jon steel interview

Went to see Jon Steel yesterday to interview him about Perfect Pitch and other things. What a decent, self-effacing, funny, insightful, interesting man. He's my model of what a planner should be. We ended up chatting for just over an hour, and I thought I'd put it all up and not bother editing (because a) I'm lazy and b) I think he's that interesting). The book is well worth reading, as Gareth has noted. Thank you Jon.

MP3

Comments

[David MacGregor]

Thanks for posting the interview with Jon Steel. Brilliant to have open access to conversations about important things between genuinely interesting people - and served without hyperbole. Very refreshing.

[Vincent]

Thank you, both of you, for this refreshing conversation. Interesting for young planner like me.

It’s perfect for a Friday.

[artbitz]

Great interview...thanks.

[Cameron]

Thanks so much for this. Jon Steel is incredible. When JWT first hired me, I wrote an e-mail to him mentioning that I was excited about being a planner with a WPP company partially because of his role (but mainly just to have a job). He warmly replied to my e-mail within an hour, and then again to my reply. I was astonished.

Johanna mentioned on her blog about how she was inspired by the humble (mentioning you specifically): http://tokyohanna.blogspot.com/2006/07/aaaa-account-planning-conference.html

Jon is another one I would add to that list.

Thanks again. (Sorry about the screwy url, apparently comments does not accept html)

[Rodney Tanner]

Great interview. The only thing that was missing was the clink of tea cups and the munching of scones. Or had you already done that?

[Jeffre Jackson]

Nothing better than drinking coffee on a Saturday morning while listening to a conversation between interesting people I know and like.

[Ozzie Fuentes]

Cheers to the leaders of our profession!

[Piers Fawkes]

Thank you for this, R. Jon proved to be a very inspirational speaker. Having seen this book being bandied around on the blogs, i wasn;t too sure whether it was just hype - but this mp3 made me realise that the book is a must-by, even if you're not involved in The Pitch.

One quick criticism, there was a comment about Media - and the creativity that they bring to advertising. I would argue that the rise of Urban Spam is partly due to media - planners 'getting creative' without the skills and understanding of the advertising creative mind.

[Piers Fawkes]

must-buy

not must-by!

[Will]

Thanks for that Russell.

It was encouraging to hear about the WPP Fellowship scheme and the rejection letters; perhaps I should keep some of mine.

I think the Perfect Pitch sounds like a must read.

[jamesb]

jon sounds like such a lovely person. sharp and wise and without any of the egotism or impoliteness that bedevils the industry.

[David Hepburn]

This is a great interview, very helpful for me as I prepare for my interview for the WPP Marketing Fellowship! Jon came to talk at MindShare where I worked recently and he was an inspirational speaker, a very dry and sharp sense of humour.

[David Hepburn]

D'oh! slightly regretting posting that, other prospective fellows keep emailing me about it! Oh well, share the love and all that I guess.

[Wim]

Hi Russell, I'd like to listen to your interview, but apparently the link to the mp3 file is not working anymore. Thanks.

[russell]

Sorry Wim, hipcast seem to have closed my account. Am trying to sort it out.