The EQ Planner
So I’ve decided to take the plunge and begin writing about the things that interest me. Hopefully i won’t become part of the 90% as prescribed in Sturgeons Law and some people may even be interested enough to read and forward on because realistically that’s what I’d like. In my industry (advertising for those that care) nobody really believes those people who set up their blogs as personal journals – “somewhere to put my innermost thoughts”. Nope the real reason is the thought that others out there are reading. It’s ego, its fame, its social kudos, it’s all the things that the IPA (and many others) suggest is what we want to deliver for our clients and through them brands. Because even for the most selfless out there, there is a tiny part that screams “what about me”.
I note I’ve touched there on the concept of the personal brand, something that has a negative perception (especially in the media and politics). It’s a bit of a wanky concept but at its core is the belief that all brands are is a collection of external perceptions, they are what people think about the brand NOT what the brand thinks about itself. Fairly simple concept and its a guaranteed subject on which I’ll return in the future a multitude of times I’m sure but; it’s also a fact (yep it is!) that many marketeers and brand owners forget about, getting caught up in their own world and suffering from not actually engaging with those who consumer or could consume.
So Why The EQ planner? For those who may not be aware EQ stands for Emotional Intelligence, a concept that Daniel Goleman first wrote about in 1996. He has since gone on to win many awards & books since but essentially his thesis is softer skills are required for true success over and above more traditional measures such as IQ. It’s a concept that i wrote about for my IPA Excellence final essay (i will post it here soon) and the irony (i suppose) is that i have been told in the past that i lack a certain degree of Emotional Intelligence. It’s not quite a black and white as that (self-awareness is a key part of EQ, it’s the application of that to others i.e. Empathy, where i fall down) but its a nice handle, its something i believe in and its also something that i know i need to improve in.
And there you have the full story (and a bit of a bastardisation of english writing – starting a paragraph with And), a Protagonist (me) an Antagonist (a lack of EQ), a journey or quest (the search for EQ) and hopefully a transformation that will enable me to grow. This last sentence could seem a bit bizarre until i provide the context of a book i read recently “Into the woods” by John Yorke, which sets out the objective to discover the core story archetype that sits beneath ALL stories and explains it. Interesting book although for non-screen writers it can tail off a bit.
Think that’s a fair introduction and once i press publish i’ll just have to continue!
theeqplanner 