Inspiration comes from all over. In this case it's my boss, Greg Ahrens, and the things he chooses to display in his office. Here's a glimpse inside Greg's world --and mind. It starts before you even open the door Invite poster for The Last Stupor, his final billiard tournament It's in the genes. My very fav thing in Greg's office is the life-like chimp head, mostly b/c it's a gift from his mother. It is motorized w/life-like chimp sounds, too -- but I couldn't get the video to upload. You'll have to take my word for it. Chilean miner's rig: part of winning SKAR-o-ween costume Simpson's Pezes - one among many Simpson's collections Sushi stapler hanging on drum stick inside trophy with candy cane next to oversized Honeyland license plate Battery powered Stooges hit each other w/clubs. Altoid tin collection More cowbell

At Wieden + Kennedy out in Portland, there's a mural on the wall (made from more than 100,000 thumbtacks) with that says this. And for advertising creatives everywhere, these two words couldn't be more true. Being a successful creative in this industry takes a certain level of confidence. You've got to have thick skin and you've got to be a student of your trade. Understand that not every idea you have is the greatest one ever. Face the reality that sometimes what you think just isn't going to work. Come to grips with the fact that sometimes the project you spent hours working on is nothing more than a pile of hot garbage. And don't throw a tantrum or break into tears when someone tells you as much. Learn from it. Get better. Ask why. Discover new things. Fail harder. There's only so much you can learn in a book. Oftentimes the most effective learning experiences come from doing it wrong, understanding why it's wrong and fixing it. It's a simple philosophy that can be translated to nearly any situation. But in the world of collaboration, creativity and communicating with the masses, it's more than a philosophy. It's a rule to live by.

I was in the post office the other day (yes, I was waiting in line) and I ran across something cool.  You can buy large prints of certain stamps framed as artwork. I went online to USPS.com and found some fun images. Good for gifts or if you just want something unique.  Check these out.

It would make sense that we are more drawn to do something if it is fun. How about walking up stairs rather than taking the escalator? Doesn't sound like more fun, but we all know the stairs is a better alternative. Here is a great example of using the fun theory and putting it to good use by the creative mind of Volkswagen. Check out this video and more fun theory ideas at thefuntheory.com As for all us creative minds we could take the initiative of VW and apply it during our day to day lives. For instance is there something you know you should do, but just can't bring yourself to commit to doing (reading more, working out more) or find a every chore a total bore (laundry, taking out the trash). Change behavior by by taking the everyday mundane to whole new level of fun ;) This concept even applies to advertising in the sense of using a creative means of making something interesting and new in order to change/cause a specific behavior in people. It all comes back to they way an idea is approached and then communicated. P.S Volkswagen certainly understands the concepts of fun, they make my bug turbo extra fun to drive around and to look at :)

Creativity in advertising is too often extinguished by marketing directors who either don't get it or are too nervous to approve it. What if somebody complains? What if I get a phone call? What if one of my co-workers says something negative? I admire the ones who were born with tough skin and beg for creative that makes them nervous. They hunger for fresh ideas and breakthrough concepts. They understand that the attention it receives in the marketplace may ruffle a few feathers but that it will ultimately grab viewers by the throat and generate sales. When I see amazing ads that push the envelope and quicken my pulse, I often think about the marketing director who said, "I might take some heat for this, but I love it. Let's do it." They are the unsung heroes of the advertising world. An example would be the Burger King Whopper Sacrifice campaign created by Crispin Porter. Basically, you delete or sacrifice 10 of your Facebook friends to get a free Whopper. Brilliant. Bold. And effective. Facebook eventually pulled it down but not before hundreds of thousands of viewers acted.

The colors of Nebraska's birds were the focus of SKAR's latest ad for the Nebraska Lottery's Environmental Trust Fund. These funds are  used to improve and preserve the natural habitats of hundreds of bird species throughout the state. After researching different species we were able to find every color in the spectrum. Birds such as the Scarlet Tanager, the Common Yellowthroat and the Purple Martin inspired us. Look for the ad to run in the April issue of Prairie Fire newspaper.

Social media may be the way of the future, but when you're an advertising creative in search of inspiration, it's a dry hole. Let's face it, looking at Facebook pictures of your idiot neighbor's Idaho vacation or having to read tweets from Ashton Kutcher about his pecs hardly get the creative juices flowing. When I need to bitch slap my little gray cells, I go back to the classics -- the work of Doyle Dane Bernbach, the 1960's agency that invented advertising's Creative Revolution. These people taught everyone else how to do it. They were incredible. Their work had a potent, ingenious simplicity that takes your breath away. Take, for instance, the ad above. Using just four words and a doodle by the art director (the illustration is actually taken straight from the thumbnail they presented to the client), the creative team makes a case for Volkswagen's fuel efficiency that's more powerful than any corporate web site. That gives me an idea. Talk to you later.

As a copywriter, there's no worse feeling than the dreaded writer's block. It's an unavoidable monster that will back you into a corner at the most inopportune times. Luckily there are plenty of ways to turn the tables on this ugly beast and get yourself back in the groove. Here are the five that work best for me. Shut Up - Distractions are everywhere and they are super annoying. Shut the door or put on some headphones, close out your e-mail application, turn off your cell phone and stay off the Internet. It's important to not let your mind wander too far, and constantly checking your inbox when a new message arrives can make it almost impossible to stay focused on the task at hand. Stay Late or Take It Home - Sometimes I just can't get it done during regular business hours. Staying late can be relaxing because of the peace and quiet, and you know as soon as you finish your day is seemingly over. Other times I just need a change of scenery to find my voice so I take my work to the comfort of my pajama pants and home turf. Exercise Your Brain - Anything that can stimulate your mind can really help get your writing stroke back. Whether it's a few games of Sudoku, a crossword puzzle or getting lost staring at art, putting your mind to work helps get you to focus, analyze situations and think critically. Get Social - If you're really struggling for some inspiration, jump onto Facebook or Twitter or just head over to the water cooler and find someone to talk to. You never know who or what kind of conversations will spur an idea, and with all the random content your friends post online there's bound to be something that can trigger an idea... unless your friends are really boring. Walk Away - When all else fails and I just can't seem to get it together, I have always found the best thing to do is just walk away. Weekends are great because you just free your mind and focus on everything but what you're trying to write. Coming back to it fresh and rejuvenated can really put things in perspective and help get your writing back on track.

I love it when packages arrive. This week a box of was delivered that held two Davey Award trophies, shown here by Krystal and Andrea who are the winning art directors. The Davey Awards promote themselves as "honoring the creative excellence of smaller agencies and companies worldwide." I think that's pretty cool -- and I'm proud of the work that went into winning these beauties. This direct mail piece was created as a fundraising piece for the Nebraska Humanities Council. It won a Silver Davey Award. The Salvation Army Annual Report for 2008 was good as  gold in the Daveys. It also received a silver Addy Award. Thanks to everyone involved in bringing these pieces to fruition -- especially the cool clients with whom we worked.

21-piece collection sells for $40.00 Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates make a unique gift for the holidays. They not only taste fantastic, but every single piece is a work of art. With flavors like Bananas Foster, Orange Pekoe Tea and Balsamic Caramel, how can you go wrong? You can find gift boxes from four-piece to 42-piece as well as luxury boxes that have a variety of items like coffee, chocolate bars and toffee. Order online at http://www.elbowchocolates.com. Try not to drool!

Broccoli Forest Salmon Sea I was thumbing through the October issue of Food Network Magazine and ran across an intriguing article on food landscapes. I had seen a competition on the Food Network a few months ago and was awed by the precision and detail. The article featured images from master food landscaper Carl Warner. Warner buys carts of food and spends days with a team of food stylists and model makers to create totally edible landscapes. Come to find out there is a book that just came out in October featuring 25 of his works...it's titled Food Landscapes. Check these out...amazing. I want that job!

Football season is my favorite time of the year. And one of the best parts about football season is playing fantasy football. Now I don't get too caught up in player rankings and draft strategies. I would rather spend my time doing something productive. Like coming up with the best team name in my fantasy league. So here's some quick tips to make sure your team name doesn't suck - even if your team does. DO be original. Anyone can Google search "Funny Fantasy Football Names." Respect is something that is earned (so I'm told). People respect originality. DON'T be lame. Ted's All-Stars or Omaha Huskers is neither original nor awesome. Even if you're "not creative", you can always steal a lyric from your favorite song by the Eagles. DO embrace pop culture. Movies, VH1 celebreality shows, music. It's all fair game. And thanks to Twitter and TMZ, we know everything about players and celebrities so you should have no trouble finding inspiration. DON'T try too hard. Everyone thinks they're a comedian. Some people are. Most people aren't. If you have to explain your team name, it probably sucks. DO be corny. Puns are not only acceptable, they're encouraged. Is your favorite player Chiefs rookie Eric Berry? How 'bout The Eric Dingleberrys? DON'T be offensive. This is actually a DO in my league. Just make sure you know your audience. If you're playing with your buddies, nothing should be off limits. Your father-in-law? Might wanna steer clear from sexual innuendo. Think you got a good one? Leave me your ideas in the comments and maybe (just maybe) I will rename my team to the best one.