Building a Business David Ogilvy Style

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The House That Ogilvy Built

by Kenneth Roman @ Strategy+Business

The legendary advertising innovator David Ogilvy created an enduring organization using culture, integrity, and charm.

Except: “We treat our people like human beings. We help them when they are in trouble — with their jobs, with illnesses, with alcoholism, and so on. We help our people make the best of their talents. We invest an awful lot of time and money in training — perhaps more than any of our competitors. Our system of management is singularly demo­cratic. We don’t like hierarchical bureaucracy or rigid pecking orders. We abhor ruthlessness.

We like people with gentle manners. Our New York office goes so far as to give an annual award for what they call ‘professionalism combined with civility.’ We like people who are honest: honest in argument, honest with clients, honest with suppliers, and honest with the company. We admire people who work hard. Objectivity and thoroughness are admired. Superficiality is not admired. We despise and detest office politicians, toadies, bullies, and pompous asses.”

Read the complete article… The House That Ogilvy Built