On checking the Business net site this morning I found the following post. Thought it was great, sort of a real world view of Sterling Cooper and Don Draper in particular.

http://industry.bnet.com/ ...

jaypee

Thanks for sharing this article


Who am I to argue with a former managing editor of Adweek. BUT –

The show has presented that Don is the key to attracting and keeping new clients.   He’s constantly being introduced as the creative GENIUS that prospective clients should be honored just to meet.   He was the reason why they landed Menken’s Department store (yes he was the ultimate reason why they lost it). As Cooper commented “keep it zipped up cowboy.”  Then again he knocked it out of the ball park with Kodak 'wheel.'

By all outward appearances he’s the draw for new clients.  If Don’s reputation wasn’t so stellar he wouldn’t have been courted so hard by Jim Hobart to join his agency to work on Coca Cola and PAN AM. 

He’s the pretty face of SC.  Don would likely serve as the new owner’s mascot to parade around as something they acquired in NY and in England.  Don in England would look like America’s James Bond.

I do think Don lacks a fresh outlook and seems content to retread old ideas and formulas, he had to be prodded by Duck and the firm’s physiologist (who he rudely dismissed) to try something new.  Duck also has the right vision for making money.

AND Don's boring steel campaign that Pete saved AND he showed no insight on how to assist the Nixon campaign.

His promotion and delegation of work to Peggy shows exceptional leadership.

On the whole his performance is 70% positive 30% negative.

However, on the surface he seems to be the ideal “idea” man that clients would swoon over.  In a business where perception is 95% of reality I think Don is an asset they can’t afford to lose.

Not to mention there's a certain application of modern logic and sensibilities to 60's era behavior.

But the idea of Don in England is intriguing - it would be a unique season 3 storyline.  Fast forward to 1964 and the British invasion, Carnaby street et al.  Another encounter with Joy and the Jet Setters perhaps?

Hmmmmm

Joy…..   my favorite notch on Don Draper’s bedpost. 


Now it all makes sense why I never had a fling with a 90s version of Jet Setter Joy. 

I used to talk to women.   I would accept any invitation such as “can you watch my seat while I go to the restroom?”  The SNL’s Don Draper’s guide to meeting women would have been helpful, I was doing everything backwards.