procrastination nation.

You’ve heard of the place, right? Many of us dwell here, a few have visited and even bought the t-shirt. Maybe one day we’ll even get around to wearing it. Ah, Procrastination Nation: the land of limbo, the “I dunno, I’m still on the fence” neutral territory, and for those in the know, it truly is the best place to retreat when taken on an unexpected guilt trip. As for me? I'm the Mayor of said town. I know full-well that I could put off putting things off 'til Kingdom Come. But lucky for me, I have short people to answer to [and mouths to feed] so the hesitation only lasts so long. Sooner or later, the natives get restless, and I get a move on.

Many of us keep meaning to relocate to the neighboring state of Knuckle Down, but just can’t seem to get our rears in gear. So we sit around, well intentioned and well-versed in really, really good excuses. Excuses so refined, that lately, even the excuse makers are buying into them. I mean, the shelf life of an excellent put-off is remarkable. For example, I’ve been swamped and unable to go to the gym to drop those last 10 for so long, they've nearly doubled in value. And that’s exciting, because why work out everyday to maintain, when you can panic, torture yourself, obsess compulsively to the point of burn-out... and win fleeting bragging rights?

“You lost 20 pounds? Oh my stars, you look AMAZING!”

Yes, we dream about receiving these accolades. And then we hit the snooze button. To the professional procrastinator, this is our take on 'drop and give me twenty'-- more minutes. No seriously, I will totally, totally wake up and get my butt moving if you will only leave me alone for twenty... no, thirty... hmm, better make it 45 more minutes.

Zzzzz.

Wake up, people. The hour is now. If you know that you get stuck [getting ready to get ready] then grab a gigantic cup of coffee, get creative, and find a way to hold yourself accountable. For me, the most effective tool used to keep me honest is the public announcement:

“I will be at such-and-such event, doing this-and-that-and-the-other thing. See you so-and-so’s there.”

And then I show up. Because, after all, I said I would, didn't I?

Now, while I may not be a fitness consultant [obviously] I do happen to know a thing or two about whipping businesses into shape, and the thing that’s most commonly overlooked, put off, and swept under the rug is market strategy. Because who wants to pay for advertising? And who wants to deal with sales reps? And who wants to get all sales-y and stuff on people we barely know, or worse, people we actually know? Pretty much no-one, that’s who.

Too bad. Because like it or not, if you want to drive business, you have to get down to business. And sometimes that means getting your hands dirty, i.e.: picking up a phone, writing an email, updating your website, networking, taking that hot prospect out for lunch and dinner AND cocktails before you can even dream of getting a deal done.

And you should probably do it now, while you're thinking about it. Not tomorrow, not next week, but today. As in today-today-- like, this very afternoon. In fact, this morning would have probably been best. Yes, wise-apple, cocktails in the morning, if need be. Not that I would confirm or deny the effectiveness of this practice, but rumor has it, Bloody Mary’s and breakfast burritos are one helluva great way to get ‘er done. And if that doesn’t work, try beer and brats, or Merlot and mussels. And if you still can’t break through after all of that, you might want to see if the client you’re courting is a vegan. In which case, I’d recommend a nice Pinot and polenta, and perhaps a letter of apology.

double take.

Tagging along/art directing campaign photo shoots is just one of the many perks of my 'j-o-b'. I've gotten lucky,  collaborating with some insanely talented photographers, and with every shoot comes an opportunity to one-up our last effort. I really can't think of a better way to spend a work day. We definitely have our fun.

One of the down-sides to creative direction though, is leaving classically great shots behind. Just for fun, here's my all-time favorite out-take, fresh from the [proverbial] cutting room floor:

Trial and error.

Setting up an outdoor adventure shot for the Walters & Hogsett - Face it. You've done crazier things. engagement campaign proved trickier than we'd imagined. But once we figured it out-- MAGIC! Watch as Jessica Folkerts [pictured below] our stunning globe-trotting/nature girl/model-- emerges from her cocoon, simply glowing.

And like the genius pro that he is, Ben got the shot! It's a wrap... or was a wrap. Er, something to that effect. Thanks Jess, for being as good a sport as you are gorgeous. A huge thank you to Ben Horton as well, for always finding a way to make... it... work.

* Photographer, Ben Horton. Model, Jessica Folkerts. Creative Director, A. L. Neill. OX & CO Engagement Campaign for Walters & Hogsett - Copyright 2009.

silly me.

When I first broke onto the corporate sales and marketing scene, I panicked a bit. More than anything, I wanted to be taken seriously. So I chopped my locks to a sensible bob, put my best [boxed] brunette forward, and invested heavily in mock turtle necks... and slacks.

Silly me. 

Changing up your look is fine. I should know, I do it all the time. But there was no need to adhere to some preconceived professional image I'd conjured up out of insecurity. As it turned out, the more I tried to blend, the more I stuck out like a sore thumb. I mean, I could dress in a shroud, if I thought that might help matters, but the moment I open my mouth-- it's over. I'm packin' opinions, people. And I'm not afraid to voice them.

Still, vocal or not, the wardrobe malfunction played on and played out and I wish somebody had bothered to shake me... slap a little sense into my numb skull. Alas, no one ever did. Thankfully, I finally clued in. Besides, you can only sport mock turtles for so long. Sooner or later, you get up the nerve to stick your neck out.

Lately, I've been given a lot of credit for my saucy, outspoken writing style. While I appreciate the kudos, I'm even more grateful that I've been accepted for my goofy self as a human being/business owner. In my humble opinion, it's absolutely, positively okay to show up for work in jeans and low-top Cons, so long as the work produced is taken seriously.

And I do take my work seriously.

Now, I'm not saying that everyone should scrap their professional duds and show up as though it were casual Friday-- Monday through Friday. That's not my point at all. Besides, life without stilettos and pencil skirts is a very sad existence, indeed. This isn't even about style do's and dont's. I mean puh-lease, if not for my 'tween aged daughter's input, I'd be the biggest fashion victim ever. No, no, no... this is about being comfortable in your own skin, saying what you mean, and being sold on your own ideas. Because if you can't get real with yourself, then really, you're being misrepresented by your best advocate. And no one is going to put faith in a fraud.  

At least not for long.

Let's just get one thing straight. No matter how talented you are, no matter how clever, no matter how much heart and grit you possess-- not everyone is going to think you're wonderful. In fact, the inevitable result of putting yourself out there in a public light is that people will form an opinion, one way or another... and often times, it's the less desirable of the two. You have to be cool with yourself first, or the criticism and competition will crush you. You've got to dig in, do your homework, and be prepared for people to come at you with the most invasive, abrasive questions:  

  

 What makes you think you're qualified? 

 What makes you better than the other guy? 

 Who do you think you are, anyway?

Seriously? Yes, I'm afraid so. I know it can be intimidating [even infuriating] but try to take it in stride. Often times it's just posturing. And if you aren't phased, the other guy's not in control of the exchange. The best thing you can do is look 'em in the eye and smile, wait your turn to speak, and choose your words carefully. But most importantly, if someone is acting like an utter tool, there's no sense wasting your energy returning the sentiment, or lack thereof.

Don't engage. I'm serious about this! Nothing good will ever, ever come of it. Let it go and move on. Besides, why on Earth would you want to work with someone who rubs you the wrong way? There are plenty of deals out there, and life is too short to do business with bullies. Trust your gut and do the right thing. If you're consistent, everything else will fall into place.

middle management.

It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child. This is very true. And it goes without saying too, that in my household, it takes a middle child to manage a family-owned business.

When we celebrated the open of the agency's second home, a fourth floor shared suite in the West End Plaza on Pearl, I stole away from the party hoping to catch my breath. Instead, I chanced upon a scene that took my breath away. Removed from the chaos, tucked peacefully within her happy place, I discovered my daughter, Olympia, seated authoritatively behind my desk, taking in the Flatirons view, Googling her own name, systematically sorting my pens and paper clips to her liking.

I opted to leave her be. Clearly, she was in the zone. A future Madame President, daring to dream. Who was I to boot her out of office? I smiled, sipping Chardonnay and spying for a moment. If only she could see her own shine. Perhaps one day, she will. With any luck, we all will.

I'm certain that for those dear, sweet, patient souls who follow my work, it may seem as though I idolize my offspring. Perhaps I do tend to gush, but there is just cause. For putting up with all the Cheerios, purchased in bulk, because it was cheap and easy... for all the hand-me-downs, shared bedrooms, and that one communal bathroom in the ramshackle hell-hole we crammed into [sans complaint] over on Alpine, I'm grateful. They definitely deserve credit. Lord knows, they've got my back, those three incredible kiddos of mine.

Day after business day, while my eyes are glued to my lap-top screen... while I'm scratching my head and talking to myself, pacing about my office, gesticulating in grandiose fashion, their eyes are on me-- confident I'm getting the job done. Never questioning the method to Momma's madness, though certainly giggling at the ridiculous half-time caliber performance of it. It's up to me not to let them down.

Whether you spearhead a start-up or the next big thing, it is critical that you credit your team. As for me, I own a Boulder-based boutique advertising agency, founded at the tail end of 2007. I serve as creative director, contracting work to hand-picked vendors who graciously contribute toward the OX & CO portfolio and brand. As I knuckle down, expanding the business to include a fine art PR house via the A. L. Neill Group, I am well aware that I am nothing without the talent and media resources I'm privy to. I love and respect these professionals and am wowed by them every day. And to my advisers, my trusty accountant and generous investor, you two are my heroes. Thanks for supporting the dream.

I am nowhere without my own little board of directors: Jaeger, my rock-- my right hand man. Olympia, my rising star apprentice. And Piper, my little mail delivery girl.

All of this, is for them.

good stuff.

I've spoken before about the art of branding. Finding that thing that best represents the client, personalizes their mark, and gets them excited to hand out/show off their business cards and links to their site. After visiting the home office of OX & CO client, Taylor Lindstrom, owner/copywriter of Good Ink, Inc., it was clear that not only did we need to stage a photo shoot there, but that the inspiration for her brand concept was literally written on the wall.

Turns out, Taylor's got this incredibly small, slanted, meticulous handwriting. In fact, on her dining room wall, she has painstakingly scribed verses from The Prophet - by Khalil Gibran. As a writer, she's the real deal. She has no television and books everywhere [many on floating bookshelves, which is just a spooky-cool touch] and she often works barefoot, sipping herbal goodness from pretty tea cups surrounded by cherished photos and sharp objects. She has a penchant for swords and daggers, too.

Wow. A bad-ass, dagger-wielding hot chick? How very Angelina Jolie-- save the whole husband swiping part. Taylor's stand up in that department. So have no fear ladies, your relationships are secure. Taylor's the consummate professional. Unattached, independent, and happy about it. My kinda woman.

She's a sexy, smartie gal, this Taylor Lindstrom. Incredibly talented and personable, doing what she loves and on her terms. Again, just my type. Exactly the sort of client OX & CO seeks. And it was our team's job to make sure that side of her shined through, differentiating her from the competition in order to best showcase her writing style. Which is always clever, often saucy, and nothing short of just really, really good stuff.

Above, Taylor's business card. For her re-brand project, we designed a look and feel that was undeniably Taylor. We couldn't get enough of her! Inspired by everything from the color of her eyes and hair, to her sentimental decorating sensibility, to the very idea of incorporating her actual handwriting... we just went for it. On behalf of my creative team, I do believe we nailed it. We've managed to capture this classic beauty, rolling her right into our best interpretation of Good Ink, Inc. as a corporate brand. The home page for her website is pictured below:

I'd encourage you, when seeking great professional copy, to look no further than Good Ink, Inc. Follow Taylor on Twitter or friend her on Facebook. And yes, though I do pinch hit plenty, copy writing and editing for OX & CO projects, Taylor's my go to gal.

* Photography, Ben Horton. Graphic Design, Devin Brown. Creative Direction, A. L. Neill. Good Ink Inc. Re-brand Project, OX & CO - Copyright 2010.

big effing deal.

It is imperative in business, as it is in life, that we understand that everything we do or say has impact. It is also understood that we are what we eat. The majority of us know and accept all of this as Universal Law, and yet, when push comes to shove, often times we're forced to improvise. Spaghetti night turns into spaghetti week. Leftovers become omelets. Pancakes make due for dinner, and if not for dented, deeply discounted cans of tuna fish, we fear we might suffer acute protein deficiency. So if your cupboards are bare and all you can afford right now is Cap'n Crunch [buy two get the third box FREE] then for Frugal Gourmet's sake, pull out your Great Granny's china and fine dine like the aristocrat you were born to be.

Now, before you go assuming that I'm struggling to make ends meet, think again. I'm just like you and every other business owner. I take the good with the bad, and I never, ever forget where I've come from. My little family is comfortable today, but there was a time when Cheerios and china bowls were a staple. The point is, we never lost the good life mindset. We never settled, though we've certainly sacrificed. And while we have a million miles to go until we've arrived, the rent is paid, the pantry's stocked, and the cable guy has yet to show up to disconnect us.

The feminist in me feels the need to recall the single Mom card, too. Stop playing it, ladies, please. With a divorce rate of 50% in this country, our would be plight is, at best-- paltry. That's right, I said paltry. Small potatoes... very small. More like a garnish, or dressing. Served on the side and hardly worth mentioning. But since we are mentioning it, here are the stats:

According to Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support: 2007, a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau in November, 2009:

• There are 13.7 million single moms and dads currently raising their children in the U.S.
• Statistically, this number has not changed since 1994.

Children Being Raised in Single Parent Homes:

• 21.8 million children under the age of 21 are being raised by a single parent.
• This represents 26.3% of all children under 21 in the U.S.

Custodial Single Parent Statistics:

• Mothers represent 82.6% of all custodial parents.
• Fathers represent 17.4% of all custodial parents.

Blah, blah, blah... Okay lovelies, bottom line:

If I can do it, surely you can do it. I have managed to manage my household solo, and for the better part of my eldest child's life. And 18 years ain't nothin' to sneeze at. So toss your tissues and roll up your sleeves. Look at it this way, men [at least the men I've loved] eat like horses and frequently smell like the backside of a barn. So, by my calculations [and no, math is not my gift, but foot-in-mouth certainly is] the money you're saving in monthly groceries and air freshener alone is worth at least two pairs of Madden's... give or take.

Show of hands:

Boiling? Good. Get pissed, stay pissed. Belly laughing? Even better. Go with that. However you've perceived my advice, please trust that it comes from a loving place. You deserve the best and your children deserve to see their Super Momma at her best. Now, do yourself a favor and slip into those slingbacks and GO GET IT. I can't possibly divulge a better beauty secret than to wear your self confidence like you would your slinkiest little black dress. Remember, whether you're a size 2 or 22, a smile makes a smashing entrance. And success, especially when achieved fair and square and by the sweat of your brow, is very, very sexy.

And who doesn't like sexy? Show of hands:

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Exactly.

don't be a doorknob.

Or do. I mean, what the hell?

And for the love of hummus and Christmas and everything good, maybe don't take everything I say so literally. Besides, we're talking hypothetical doorknobs anyway.

I'm feeling a little sentimental, so this go 'round we'll touch on inspiration and bliss. You want to love your brand, so when brainstorming, be sure to bring a few trinkets and baubles over from your private life into your design sessions. Is it a key? A snap shot? The saffron sash from the dress your Mother wore only on the most special of occasions?

Perhaps it's more of a feeling. If you're a linguist, it's a word. A musician, a song. Whatever it is, you'll know it when you see, hear, taste, smell... touch it. You'll identify with it. And that's exactly the ah-ha! moment we're looking for as we set out to create your brand identity.

For me, it's antique doorknobs, well loved paintbrushes, my 150 year old Chinese elm wood desk, my precious ebony and rose gold filigree Masonic ring... bits and pieces of mosaic glass, and my Grandma Chrissie's tattered Tiffany box.

"Heirloom," I've shared with our team. "When we create the new mark, I'd like it to look as though it's always, always been this way."

Perhaps this affinity stems from the fact that the agency is housed in a 120 year old year old Victorian home. Or, perhaps I set up shop here because I naturally identify with the structure. Either way, I must insist that the mark translates timelessly. I want to pass it down to my children, and to theirs too. I want it to be treated as though it were a treasure, because to me, even as an inkling, it already is.

I love my little company. From conception to development, OX & CO has been a true labor of love, but as the year turned, so did a page in my professional story. Though nowhere near a chapter's end, it's time to place emphasis on my personal passions. And yes, it's time to put my name on it, too. A. L. Neill Group is a division I've created to support fine artists. To offer not just great PR, but to curate for artists whose work I'm either already collecting, or intend to. You know, I got into this racket in the first place because I love working with truly gifted, creative folk. It would be my absolute pleasure to get the word out about the latest, the greatest, and the up-and-comers of the fine art world.

And believe me, I'll be lovin' every minute of it.

urban art meets cutting edge.

Don't kid yourself, kid. Re-brands don't come easy. It's not like we wave a magic wand or our clients simply roll out of bed looking this way. It takes collaboration, chemistry, and in this case, The Color, by Paul Mitchell.

In assembling our creative team, we've rallied the finest:

Ridiculously talented stylist? Check!
Real life clients who double as doll-faced models? Check!
Fearless photographer with a killer eye? Check!
Kick-ass graphic designer? Check!

To boot, we've thrown in a clever copywriter and an HTML development crew with mad, mad chops.

Worth a second glance? Go ahead. We promise not to be offended, especially if you stare.

STUDIO 1920 is getting a makeover:

A Mary Owens Salon @ STUDIO 1920

Mary Owens, Owner/Stylist
p: 303.513.0067
e: urstylist@gmail.com

* Photographer, Ashley Poskin. Model, Madia Cavanagh. Graphic Design, Devin Brown. Creative Director, A. L. Neill. Re-brand Project, A Mary Owens Salon, OX & CO, LLC.

lighten up, already!

At some point during the fourth grade, I was asked to write a paragraph about my favorite color. I treated the assignment like a personal attack. Perplexed, I asked myself how anyone in their right mind could ever expect me to pick just one? It seemed an absurd query and so I answered it with as much spite as one ten year old could muster:

Black. I suppose if I were forced to choose a favorite color, I'd pick black. That's right, because as we all know, black is really the absence of color, and by choosing it, I am avoiding this ridiculous question. What's next? My favorite animal? My favorite food? Would you like me to decide which parent I love more? How about which hair on my head is the blondest?

The next day, my teacher pulled me aside. He assured me that these decisions were not binding, that there was no need to get upset, or feel locked down just because I'd put it in writing. He told me that he was trying to identify with his students, and by asking a simple question, he could begin to appreciate our personalities. With a wry smile, he chided that in my attempt to be tight lipped and mysterious, I'd actually given myself away. In his book, I was an impassioned writer, and from that day forward he expected nothing short of an opinion from me... about everything.

Me and my big mouth.

Today, I am a divorced, thirty-six year old, mother of three. I am a creative director, agency owner, and habitual wearer of black clothing. In my humble opinion, my children are best described as delicious soups, concocted of everything savory my ex husbands and I could drum up between us, and none of the bitter. And I'm pretty sure that if my youngest, a sunny, lighthearted, fourth grade girl, were put on the spot, she'd opt not to select one 'favorite' color either. No sir. Instead, she'd gleefully list every shade that came to mind, and then skip off to enjoy the hell outta recess.