19 Comments
Jul 7, 2023Liked by Helen Lewis

When presenting adverts to clients, always include a sacrificial lamb - something that you know the client will object to (and that doesn’t affect the idea), but that you can fight and lose valiantly for. Makes the client feel they won a battle - especially if afterwards you say “You were absolutely right to get rid of that bit - makes it so much better”... They now have part ownership of the piece, and will champion it against all others.

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This reminds me of the story of the Battle Chess duck: https://bwiggs.com/notebook/queens-duck/

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Jul 7, 2023Liked by Helen Lewis

Thanks Helen. Very much enjoying your return to podcasting with Private Eye by the way. Have a great weekend.

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It's alarming that someone with politely-expressed mainstream views on one subject might be prevented from appearing on a podcast to discuss something else entirely.

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Wait till you get to 75, as I did this week. You may find you require ‘specialist underwear’.

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author

Ah, ok. Maybe life is a specialist underwear curve!

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Totally fine about the podcasts, just as long as you say "yes" to BarPod when they ask. Ta.

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Wow the bit about just saying no really spoke to me. I still really struggle with that even in my early 40s.

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I thought you were very good on the power test, fwiw. Speaking as someone who has frequently disagreed with your arguments, I think it was good to have polite difference. And not having someone in the ballpark of your views would have felt odd.

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Thanks. I’m just sick of the whole thing. It strikes me as so obviously misogynist; men just don’t get the same grief.

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Stephen Jeffries in his excellent book on playwriting basically gave the same advice regarding pitching producers for plays. he'd give four or five pitches for stuff he either knew they wouldn't go for, or that he felt less passionately about, before pitching the one he really liked last. he hinted that doing so was a chance for producers to show off how smart/discerning they were. as if the initial pitches were like chaff on which the producers could tire themselves out before you hit them with your best dramatic torpedo

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author

I love that book! And it’s good advice.

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Well done for learning to say "no" at such a young age! I didn't have this revelation until I turned 50. It has served me well and helped make my 50s (so far) the happiest time of my life.

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Love the advice to a prospective thirty year old. I’m not sure what advice I’d give to those about to turn 60. Visit Sri Lanka would be up there

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author

All midlife advice gratefully received!

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I'm sorry to be a party pooper as it would be so much funnier if it were the queen, but I'm 90% sure he's talking about Ruth Bader Ginsberg. The first time I saw it I thought it was such a clever touch that someone had overlaid Tiny Dancer and it made it even better realising that it was being blasted across the airfield for him.

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Yes, am afraid it definitely was RBG

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Oh, that makes much more sense -- though I thought he had Covid at the time she died? I’ll look into it.

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I cannot confirm or deny my attendance for reasons of national security 🤫

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