My Biggest Lesson: Ken Pappanduros

Ken Pappanduros, SVP, group creative director, joined RPA in 2010 after working at a range of agencies in LA and SF, including three separate stretches at TBWA Chiat/Day. Though he has helped create some of Honda’s most successful campaigns, throughout his career he has worked on everything from bacon to banks. In fact, one of the first accounts he worked on was Home Savings, an S&L built on their friendly service image.

Years later, Ken was lead-creative on another high-touch regional bank, Cal Fed. Ken was drawn to RPA for the creative and “People First” culture. He’s found it to be the perfect balance of creativity and camaraderie, bringing out the best in people through a culture of respect and plain old fun.

The “Biggest Lesson” series has been running for something like five years now. In that time, a lot of ground has been covered from a lot of different perspectives. The insights have always been compelling, valuable and interesting. While the narrative and players might be unique, some common themes have emerged. Arguably, this suggests that they are larger truths that apply to life in advertising, and life in general. For me, the big three are: 

1. Don't be a jerk.
2. Absorb everything. 
3. Give it your all.

I don’t know that I can add to, or improve upon, those lessons. However, my biggest lesson supports them. When it was revealed to me, I felt like I’d been given a cheat code that unlocked all three powerups.

This pro-tip was shared with me, in confidence, by a creative director that I greatly admired and respected. They were someone with a track record of inspiring, iconic work. They were also a strong leader and good human being. They were the kind of CD I hoped to be someday. I’m not going to disclose this person’s identity. The advice they gave me felt antithetical to advertising norms of the day, and I would hate to divulge something that might diminish their stellar reputation.  

Many years ago, we worked together at a shop with a “work till you drop” culture. It was a core tenet of the agency’s identity, and we all wore this ethic as a badge of honour. The culture was all-encompassing. It was exciting to be a part of it, and to be connected to the work that came from it. It could also be exhausting.

For weeks, we had been working on a big, important campaign for a major client. Expectations were high. One very late night after weeks of very late nights, a group of us gathered in a conference room to review work. Everyone was visibly exhausted and burnt… except our CD. They seemed to have the boundless energy of the Energizer Bunny.

They were as enthusiastic, upbeat, and ready to take on the world as we all were on day one of this long-haul project. It defied nature.  

After the meeting ended and everyone had left the room, I asked my creative director their secret. How was it after weeks of burning the midnight oil could they always be so damned chipper? “Cat naps,” they told me. When they got tired, they would go to their car, set a 20-minute timer and recharge with a quick power nap.

This was a revelation to me.

I thought the very idea of a midday nap was a sign of weakness. I believed if you’re not exhausted, you’re not trying. From anyone else, I might have dismissed this advice as slackerism. But here was this brilliant, wildly creative, eternally optimistic and wide-awake CD admitting to me that they were micro-dosing sleep to help themselves be better. 

The nap itself wasn’t the most important part of the advice. It wasn’t about taking naps. It was about granting yourself permission to take care of yourself. It was about doing what you needed to do to create your best work and be your best self. It doesn’t matter what that is. It could be going for a walk or a run. Maybe it’s meditation or just closing your eyes. It could be reading a book or calling a friend. Doesn’t matter. It’s about breaks that build. 

Today, I’d say companies and individuals are more attuned to the importance of “self-care.” And with many people working from home, a catnap or other break is easily doable. It still all comes down to something another favourite CD of mine once said: “Don’t confuse effort with results.” That always applies. At the end of the day, no one really cares if you stayed up all night and they don’t care if you took a nap to do it.  They only care that you delivered great work. Period. 

So, with that I return to my favourite three lessons. 

1. Don’t be a jerk.
2. Absorb everything.
3. Give it your all.

When you take care of yourself, all of those are a lot easier.