embracing failure

Interesting to see that the post below on 'pitch disappointment' has generated some positive and flattering feedback.

PSFK cites this as an example of a great corporate blog (cheers) because we know how the W+K brand 'feels' and aren't afraid to present it, warts and all.

Polka Dot Holes says 'I love agencies with the confidence to be honest.'

I think we're pretty comfortable with admitting that we're not perfect. We make mistakes. We lose pitches. We make bad decisions.

We have the words 'embrace failure' written on a big illuminated sign in one of our meeting rooms. (Aptly, the illumination doesn't work.) We recognise that if you're going to test the boundaries then sometimes you'll fail. But that's OK. It's not trying that's not OK. You don't achieve extraordinary results through ordinary efforts.

In the case of this story it wasn't such a big admission because we knew it was going to be reported in the trade press.

And here are some other W+K failures:

- Today it feels like aircon in the offices might have been a worthwhile investment.

- We didn't manage to get a single decent ad out in the year we worked with Sky One.

- We're lousy at making the time to do the non-client related projects that we always talk about doing.

BTW, you can buy Wieden + Kennedy 'Embrace Failure' T shirts in the shop section of our main site here.

Comments

[sugarmedia]

Shouldn't you actually make an ad that entices me to buy one of your t-shirts?

=============================
"BTW, you can buy Wieden + Kennedy 'Embrace Failure' T shirts in the shop section of our main site here."

[neil]

We don't confine ourselves to making ads. 'Strong, provocative relationships beween brands and customers' - that's our bag. (See www.wklondon.com for details.) In this case, the immersive brand experience that is the world of W+K on the Interweb-thing is both medium and message. Isn't this whole blog a celebration/explanation of the W+K brand and its 'embrace failure' philosophy?
Mind you, we don't sell many T shirts. So you may have a point. But then the point is not so much to sell them as that they exist. So, no, we're not going to try to entice you. If you don't want one, then don't buy one.

[Paul Colman]

Neil, I've been trying to think of a way of subtly trying to suggest you give me a free t-shirt...any ideas?

[neil]

I'll see what we can do...

[russell]

Paul, I thought you thought that the embrace failure t-shirts were 'trite'

[Paul Colman]

I do. I'm all about trite.