Anthony Mendez' Post-amp

What happens outside of my voiceover studio

Lessons from a paper clip

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I was clearing out the key dish and came across these paper clips. What struck me was how very different they were. Yet, when most people think of "paper clip," they picture the first one. That is, unless you happen to work with the second or third on a regular basis; I'm sure that, in that case, no other paper clip will do.

Excuse the anthropomophism, but I'm also sure that the second and third paper clip have no illusions of being like the first one. They do the same job, just differently; Under certain circumstances, even better.

This Holiday Season, let's be grateful for what makes us unique. Into the New Year, let's resolve to not worry about how others do what they do, but rather to do what we do in the only way we do it. There are those out there that will appreciate it. Not to mention, you won't get bent out of shape.

-Anthony

It's not a dog-eat-dog world after all

Doggy-friends

It may not be a dog-eat-dog world, but it sure is a small one; At least in terms of synchronicity (more about that later.) This morning, there was another canine and it's human leader in my kingdom upon my arrival. The leader acknowledged me. I reciprocated his acknowledgement. As I approached the gate to the most un-kept dog run in the New York Metro area, I got a better look at the dog that occupied it. It was a Pitbull. Now, most people with a 20-pound dog at their side, would have started shaking in their Rockports (hey, they're comfortable!) but not I! I'm not afraid of dogs. Besides, I know that Pitbulls, in general, are sweet loving dogs with a bad reputation created by a select few idiots in this world that take advantage of their strength for monetary and egotistical gains.

In short, the owner was a very responsible human who understood the breed and, more importantly, had obviously established himself as this dog's leader... as evidenced by his simple verbal commands that were immediately followed. I entered the dog run with my dog, Kiyoshi, and they hit it off. Now, Kiyoshi, on the other hand is a very "pretty" dog (he hates when I say that), a Shiba Inu, but he is also very skittish, nervous, and doesn't make friends that easily. But when he does make friends with his canine brethren, it is beautiful to see.

As freelancers, marketers, and creatives we spend quite a bit of energy on establishing a brand (whether that's futile or fruitful is up for discussion,) but when we use symbols and images to portray certain characteristics of ourselves and our work, we never stop to think about whether the underlying message is in sharp contrast to the intended one. Would a tough, gritty, aggressive voiceover artist, for example, use a Pitbull on their marketing materials? Perhaps. But, after today's experience, my perception of that brand might not be what the artist intended.

Here's to Kiyoshi and my new friends - Ron (the human) and Dutchess (the dog) for giving us new perspective.

-Anthony

P.S. I mentioned synchronicity in the opening section of this post - Ron is of Dominican heritage, as am I, and attended the same high school I did. Oh, and our dogs both have four legs!