what drives you?

While my interest in the sport itself may have declined over the years, I’ve always loved cricket analogy.
It is a sport that lends itself well to situations you’ll encounter as Account Management over the course of a normal work day in advertising.

The most used being playing on the backfoot or the frontfoot.
You can either anticipate the discussion, step out and bat the point of view.
Or react to each point as and when it is put forth.
Either let it pass, play a ground stroke or hit it for a six.
Much like cricket, it depends on the bowler, your form on that particular day, and/or instructions from the captain.

There is a coach, in Planning, who will give you a direction.
After ‘extensive analysis and understanding player behaviour’.

Very often, you’ll find yourself defending in a conversation with creative.
Which is not a bad thing, really.
Good defence requires hardwork, technique and patience. And a good abdomen guard.

Then the client does very often throw a googly.
Wanting a fresh creative rolled out in 3 days. Or changing the brief with one comment on the creative.
You’ll be beaten unless your reflexes are sharp.

Expecting an artwork by end of day is generally a bouncer. No, make that a stock delivery – short of good length.
Easy to hit, expected four out of six balls in an over – especially with Indian bowlers.
You’ll always buy time by telling them you’ll have to wait till stumps, or as they call it in advertising – EOD.

You will do well to read the wrong ones from the studio team.
Once read, you can play a good drive and hit a boundary.

An abused analogy, but you’ll always have the pleasure of some great leg glances in advertising.
And the good slip fielder will catch even the tough balls.

There are projects where you will hit a century, delivering on all expectations.
And projects where you will be a forward short leg fielder, who is expected to keep a keen eye on the ball to catch it.
But does it more to evade the shots directed at him every second ball.

But the one thing you definitely learn in advertising is ball-talks.
Hence, on a bad day, if you can’t bowl them with your brilliance, you can always stump them with your bull-shit.