CAREERS: Q&A with ... Ernie Tadla, General manager, DMG Dynamic Marketing Group

<p>Name: Ernie Tadla </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Age: 63 </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Job title: General manager, DMG Dynamic Marketing Group </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>What is your greatest achievement? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Working on the pitch team that won DMG the China launch contract for the </p><p>Bora, Volkswagen's new model car. The team beat Saatchi & Saatchi, </p><p>Ogilvy & Mather and Grey. Pretty heady stuff for a new, small creative </p><p>boutique. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>What would be your dream brand to work on and why? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>It would be a product or service that left the world a better place by </p><p>being here ... consumerism is what makes the world go around, but you </p><p>can tell by my age that meaning and legacy are values that are more </p><p>important to me now. An example: to build a training school for young </p><p>people seeking a career in advertising. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>What would you do if you weren't in marketing? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Advertising is educational; teaching people to buy your product. I would </p><p>be in training, development or coaching. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>What was your big break? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Meeting Dan Mintz from Pacesetter Pictures and him encouraging me to </p><p>come to China. I got here in March 99. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Who was your mentor and how did this person influence you? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Dan Mintz. He is a blend of New York chutzpah, creative genius, </p><p>Hollywood style, adopted Chinese, and spiritual sojourner and hard-ass </p><p>businessman. He has added to my depth, my business acumen, and outlook </p><p>professionally. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Is there a secret to your success? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Have the courage to always tell the truth and treat other people the way </p><p>you would like to be treated. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>How do you handle difficult clients? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>There are two powerful emotions out there - love and fear. It is my </p><p>observation that difficult people are full of fear. If I can help them </p><p>overcome their fear they become less difficult and easier to work with. </p><p>We basically all want the same things ... love, respect, assurance, </p><p>recognition, appreciation. I can do that. You can do that. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>What advice would you give to the next person to do your current </p><p>job? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Eighty per cent of an organisation's problems are people problems. Hire </p><p>the right people, train them well, and recognise and appreciate </p><p>them. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Treat your staff like you treat your clients. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Who is the business person you most admire and why? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>My uncle, Leo Mamer. He built a successful business, lived life with </p><p>zest, had a great marriage and a wonderful family, loved a good time, </p><p>had an open and inquiring mind. He contributed to his community. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>