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Moving To Mexico

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Moving To Mexico – Perfecto

A 2020 Update: The Moving To Mexico post below was written when I achieved my 2016 goal of moving to Mexico. I’ll maintain the original post detail intact to keep Google’s indexing happy.

I live in San Miguel de Allende which Conde Nast Traveller named the best small city in the world as part of the magazine’s Reader’s Choice Awards. 

To date, this blog post has been read over 4,000 times. I know I am not alone in thinking of moving to Mexico.

I am now 4+ years in and live here full-time. My wife and I built a house across from the neighborhood church in the Guadalupe neighborhood that is known for its murals (that’s our house in the picture).

I am maintaining my global advertising agency consultancy (it helps to be able to work digitally from any location) and am way into a major multi-year global photography project which I started when I arrived in Mexico. After San Miguel de Allende, I have photographed communities in L.A., Selma, and worked across India in January 2020.

I am convinced that I made the right move. San Miguel de Allende is endearing, culturally rich, very visually stimulating. The people are wonderful and welcome gringos like me. Plus, our town has been named the best city in the world by Travel & Leisure and Conde Nast Traveller. Yes, it earned its “best“, but one does have to wonder who paid off the magazines for us to get signaled out.

By the way, check out my two-year San Miguel de Allende photography series, La Gente. Please pass it on, especially to Americans.

Side note: People ask me all the time about why and how I moved to Mexico. No, it is not just baby boomers – incoming comes from all sizes. It seems that a lot of folks want to get to either a “next” experience or sadly, just want to get the hell out of today’s USA. NOTE: We did not move for political reasons. But, hey, living somewhere where lots of people smile every day and are not addicted to FOX, Google News and Twitter is a ‘good thing’. LOL, sure we have news and social media addicts here. But, at least we do not have to see political teeshirts every time we go to the tienda to buy a mango.

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[The Original 2016 Blog Post]

Why Mexico? 

This post explains why I moved to Mexico, the where, how, and provides some details should you want to follow me.

The move has been a two-year process for my wife and me to decide to make the move and then choose where to live. We selected San Miguel de Allende (for its culture and high-altitude weather) over Puerto Vallarta (too beachy); Baja (too close to California); the Yucatan (way too humid); Oaxaca (a close second); Mexico City (too crazy); or Lake Chapala (boring – though near Guadalajara).

I like moving to new places and do so about every 7 years. The upside is adventure and having to creatively deal with unknowns. The downside is leaving friends behind. But, some visit and Skype plus Facetime keeps everyone face-to-face.

In addition to pure wanderlust, there are other factors that seem to make me move. Here is a new one. I recently read the Wall Street Journal article, Nature or Nurture? What Makes You an Expat? Is a lust for travel, adventure and new surroundings built into your DNA? The article covers the idea that moving and living in a foreign country might be, partially, a function of your DNA. My kids are in their twenties and they now live in Buenos Aires and Budapest. Is the Levitan DNA responsible? Who knows. But, this is an interesting concept to digest.

By the way, that’s me up above C/O of an artist’s photo booth at a Mexico City art museum.

OK, so why am I moving to Mexico?

I grew up in New York City. Went to college in Boston and San Francisco. Then moved back to New York, to Minneapolis, to New Jersey when we had kids, to London and back. And, 15 years ago my family split from post 9/11 New York metro to go to Bend and then Portland, Oregon. Was it genes? Wanderlust? Career building? I think all of the above.

Why Mexico?

san-miguel-de-allende-mexico_87359_990x742We love Mexico and Mexicans. And, I can run my consultancy from anywhere, so why not head south.

We are not alone. Mexico has the highest number of American expats. The actual numbers are a bit flaky but the U.S. government estimates the number at over 1 million. These include people working in Mexico, folks just hanging out, Mexican Americans and a very large number of American retirees.

But, hey, this blog post is about me.

My reasons…

  • Numero uno: Adventure (life is short.) See David Bowie for inspiration. ‘”Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes (Turn and face the strange) Turn and face the strain. Ch-ch-Changes”
  • Our new home is San Miguel de Allende which is in the middle of the country. That’s one of its most famous scenes in the picture. SMA is one of the coolest towns in the world (yes, the world.) Here is what Huffington Post says.
  • If you don’t mind skipping heat and humidity, San Miguel de Allende’s weather is perfect (high desert at over 6,000 feet.) See the map at the bottom for its location.
  • The people in San Miguel are always smiling.
  • It’s safe. Please stop the silly ‘gringo’ question… “Is it safe?” Get this: most of Mexico is safer than New Orleans and Detroit. And, you know that if Americans stopped doing tons of coke, meth and heroin, we’d help to solve the cartels problem. The key is that you don’t go hang out where the bad guys do business because that is where the crime is.
  • Mexican culture combines indigenous and Spanish cultural influences. There are endless street, art and music festivals and a very vibrant art scene.
  • The cost of living is about 60% or less than living in the USA. In our first ‘test’ year, we are renting a fully furnished 4 bedroom house with 3 days of housekeeper service and a gardener for $2,000 per month (this is considered on the high end). At over 18 pesos per dollar, the dollar is as high as it has been in years.
  • San Miguel has the second-best restaurant scene in the country. It has become a major weekend destination for people living in Mexico City.
  • Surrounding towns deliver sweet day trips to visit hot springs, local ice cream meccas and university towns. And… truly exciting things like a Costco and the largest shopping mall in Latin America. I haven’t been there yet but will avoid a Chili’s if they have one.
  • I can easily fly nonstop to L.A., Dallas, and Houston out of two local airports and internationally from Mexico City.
  • Getting a long-term visa easy. Try living long-term in the U.K. or France or Thailand. Not going to happen.
  • I’ll try to avoid CNN and FOX and MSNBC.
  • Oh, and I can work from anywhere I have a laptop and WIFI. Plus, my town is conveniently in the central time zone.

Have you considered living in Mexico?

googleA recent research study I did testing Google Consumer Research focused on where Americans want to retire. My findings show that 13% (13%!) of Americans between 45 and 65 “have considered retiring in Mexico”. By the way, you do use easy-to-use-super fast Google Research in your business development program, right?

Who will thrive in Mexico? [Read more…] about Moving To Mexico

Top Advertising And Design Awards

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A Lovely List Of The Top Advertising Awards

And deep thoughts on why you should even bother doing the advertising award game.

advertising awardTA DA — A New 2020 Advertising Award: The Side Show

The Side Show is an award for — well, here is what they say:

We’re here to celebrate the side projects of those in the advertising industry. Side projects showcase another angle of ourselves, a side some rarely get to see, and we believe that side should be rewarded. We look forward to seeing you show off your bold, your whimsical, your unexpected, and your original sides. (Also: There’s insanely impressive judges & cash prizes. We may have ‘side’ in our name but diversity is our main focus.)

Submissions are due by October 9th at 11:59 PM, PST and are open for everyone from student to c-suite, creatives and non-creatives alike. Late submissions will not be accepted.

I like this idea. It is fresh, is more inclusive, and should help us to see some of the better work done outside of, well, people’s main work thing.

Next: You might want to listen to or come back to this Advertising Stories podcast – How To Win More Webby Awards.  

This interview is with Matt Faulk, yup the guy that runs the Webby Awards’ actual ad agency. Plus… Matt’s agency = Basic = just happens to win more Webby Awards than anyone.

OK, the advertising award list also includes a few of my views on advertising awards objectives and strategies. It is mindblowing how many advertising agencies do not know how to enter an award show — to win.

Note: This advertising awards list gets updated. Let me know if I am missing an award.

Advertising Awards Are Good… But, Maybe Start Here: Why Enter Award Shows? Do You Have A Strategy?

Winning the right advertising awards is good for business and agency and client morale. Just make sure you know why you are entering. Too many agencies don’t approach the award process with a plan or objectives beyond the search for ego fulfillment. This can make the whole effort a bit too C R A Z Y. But, you know that. Or, do you? Go here to hear an advertising award judge on his less than optimal experience reading agency entries.

I have a memory about the power of awards from my first day at Saatchi & Saatchi London way back in the 1990s. I walked through the creative floor and noticed a tall glass case randomly stuffed with lots of creative trophies. This haphazard display delivered two messages: 1) Saatchi wins lots of awards and 2) they don’t take these too seriously. Of course, the second point was bull shit. Saatchi was always about looking like a winner and the award case proved that point in a cheeky manner. It worked better than the usual and obvious shelf of awards that sit behind the ad agency receptionist’s head.

I have always had mixed feelings about advertising awards. On one hand, they are, like winning an Academy Award, i.e. ridiculous. No one ad, digital program or actor is the “best.” On the other hand (the one with the wallet), they are way expensive. As an agency owner, I often cringed when a creative director came to me with his hand out asking us to spend hundreds on award entries.

However money aside, advertising awards have some very big advantages for agencies, clients, and creative-class workers:

The awards celebrate creativity itself. Creative strategies, art, copy and the media platforms that deliver the work.

They help our most talented people get noticed.

They help smart well-designed agencies get noticed by occasionally confused clients who need second party confirmation when selecting an agency. To me, this is a very important point and one that makes writing those increasingly expensive entry checks worth the cost. Awards should be a big part of an agency’s business development program – not just an ego stroker.

To put all of this go-for-it into context, I wrote about the Portland agency Pollinate a few years back that has done very well (!) by hammering Advertising Age’s Small Agency awards show. The blog post, “How To Win The Ad Age Small Agency Award? Twice?” is a demonstration of the value of entering and winning an award that has meaning for prospective clients because it is delivered via an industry-leading publication. Check it out.

Last point before the list. Award judges have told me that around 30% of agencies do not know how to create an entry that is designed to win. Poor copy, poor strategy, even typos. Many agencies rush through the process at the very last minute. Do you? Do you have an annual award plan? Who is in charge?

My 13 Favorite Advertising & Marketing Awards

[Read more…] about Top Advertising And Design Awards

Is Your Advertising Agency Famous And Unignorable

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Advertising Agency FamousMy friend Michael Moszynski, Founder and CEO of London’s global advertising agency LONDON Advertising, recently sent me an agency Press Release with the headline: “LONDON Advertising ad campaign sees its awareness surge an impressive 50% and overtake Adam & Eve in Populus poll.” I’d say that LONDON Advertising is able to say “yes” to the question… “Is Your Advertising Agency Famous And Unignorable.’

LONDON Advertising got to fame and unignorability by running a real broad awareness advertising campaign for the agency (and working on being famous for years). Yes, you heard me right. They actually used real (LOL) advertising to up their image and awareness in the UK. I’ve written about this campaign here: Does Your Advertising Agency Advertise Itself?

Help You Getting Your Advertising Agency Famous And Unignorable

#1. How did LONDON do it? Read their PR and think about your agency

Here is a quote from the press release (gotta love that England still has Lords)…

In a Populus poll of awareness of UK ad agencies among over 2,000 members of the public, LONDON Advertising demonstrated the power of its ad TV and Outdoor campaign to promote its own brand with an outstanding set of results.

Lord Cooper, Founding Partner of Populus, said:

“Amongst the public, brand awareness of LONDON Advertising rose by an impressive 50% in just a month.  LONDON Advertising is now 6 times more well-known than highly established agencies like VCCP. The increase in awareness of LONDON Advertising was the only statistically significant change in the month between our two polls, so their campaign clearly cut through. Among the critical sub-group of consumer opinion influencers, LONDON Advertising now has the highest awareness of any of the agencies covered in the poll, at 27% – its campaign taking it past Adam &Eve.”

Here is the press release sweetly shouting about LONDON. Results of LONDON Advertising advertising campaign

#2. How do y’all get to famous?

Quick story. A while ago I moved to London to work at the original Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Worldwide on Charlotte Street. I quickly found out how famous Saatchi was when I  got in a cab and told the driver the address. He said, “Oh, you are going to Saatchis.” From then on I’d just say that I was going to Saatchi. If you said your agency name to an Uber driver (let’s pretend she does not have the app for a second) would she know YOUR address?

OK. How to get to famous? Three “simple” but, ya know, like, important things.

  1. Make being famous and unignorable an objective. A second on the idea of being unignorable… Imagine the alternative?
  2. Is your advertising, digital, social, PR or whatever agency marketing designed to be famous and unignorable?
  3. Show the world that you are (!) unignorable. Shout it. This is precisely how Maurice and Charles Saatchi did it. They made damn sure that the world thought that Saatchi & Saatchi was famous. This was an objective. This was LONDON’s freakin objective, too.

Oh, while you are at it, how about your personal brand? Are you famous? Did you see the video on my Home Page? For some of you… yes, I ripped off the name association idea from the great conceptual artist Chris Burden. Steal like an artist.

Need more fame???? Contact me.

Life After Advertising Podcast Series

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I’ve Written About Life After Advertising Before.

I am going to accelerate my discussion about the idea that there can be a wonderful life after advertising. I will cover lots of options over the next few months because I am seeing people leave the communications marketing industry for a bunch of reasons. Many people have planned to leave, many have had it foisted on them due to the pandemic, some are leaving advertising companies to go freelance and some are simply selling their agencies. Oh, yeah, some just need some NEW!

Today I (well my artificial assistant Sara) is offering some food for thought. Here are five resources that you can use to get your ball rolling as you exit the agency world.

Head over to How to Create a Million-Dollar Business This Weekend to read how Tim Ferris and Noah Kagan think that you can start a million-dollar business. LOL, yes this weekend.

From Noah: “For some reason, people love to make excuses about why they haven’t created their dream business or even gotten started.

This is the “wantrepreneur” epidemic, where people prevent themselves from ever actually doing the side-project they always talk about over beers.

The truth of the matter is that you don’t have to spend a lot of time building the foundation for a successful business. In most cases, it shouldn’t take you more than a couple days.

Think I’m joking?

We made the original product for Gambit in a weekend.

“WTF?!” Yes, a weekend.

In just 48 hours, some friends and I created a simple product that grew to a $1,000,000+ business within a year.”

Want to run a “passive income” business? No this does not really mean just sitting back and watching the moolah roll in. This does require work. But, it may be less workaholic than writing 87 Instagram posts per week. Pat Flynn is the passive income master who can get you started and rocking. Go to his Smart Passive Income blog for years of how to. he also writes extensively about the tools that you might use – like how to build and run a podcast.

I love this one. Great daydreaming or just do it. I was just turned on to this list by a dude that lives in Ho Chi Minh City and runs a global online marketing company. Want a comprehensive list of online businesses that you can buy? The well-named Empire Flippers has that list. I’m going to help you cut to the chase. Here is an interview that Passive Income’s Pat Flynn did with Empire Flippers’ CEO.

Don’t want to start a new business? Maybe you’d rather get out on the road? Head out to Overland to hear about building a long-distance van life – anyone can do this. Sure beats being on your mom’s kitchen table Zoom calls. And, if you want to see some real-life people that are making a living traveling in their van, check out Kara and Nate’s We Bought A Van on YouTube (they will show you a great lifestyle pivot). Back to your new van…  Here is the Overland site.

OK, one more. Last week I interviewed Michaela Alexis about her move from advertising agency life to becoming a leader in LinkedIn training. Head over here… How Michaela Alexis Rocks LinkedIn Learning. 

Upcoming Advertising Stories episodes will cover African-American advertising and agency ownership (an the poor level of diversity in the industry); eCommerce conversion rate optimization and how to go from ad person to client-side. All of these topics will be interviews with experts.

Use the handy links on this page to subscribe.

A nice thing for me… Feedspot has recognized Advertising Stories as being a top 15 advertising podcast.

 

 

 

 

How Michaela Alexis Rocks LinkedIn Learning

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WOW. A Podcast All About LinkedIn Learning – Plus Lots Of Personality And Canadian Chutzpah.

LinkedIn LearningMichaela Alexis has over 170,000 combined Followers on her company and personal pages. Compare that to the Average LinkedIn account having only 1,300 Followers. It’s all about LinkedIn learning and strategizing baby. This is both a science and an art.

With one in three professionals on the planet using LinkedIn, it would be a good idea for you to grow your Followers to, well, I am sure, a lot more than you have today. To learn about how Michaela rocks her LinkedIn universe and has become a serious player in the world of LinkedIn learning, I thought, hey let’s talk to her. This 30-minute podcast will give you insights on how to grow your LinkedIn audience and Followers; how to build Follower interest; how to use the combination of personal and company pages. And —- a really cool discussion about how a solopreneur has built a growing training business based on LinkedIn learning and that Canadian chutzpah.

I am about to sound like I am “selling” Michaela’s services (here she is on LinkedIn). Well, I just might be. You probably need her expertise and guruness. Here is an example of what she can do for you: LinkedIn learning sessions focused on optimizing your LinkedIn profile for success; on creating a powerful personal branding strategy. and, monetization, social selling, and executing a content publishing strategy that converts. Science and art.

Finally, hear how Micaela became the Muse for a brand new K-Swiss Self-Belief sneaker (check out the video below). This woman rocks LinkedIn and her life. Plus she gets to eat Poutine.

MORE:

You can see the growing list of all of my Advertising Stories podcasts right here. Use the handy subscribe buttons that we’ve placed on this wonderful page. 

A nice thing… Feedspot has already recognized Advertising Stories as being a top 15 advertising podcast.