Job Executive creative director, South Asia, Ogilvy & Mather
Professional mission Kick ass. Without getting yours kicked.
Personal mantra Burn the candle at both ends. But don’t forget to replenish the wax.
7.30am Jump into the shower. Remember my commitment to water conservation. Jump out. Make liberal use of cologne. Feel très French.
8.00am Try to sort out my semi-dreadlocks. Give up.
4.00pm Beg producer to reduce costs. (Grounds: the unfavourable exchange rate of the Sri Lankan rupee.)
6.00 pm ‘So, um, what’s the product connect?’ (Question to team who are presenting an ad concept.)
7.00pm Call. Call drop. Call again. Call drop… (Trying to use my cell while going up and down flyovers on the Western Express Highway.)
7.30pm Kick, spin, punch, somersault, kick. (Learning capoeira, the Brazilian martial art; it’s a lot like advertising, actually – see professional mission above.)
9.00pm Realise that the deadline for my advertising column was the day before yesterday. Help! Somebody give me a topic! Ah, got it: ‘Has advertising become a victim of unreasonable deadlines?’. Panic over.
10.00pm Laphroaig. Neat, almost. Bliss.