Anew.

This blog, hasn’t been abandoned intentionally. There is a stack load of half-finished posts stacking up in the corner and an administrator languishing somewhere in the coffee-room mulling over her thoughts.

Today however I woke up with a new feeling, a reminder. A reminder that thoughts are not good enough in a world where actions speak the loudest and the most broken brands and industries are screaming most of all.

This morning, two of my mentors (I hope they’ll forgive me for naming them such) published two separate blog posts. The first by Jonathan MacDonald goaded apprehensive thinkers who accept second best in business and in life. The second by his partner in crime Liri Andersson discussed the diminishing position of ‘values’ in branding’.

Both were typical blog posts but like that random horoscope that catches up with truth (when you read them often enough), this morning both of these posts hit the nail on the head. Stating to me, and reminding me of the exact two things I really needed to hear.

When I was in college I read Naomi Klein’s No Logo (a book that this week I’m reading again). Since secondary school I’d been fascinated with branding and fascinated by the tricks and punches pulled by the likes of Coke, Starbucks, Nike and Wal-Mart. How they dedicated so much time and money to buffing and polishing their brands with marketing dollars so that thy could shine so brightly for us. Reading Naomi Klein was not a revelation, but a wake up call. A validation. There is not much good in shine if underneath the sprinkling of gold lay things that are decayed and rotten.

From then my interest in branding increased. Multiplied and intensified. Maturing through university and into life as an obsession that I can’t shake. I craved to get under the skin of these organisations, get a look into the cavity below and see which parts of the spectacle were real. How innocent were Innocent, how supportive was Macmillan…I wanted to see and experience and understand the parts that shone truthfully from inside and which parts where layered on to disguise.

Despite my want though, that hasn’t happened. That wasn’t on the cards. And with layers of “unfortunately” letters blocking my through road I took some decisions which led me into the back room to stand with thoughts and coffee.

But here I am at 23 – riding lazily on the coat tails of two mentors, doing the work but not stepping out – until reading two blog posts this morning and putting my coffee down.

It’s time. I know it. Time to step up and pursue my dreams down different avenues, chase down different streets. It is no longer the time wait nor the place to wonder.

I know that now. And for that, I’m saying thank you!