This week, Stan’s gonna get you thinking about the flip side.

I was chatting with some kids about their folio the other day.

One of the ads they showed me was for a product that was crying out to have the negativity associated with it celebrated.

When I pointed this out to them they looked more than a little lost.

So I shared an example with them. It suddenly had them thinking about their folio in a whole new way.

They suggested I share it with you this sunny Monday morning.

Here goes;

Imagine a hair product that has a very firm hold. Now try and advertise it.

Most people come up with ideas around Mohawks etc. Obvious sort of stuff.

What you need to do is think of the negative side – demonstrate the downside of a Mohawk with the firm hold gel.

Like waking up in a pile of feathers because it’s slashed your pillow to pieces. Or a baseball cap severed in two pieces. Or the roof lining in your car getting slashed as you drive.

Dumb stuff I know, but it clearly demonstrates the benefit of the product by turning a negative into a negative.

Which is sure to have a positive outcome for you.

In his first post for 2012, Stan tells us to look at the coming year with fresh eyes (and a fresh pad).

For as long as I can remember I’ve treated myself to a new notebook during the summer holiday break.

And every January, without fail, I find myself pondering whether or not I should start using the new book, when there are still several blank pages left in the old one.

But because it’s a new year, and because I like to start the year with a fresh attitude, I always use my new book.

I simply must start the year afresh.

New layout pad. New Pentel and Sharpie pens. New desktop photo on my computer. And of course a new notebook.

I’m not sure what any of this stuff has got to do with the Monday Whip to be honest.

But my advice to you today is to put aside all the trials and tribulations of last year and give your creative dreams a fresh start.

It’s a new year after all!

Life experience. Stan’s got plenty of it. He wants you to get it too. So consider it your holiday homework.

I am always envious of young people who know they want to make a living as a creative.

And even more envious of those who manage to crack an opportunity at a young age.

But if life has taught me anything, it is that life experience is the greatest teacher of all.

Whether that be travelling, taking public transport or ordering from a menu that’s written in a foreign language.

Every experience you have adds a drop or two of wisdom to your creative reservoir.

And the deeper your reservoir, the better your ideas will be.

So with the summer holidays almost upon us, why not make time to get out and enjoy some new experiences.

Trust me. They’ll come in handy one day.

Are you climbing Everest or just hanging out at basecamp?

I put a call in to my financial planner the other day but was told he was unavailable for the next two weeks as he was climbing Mount Everest.

Which is not the sort of behaviour I expect from a nerdy accountant to be honest.

But when I did a bit of digging, I found out that many high level business people tackle challenges like this.

Getting a job as a creative is a bit like climbing your own personal Everest.

It’s something that requires guts.

And persistence.

It’s something that doesn’t happen in a day or two.

In fact it’s a very long haul.

And along the way you will encounter a great deal of hardship and suffering.

But when you scale that mountain you will experience a feeling like no other.