Until you’ve got a better answer, you copy. – David Ogilvy
One thing I love about having a blog is that it is a phenomenal way to keep a record of things that are important to you. (Note: this isn’t the only reason to have a blog, but it’s definitely a huge benefit.)
For example, I was reading David Ogilvy’s book, Ogilvy on Advertising, last night when I came across a passage referencing an interaction he once had with a lackluster subordinate. He asked the subordinate copywriter how many books on advertising he had read. The subordinate responded that he preferred intuition over knowledge. Ogilvy responded with a quote from King George V’s private surgeon, who remarked that the thing that distinguishes a great surgeon from other surgeons is that a great surgeon “knows more than other surgeons do.” I agree that in any field I can think of, a broad base of knowledge is a key ingredient to success.
But for someone like me, who can much more easily recall the contents of books than their titles, I refer to the “My reading list” blog post to remember all the business and marketing books that I liked the most. I just added Ogilvy on Advertising to that post. He has a lot of good ideas to copy.
Will Marlow co-founded AlumniFidelity to help his clients reposition their fundraising to benefit from Web 2.0 technology and marketing techniques. He’s working with clients such as UVA, the College of William & Mary, the University of Oklahoma, Bowling Green State University, Randolph Macon College, and he loves nothing better than a thorny marketing challenge. Email him at will@alumnifidelity.com.
Couldn’t leave a comment on the Reading List, so suggesting here to consider adding Jim Collins’s GOOD TO GREAT; it adds new insight and value to BUILT TO LAST.As usual, great post, Will.
Thanks Ann – I know I need to move Good to Great up my reading list to get to it quicker. He has tremendously valuable insights.