Missions Category



“Common sense is a little man in a gray suit who never makes a mistake at addition, but it’s always someone else’s money he’s adding up.” – Raymond Chandler

Let’s hear it for uncommon sense: that inner itch that inspires you to stray from the herd, ditch the training wheels, and leap into the fast lane. As we all know, it’s the risk takers who get their faces on magazine covers and their interviews on news radio. No one ever remembers who won “honorable mention.”

So in this section you’ll find uncommon sense — and our 2 cents — about careers, management, and the economy at large.

writing cover letters
by Freddy Tran Nager, Founder of Atomic Tango + Veteran of the Job Hunting Wars; Photo by Daria Nepriakhina on Unsplash… As the tragically revamped LinkedIn algorithm continues to elevate hype over substance, the once informative wall has become plastered with inanity…Read More
by Freddy Tran Nager, Founder of Atomic Tango + Not A Doctor (I Don’t Even Play One On TV); mad scientist image from the 1940 movie Dr. Cyclops (public domain via Wikimedia Commons)… Sorry, real scientists, I understand these times have been brutal for you, given the willfully ignorant troll in the White House, plus the hyperventilating hordes of anti-vaxxers, anti-maskers, and global-warming deniers. No wonder Scientific American endorsed a presidential candidate for the first time in its 175-year history. (Hint: it’s not Trump.)Read More
Great Depression food line
by Freddy Tran Nager, Founder of Atomic Tango + Professional Who’s Been There, Survived That; photo of a Great Depression soup kitchen created by gangster Al Capone… This makes four. Over the course of my 30-year career, I’ve survived three other recessions: 1990-1991 — The inevitable collapse of Reaganomics. (Borrow, borrow, borrow… wait, we have to pay it back?) 2000-2001 — The first dotcom bust — the most painful one for me. I was riding high as a web nerd, then hit bottom. I even got rejected for a bookstoreRead More
pandemic and protests Boomer
by One Okay Boomer; photo by Miguel Bruna on Unsplash… Let’s talk pandemic and protests — but let’s get specific and talk about how the last few months have affected ME. (After all, I’m a member of the “Me Generation.”)Read More
Advertising Account Presentation
Q: Dear Freddy: I received an interview offer from an ad agency for its account management intern position. Do you have any tips on acing the interview? — A in LARead More
ghosting
by Freddy Tran Nager, Founder of Atomic Tango + Guy Who Ain’t Afraid Of No Ghosts; photo by Stefano Pollio on Unsplash… The business world seems more haunted than ever, with increasing reports of “ghosting” experiences…Read More
LIDA "Own The Controversy"
by Freddy Tran Nager, Founder of Atomic Tango + Influencer Marketing Instructor; photo from the LIDA agency ad campaign for the Jeff Koons rabbit sculpture… The following is the text of a speech I gave May 23 at an Influencers Industry Social Mixer sponsored by Erka Media. Once upon a time there lived two kings whose wealth was counted in the billions…Read More
conformity
by Freddy Tran Nager, Founder of Atomic Tango + Guy Who Likes Being Heard, Not Herded; photo by davide ragusa on Unsplash… Investors, entrepreneurs, and execs all love talking about “disruption,” so much so that they’ve worn out the word. But few companies can deliver that level of innovative thinking. The reason?Read More
derailed train
by Freddy Tran Nager, Founder of Atomic Tango + Guy Who Doesn’t Like One-Track Minds… Think your company or nonprofit organization is on the right track? See if your executives regularly do any of the following…Read More
how to be a professional
by Freddy Tran Nager, Founder of Atomic Tango + Marketing Professional; photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash… The market hasn’t been this combative since the Greeks went shopping in downtown Troy. What few jobs arise get swarmed by hungry mobs, throwing elbows, and slinging resumes for a shot at a steady paycheck. Even table-waiting gigs attract over 100 applicants each while requiring multiple interviews, references, and your first born, all for the opportunity to say, “Would you like fries with that?” Well, despair not, valiant readers: there’s a way to survive this chaosRead More