Turning Laid Off into Paid Off…One Project at a Time

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Recently, I attended a party where half of the guests were laid off. This made for lots of jokes and humor, perhaps the only way those handed their pink slips can get by these days. The fact remains, lay-offs touch us all – whether it’s a spouse, friend or co-worker. It’s become the new Six Degree of Separation.

Enter a brilliant idea by Canada-based ad agency Huxley Quayle von Bismark – Just One Project.
At first glance, Just One Project is three things: a herculean corporate effort to help unemployed advertising professionals find work; a practical grassroots initiative with a relevant purpose (and haven’t we had enough of those painful over sized check presentations as a PR tactic?) ; and, a small drop of hope.
With tons of bills still to be met, and an economy worsening as we blog, the fact remains that for as many unemployed people as there are today, there are just as many “projects” sitting on desks across America.

What HQvB has created is an initiative that pairs these projects – one at a time – with a pool of talented, seasoned, yet laid-off advertising professionals who can tackle these projects on a freelance basis. In return for their time and talent, these out of work freelancers will get paid, helping them pay their rent/mortgage, put food on their tables, and avoid “no flow” debt. To the layperson, this means that you’ll get talented, experienced people delivering top notch work at a rate that is sure to be favorable in this economic climate.

So begs the question, why is this smart thINKing? If it’s not obvious, here’s the breakdown:
  • Goodwill like this = great brand respect
  • The advertising world is rallying together to remain a community that is all about promoting and moving things forward
  • HQvB is extending its billable opportunities in a down market where you need to get clever to make money.

Talk about a Win-Win!

Check out an article on the Just One Project in Marketing Magazine, or watch a video here.