Yes. I've failed, BUT.
Portofolios and CVs are a place for bragging, when actually, this industry lacks some humbleness and honesty.
So, how about we use the place where we're most used to show only the good, to also display the bad and the ugly. 'cause, in the end, that's what it takes to get to the first one.
*Remember that this is also a campaign idea that we can do together (or at least credit me): Get Linkedin, Europass CVs and recruiting platforms to introduce a new category for future employees to complete: The Fails.
It will make people who share the same qualifications look different since it will generate quality over quantity.
Until then,
welcome to the #FailBetter series.
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FAILED THE CAMBRIDGE EXAM.
But that didn't stop me. On the contrary, it pushed me harder.
It made me think I suck at English, so I did my best to get accepted at a British Uni and, next thing, what do you know, I was graduating a Master's Degree in Advertising 🤯
So, yes, I have failed, but then I did better.
#FailBetter
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FAILED TO CONVINCE MY PARENTS TO GET ME TO AN ACTING SCHOOL
But that made me start writing possible roles for me. Which next, made me love writing. Which next, made me earn my existence through writing. Which makes me a better writer from one day to another. So, if we talk tomorrow, I might write better than what you read now.
So, yes, I have failed, but then I did better.
#FailBetter
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FAILED SOME CAMPAIGNS.
But avoided the same fails in future campaigns. Once made a campaign dedicated for mother's day that had user generated content at its core and, unfortunately, it had absolutely zero subscriptions, even though the media budget was pretty big. Why? Because we assumed that people will understand what they have to do, even though it was not clearly enough explained and they also didn't get anything in return. Pretty dumb, I know. Another time, I made a campaign where I said that a sore throat is not masculine enough. Toxic much? The irony makes it that years after I worked on a campaign that attacked the toxic masculinity context. And another big fail was when I created a misogynistic campaign for some cleaning products, without even realising it. Fortunately (and also unfortunately), all those mistakes were in my junior years.
So, yes, I have failed, but then I did better.
#FailBetter
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FAILED TO SELL GOLD IDEAS.
But I managed to analyse the contexts in order to understand where I did wrong.
As many creatives, I had Cannes worthy ideas that I was not able to sell. And that is because the client I was trying to sell the idea to did not have that business objective that year, which also made me seem like I don't understand they business. Another idea was a CSR one that was not suitable to the clients I was trying to pursue, since they had other CSR directions. And some other time, I made it to the launch phase, but the night before the launch, the big boss decided to cancel everything, since he was not aware of the project, because the brand managers internally failed to communicate. So, this last one was just bad luck.
Fortunately, selling skills and client presentations are now one my core strengths.
So, yes, I have failed, but then I did better.
#FailBetter
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FAILED TO WRITE A BOOK.
But that made me read even more (thing I didn't do at a young age). And reading more made me discover more. From stories to places. And one of the books that I discovered made me travel overseas to find the iconic Publicans, the Long Island bar where J.R. Moehringer is nurtured by the drunk "bar loyals".
So, yes, I have failed, but then I found better stories that will probably help me in writing that damn book.
#FailBetter
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FAILED TO MAKE AN LGBTQ+ CAMPAIGN.
But, that made me bring more power in other causes and CSR campaigns, as you will see in my work, both personal and professional. Also, as you can see, this specific fail transformed me into a walking banner to support the cause, since I always wear this T-shirt in the most homophobic places.
So, yes, I have failed, but then I did better.
#FailBetter
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FAILED TO WIN A CANNES. Yet.
But this made me devour every new campaign in search for winning patterns, which I now use in developing new ideas. Most of the times, it is about the context, the client and, sometimes the luck. But what rhymes with luck? Never stop. Aha!
So, yes, I have failed, but then I did better.
#FailBetter
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FAILED TO GET A JOB AT DROGA5.
But, honestly, I didn't even try.
So, not trying pushed me to find another way to get the chance to meet the famous David. How? By creating a great campaign that pushed me to get to Cannes Festival (didn't win, that's another fail slide) and actually shake David Droga's hand.
Handshake that was not as strong as his campaigns, to be honest.
So, yes, I have failed, but then I did better.
#FailBetter
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FAILED TO STEAL THE FRIENDS' COUCH 🤷🏻♀️.
But then I found other ways to get to the news.
Through an advertising campaign that went viral.
Of course, the first part is a joke, but still, I really do believe in the #FailBetter mantra.
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