describes the idea of Stewardship:
“The most powerful stewardship work is around momentum - helping the organization or project accelerate their output.”
☝︎☝︎☝︎
If that sounds like something you need – let’s chat. I’m available starting June.
A pretty silly thing I made a long time ago: the strategy ABCs.
Yes, there are errors, the rhyme scheme switches up randomly at one point and the cadence is off, but this was fun to make.
And if you aren’t having fun at work, something is wrong. You don’t need to love your job, but you do need to have fun there.
A HOT take by Ed Tsue: The death of the brief
But not one I entirely disagree with? there are roles the brief plays that would need to be replaced (a contract with the client), but overall, a compelling read.
A good read all around.
How do you handle linkedin requests?
Feels weird to just accept everything, but only accepting people you know or who are within your circle of connections seems like a bad way to broaden the voiced you hear.
Every agency should be forced to recite this whenever they are struggling with creative.
CREATIVES ON STRATEGY
Thank you everyone who has filled out the survey.
If you know someone who works in the Creative Dept. who has opinions about strategy (they better), tell them to fill this out.
At the very least it’ll be cathartic.
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Some patterns and other fun stuff:
Now that I’m getting more and more data from Creatives for the Creatives on Strategists survey, a few things keep popping up.
Thought starters: Controversial item. Rarely appreciated, but I feel there are complex reasons as to why.
Talk less. This applies to people in general to be honest.
The purpose of a creative brief: answers are either “inspiration” or “clarity” – but more interesting is the tone of answers across the board. It can be summed up with this one response:
“I gave up on those a long time ago. I'd rather just ask the questions I need answered.”
And my favorite response so far:
Q:What do you wish strategists would do more of?
A: Micro-dosing.
Every ritual has a function
What rituals do you have for the items of value on the left?
A strategist as described by the data:
“Stop thinking about art works as objects, and start thinking about them as triggers for experiences.”
― Roy Ascott
(you could say the same about ads)WEEKLY MONSTER
WIP SELF PORTRAIT (Everything is a self portrait)
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