Mad Men season four finds the main character of the story, Don Draper, working for the newly created advertising firm, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.Advertising is a form of communication intended to persuade an audience (viewers, readers or listeners) to purchase or take some action upon products, ideals, or services.
It includes the name of a product or service and how that product or service could benefit the consumer, to persuade a target market to purchase or to consume that particular brand. -wikipedia
Don is the perfect ad man with his smooth talking ways and calm demeanor he always gets what he wants... when it comes to business.
Ad book for the present:
Searching for the Meaning of Life on a Branded Planet
by James P. Othmer
Description from the amazon:
James P. Othmer, advertising executive turned novelist, gives us a hilarious, personal, and sneakily profound chronicle of the past, present, and future of the advertising business.
On one level it’s the wickedly funny, compelling personal chronicle of the rise and fall of a modern-day ad man; a riveting insider’s look at the astonishing transformation taking place in advertising's hottest idea factories.
But take a step back from the tales of lavish shoots, agencies on the brink, and pampered mega-brands and Adland becomes much more: a snapshot of how we are living our lives thirty seconds at a time.
Funny, deeply thoughtful, and utterly unique, this book is both a wildly amusing ride in Adland, brilliantly recounted, and an exploration of the value of life in the information age.
Ad book from the past:
by David Ogilvy
Description from the amazon:
David Ogilvy was an advertising genius. At the age of 37, he founded the New York–based agency that later merged to form the international company known as Ogilvy & Mather.
Regarded as the father of modern advertising, Ogilvy was responsible for some of the most memorable advertising campaigns ever created. Confessions of an Advertising Man is the distillation of all the Ogilvy concepts, tactics, and techniques that made this international best–seller a blueprint for sound business practice.
If you aspire to be a good manager in any business, this seminal work is a must–read.
Mad Men also reveals the strata of workers bustling in an ad firm. From the telephone operators to the owner, glimpses of each are seen. The secretary's pool is an attractive lot along with its drama amongst the women. Beware of man-traps.
Secretary's guide for the present:
by James Stroman
Secretary's guide from the past:
illustration by DynaMoe
The Secretary’s Handbook, 1965
found this excerpt from Erin Slick's site:
Eighteen Rules for the Efficient Secretary:
1. She is prompt in all her appointments. She gets to work early and sees that his desk is neatly arranged, all his pencils sharpened and all his pens in good working condition.
2. She dresses conservatively and uses makeup sparingly; she does not wear conspicuous jewelry or noticeable perfume in the office.
3. She maintains good posture at her work, in order to avoid fatigue and to present a posed appearance to others.
4. She plans her work well, so as to avoid hurry and flurry.
5. She is courteous and tactful to all callers, even those that are unwelcome.
6. She cultivates a pleasing manner and voice and pays attention to her diction.
7. She is not abrupt over the telephone nor does she drag out telephone conversations.
8. She does not make personal telephone calls.
9. She keeps a dictionary, a book of grammar and usage and a word divider on her desk.
10. She keeps her office supplies handy and ready for use. She does not take pencils or erasers home for her children to use.
11. She keeps her desk tidy. All personal items are kept private.
12. She keeps her typewriter clean and in good working condition. She changes the ribbon promptly when necessary and covers her typewriter when not in use.
13. She organizes her files methodically, and does her filing carefully.
14. She does not turn in a letter that is less than letter perfect.
15. She does not smudge her carbon copies.
16. She does not gossip.
17. She does not bring personal affairs to the office.
18. She does not watch the clock. She will inquire if there is any little thing she can do, before saying good-bye for the day.
