I’m a lucky man.
Born and raised in a politically and socially very active family, i was active in all sorts of organisations and groups. Scouts, folk dancing, fencing, mime, athletics, third world and political action, i did it all ‘whilst’ studying in Brussels, in a bad school, with great teachers and mildly anarchistic organisational talents. I am still grateful for that free and stimulating environment, even after more than 20 years.
I went to university in Ghent, doing political and social sciences, at that time considered to be among the lower life forms in the intellectual society. I now realise that it gave me insights, broad views and a continuous restlesness in finding out how people act and react. I am still grateful for that stimulating environment.
I was among those who had to do their military service, which postponed my career for at least a year, and made me make the right decisions. The army taught me almost nothing, except perhaps for the fact that group dynamics remain the same, army, school, work. Once a sucker, always a sucker, once a leader, always a leader. Within 24 hrs, being stripped of your identity, the same dynamics apply. I am still gratefull that i didn’t have to stay longer.
Young and ambitious, i married, and went to work at the Nielsen Company. Respected, thorough, warm and honest they taught me one thing:
I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
I send them over land and sea,
I send them east and west;
But after they have worked for me,
I give them all a rest.
(R.Kipling)
It would only become better. I went to work for Ogilvy & Mather in Brussels. After learning what there was to be known about marketing, i got the best possible education in all things communication. A Respected, thorough, warm and honest company. They taught me the value of original and independent thinking. They also learn their people to believe in own strenghts, rather than becoming more or less okay in most fields, try to excell in your own domain. Which is what i did. Strategic thinking, integrating insights with creativity, combining seemingly random facts into logical and coherent approaches.I am still grateful for those stimulating environments.
After some international adventures, limited by the intellectual scope, but attractive for the money part, i joined Duval Guillaume…Speaking of a mind blowing experience… Strong characters, excellent vision, and it seemed as if i was back at school. Such a joy, and a sure remedy for not becoming cynical. Clients were key, honesty and integrity the essential values in the work. I am still grateful….
So here i am, after all these experiences, more passionate than ever to express my views on today’s wonderful world of communication, conversation and social media…It beats working in a factory!
Officieel :
Geboren in 1963 in Brussel, en nog steeds Brusselaar in hart en nieren.
Latijn Wetenschappen in Brussel en Politieke en sociale wetenschappen in Gent gestudeerd, beetje Vlerick achteraan gegooid.
Getrouwd, Gescheiden, Samenwonend, LAT, alles geprobeerd. 4 Mooie, boeiende kinderen, 1 hond (Bijou aka Sienna is niet meer)
Carrière in Marketing en Communicatie (AC Nielsen, Ogilvy, IBM, Draft, Duval Guillaume Corp, Philips Europe, Edison, ONE Agency), maar meer en meer geinteresseerd in schrijven.
;Check out my about.me profile
it sure does, guido, it sure does