Once again advertising has kept me from blogging about a show about advertising.
Over the last few weeks there's been a story line building between Peggy and Don about ideas and giving credit where credit is due. SCDP had a blockbuster ad for floor cleaner Glow-Coat. It was a break thorough spot that got the agency a lot of attention and a nomination for a CLIO Award (think of the Golden Globes, but for ads).
Prior to the ceremony, Peggy is relishing this nomination as a sign that things are going well. Don is not resting on his laurels:
Peggy: Well, you know, I look at Glow-Coat and see how far everything has come...you know, the work.
Don: Glow-Coat. You finish something, you find out everyone loves it right around the time it feels like someone else did it.
That comment cuts at Peggy, because as we learn later in the episode, from her point of view someone else did do it. Turns out the roots of the Glow-Coat spot came from her pen and she feels like Don is taking all of the credit. Of course the spot wins at the CLIOs and Don is celebrated as the hero of the agency, all of which makes Peggy feel even more under appreciated.
Cut to the next episode where Peggy is tasked with building a creative execution based on an idea from a more junior member of her team, but she just can't seem to hit on a spot that Don will buy. Don keeps her late on her birthday, forcing her to cancel dinner plan with her boyfriend, which leads to a fight and a break-up.
Dejected, Peggy goes back into Don's office to pick a fight with him. She confronts him on the fact that the idea for the Glow-Coat spot was her's and yet he get's all the credit:
Don: It was a kernel.
Peggy: Which you changed just enough so that it was yours.
Don: I changed it into a commercial...that's the way it works, there are no credits on commercials.
Peggy: So you got the CLIO.
Don: It's your job! I give you money, you give me ideas.
Peggy: And you never say thank you.
Don: [Yelling] That's what the money is for!!! You're young, you will get your recognition. And honestly it is absolutely ridiculous to be two years into your career and counting your ideas. Everything to you is an opportunity. And you should be thanking me every morning when you wake up, along with Jesus, for giving you another day.
Earlier in the conversation Don reminds her that every idea belongs to the agency, not one person. Indeed.
I love this quote and Emilia and I have been dishing it out every other day since this aired. I have been accused of not being polite at work and making demands in a curt manner. Once a direct report actually asked me to say please when I asked her to do something. If I had that discussion over again today I would simply retort, "I don't have to say please, that's what the money is for."
In other words: do your job the best you can do and then wake up tomorrow and do it better than you did it yesterday. And if you don't like it, or you don't like the hours, or you don't like the fact that others (including the clients) get all the glory, tough. That's the job and that's what the money is for.
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