Philosophy

Finding the “soul”

We are a world starved of meaning. For many, this feeling goes by unnoticed. Perhaps we have grown accustomed to the belief that everything we see is artificial.

My aim is to observe the true desires and motivations behind human behavior and convey the message to be delivered…and do it honestly with true imagination and a sense of wonder.

Communication, not coercion

My brother likes to joke that anybody involved in marketing is evil. While I can laugh at his distaste, when observing western media he brings up a valid concern. What are the ethics in resorting to gimmicks when advertising a product?

Instead, marketing and advertising should be founded on solid communication. Is the product exceptional? Communicate that. Does your company have a mission that colors the product offering? Say so. But don't resort to gimmicks.

You may notice a quote by Levenson found randomly in the footer of this website:

All of us who professionally use the mass media are the shapers of society. We can vulgarize that society. We can brutalize it. Or we can help lift it onto a higher level.

Trust

Living in Yemen, I have grown to appreciate even more the honor system. When you consider a man your brother, would you ever consider cheating him?

What if we considered everyone to be our brother?

After years of establishing client relationships, I find it hard to do everything “by the book.” No matter how many contracts I write, I still have a hard time with kill fees, penalties, and legal jargon. So I'm trying an experiment. Rather than assume every client is a potential fraud and build in all the necessary precautions, I prefer to determine which clients are trustworthy. Once trust is formed, I will believe in the client's work, and they will believe in mine. This is the essence of a friendship. Am I willing to go beyond the client's expectations? If feasible, yes. A satisfied client will be happy to reimburse accordingly. Hence, my preference to consider remuneration as a donation, rather than required payment. Is this a ridiculous idea? Maybe. Will I change my mind? Possibly. But I would rather die trusting some, than live trusting no one. Am I about to lose my shirt? The track record has proven otherwise.