VIEW FROM THE THAMES
DEON GOUWS: Of dwarfs and giants
If you’re always picking the smaller option, don’t be surprised when your organisation becomes an insignificant shadow of itself. Like the UK’s Tories
When the founder of advertising company Ogilvy & Mather turned 75 in June 1986, his gift from the company was a privately printed book titled The Unpublished David Ogilvy. A variety of ex-colleagues and other acquaintances contributed to this body of work, having scoured files and drawers for scraps of paper to find notes, letters, speeches and other writings.
A couple of years later, the book was released for public consumption (albeit under the same Unpublished title). As the blurb suggests, it contains the advertising man’s secrets of management, creativity and success, from private papers and public fulminations. It is filled not only with wisdom, candour and humour, but also many invaluable tips for managers (whether involved in advertising or any other line of business). No piece of reading has had a bigger impact on me; if you can get your hands on a second-hand copy somewhere, grab it, for it has long been out of print. ..
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.