Category: News

Some folks would say the most nerve-racking part about landing a new gig would be the interview process that precedes it. And—in most circumstances—those folks would be right. But this year, in true 2020-2021 fashion, things look a little different and the only challenge bigger than those countless rounds of interviews is actually starting your role…from home.

Beyond the gratitude, excitement and readiness to start a new job at Johnson & Sekin, I very quickly realized that, without the chance to meet in person, there wouldn’t be a happy hour for me to shake hands, share a drink and introduce myself to my new coworkers. And as a true “people person,” I knew I needed to find another way.

And so, thanks to my welcoming coworkers, the power of technology and a company built on relationships, I’m able to bring you…

Rosie’s “Meet and Greet from your At-Home Seat” Method:

Step 1: Join a company full of people who genuinely care about building relationships.

Step 2: Don’t underestimate the power of initiative. If you want to learn the processes, customs, inside jokes and office dynamics of a new company—you’ve got to take the first step.

Step 3: Send a *gasp* all-agency email to say “hello.” Scary? Yes. Worth it? Also yes. Nearly moments after I clicked “send,” my inbox was flooded with responses from copywriters, art directors and producers alike.

Step 4: Regardless of your position, put on your account service hat and start scheduling meetings “Meet and Greets.” Despite their busy schedules, everyone accepted my 30-minute personal invitations to say hello. Even more, my new coworkers didn’t just hit me with a “Hi, nice to meet you.” In fact—they did anything but. I learned the latest agency news, the timesaving tips, backgrounds, hobbies, favorite Dallas spots and more. After each call, I felt more and more like part of the team.

And so, while this first week of work was like nothing I’ve experienced before, my new J&S team turned it into something special.

The happy hour I was accustomed to was replaced with a group of people dedicated to extending their hospitality and good manners. People that were more than happy to help a new face. People whose actions reflect what Johnson & Sekin represents: The purpose to better their community, work and the very people around them.

Sincerely in seclusion,

Rosie Rosales, Associate Creative Director

This week, our very own Chris Sekin joined a panel of advertising professionals to discuss the rapid evolution of messaging and production during this pandemic. Moderated by Keith James of Republic Editorial, the representatives from brands and agencies dove deep into the new creative and production process.

There were so many great insights that we decided to create a list of the key takeaways from their discussion.

Trust and technology
Shooting any type of content has become more challenging than ever. Due to travel restrictions and the shelter in place order, we can’t be on location or in a packed studio for production. Because of that, we are having to rely on partnerships that we’ve built in the industry to get work done quickly. Without the technology we have today, it wouldn’t be possible to work remotely with those trusted partners around the globe.

Purpose
In a way, every brand is working off the same creative brief right now. As every brand is jumping in to make a comment on how they’re dealing with this pandemic, a lot of the content has looked the same. However, brands that have an established and powerful purpose have stood out in the crowd. Purpose-driven companies who know why they exist are able to make a stance and consumers take note of that.

Imperfection is real
With shorter timelines and smaller budgets than before, it’s impossible for brands to create work that is perfect. As opposed to showing products in the perfect light or taking all day to nail a shot, everyone realizes that time is of the essence and the message must be delivered quickly. In turn, that has created more authentic work that’s genuine to the times we’re in.

No time for timelines
These days, timelines are shorter than ever before. What once took a week or two is now being produced in a day or two. However, agencies are happy to commit more effort and work longer hours because clients are dependent on our partnership right now. It’s increasingly important to get the work right the first time because clients can’t afford to go through multiple rounds of review.
 
Post pandemic
As we see the government begin to slowly start the process of returning to normalcy, it’s easy to see how production won’t be the same. There will likely be regulations placed on the crew size for a shoot and permits will be tough to obtain if a project requires shooting on location. Therefore, shoot times will be increased and our creative teams will have to adapt to whatever production restrictions teams face.

Long term impact
To wrap up, agencies and brands will have to realize that our industry will see changes for more than just a few months. More than likely, we will have to adapt to this new way of working for many years. We’ve learned that it’s not always necessary to push work to absolute perfection every single time. Plus, thanks to trusted partnerships and reliable technology, we’ve seen how efficient working remotely can be. Most importantly, during the coming months and years, we will have to be patient.

These changes to our process don’t have to be negative. While it can be scary to face a new normal, brands and agencies have proved that everyone can still produce great work and create impactful messages. At the end of the day, as long as we work together and strive to find a purpose in everything we do, our industry will thrive.

Hello friends—

It’s April. The March rains have brought out the flowers and the electric greens of new leaves and grasses. Days are longer. The air is warmer. This is my favorite time of year. Rebirth, renewal, optimism.

This spring is no different. Our society is being reborn as we reshape the way we work, the way we shop and the way we connect. Our communities are being renewed. We are taking responsibility for the elderly and the ill. We are checking on neighbors, leaving teddy bears in our windows and drawing messages of encouragement on our sidewalks. And I am feeling optimistic. We will weather spring storms and be reborn a culture more conscious of our purpose.

I see the signs everywhere. Our team has rallied to grow good for each other and for our friends and clients. Kim Flores, our Director of Happiness, is embracing her signature purpose with renewed fervor and joy checking on the team daily. Our teams joined together to develop amazing content for our social media channels bringing humor and awareness to social distancing, shelter in place and reminders not to touch our faces.And this was only after we helped our clients grow some good too.

Our friends at Pecan Lodge, the best barbeque joint on the planet, faced this pivotal moment in their family business by discovering the purpose that drives them at the core. They went to bed a few Friday nights ago knowing they were, like most independent restaurants, facing a rough road ahead. But they woke up Saturday morning and embraced their purpose, the love to serve. And with hearts as big as their smokers, they launched the non-profit Dinner Bell Foundation. Their mission is twofold: to feed first responders on the front lines in Dallas and to provide financial assistance for struggling restaurants in the area via corporate grants. The team has served hundreds of meals throughout our community during this most uncertain time and is grateful for the local corporate donors, such as the online dating service Match, who gave a generous donation which they’re also, of course, matching. Our friends at Local Hive Honey surprised us with a generous donation as well. Learn how you or your company can help serve our community at dinnerbellfoundation.org.

Yes, we are facing unprecedented storms this spring, and no one can predict how long they will last. Each and every organization will be faced with tough decisions and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But a commitment to purpose will give us a path to follow. We are dedicated to helping each of our partners, including those we haven’t even met yet, bring their brand’s purpose to life like never before, or even discover it for the first time. And we are committed to growing together as a team.

The signs of renewal are all around us. Kent and I founded our agency with the idea that good friends could move faster, be smarter and create better. And with the notion that simple ideas shine brighter than all the rest. We built our business working with clients that we could share a beer (or wine) with and hired brilliant friends who shared our vision for creating good work. And 10 years later, we have created an agency of friends who are smart, enormously talented and just good people. Johnson&Sekin is facing this spring committed to our purpose. We will grow good in the world. We will build upon our strong foundation of purpose driven marketing to act as a catalyst to identify, articulate and amplify a brand’s purpose.

Stay healthy my friends!

– Chris