Tools of the Trade is an AgencySpy feature to help highlight the many tools that help make advertising and marketing folks successful. The tools can be anything that helps you perform at your top form, from your favorite drafting table to your best software program to a lucky pen, a vintage typewriter or a pair of headphones.
Next up is Sarah Wallace Carr, senior art director at Austin, Texas agency McGarrah Jessee (McJ).
Sarah Carr poses with her pothos plant.
What is the name of the one tool you use all the time at work, and how does it inspire your work?
My pothos plant that lives on my desk. She doesn’t have a name, but I always refer to her as “she.” So…maybe “she” is her name?
Why is it your favorite?
Most of my desk space is populated by more literal tools of the trade, like my monitor, laptop and keyboard, but with how much time we spend at our desks I think it’s so important to save space for things that are just there to make you happy. That’s why my plant is my favorite. She adds a little life and color to my day amidst a sea of screens.
How did you acquire your tool or hear about it for the first time?
She started out as just a few propagated leaves from my best friend Caroline’s plant. Caroline traveled with them tucked in her purse when she flew from Seattle to visit me in Austin and gave them to me as a gift.
How does it help you be successful?
If you’re into metaphors, she’s a representation of how ideas can grow when you take the time to care for and nurture them. If you’re not into metaphors, she’s a day-to-day reminder to let in some sunshine and drink plenty of water.
Does it have sentimental value?
Definitely. I usually try not to get too attached to my plants because I don’t have the best track record for keeping them alive, but since this one was a gift from my long-distance best friend I love watching her thrive and grow.
Do you think your tool could go TikTok viral? Why or why not?
Probably not. She’s a little shy and not so great with technology.
We want to know what tools you use to make you successful. If you’d like to contribute or know someone who would want to be featured in Tools of the Trade, contact kyle.obrien@adweek.com and fill out our survey.