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I must admit to agreeing with the mordacious Alex Bogusky. Social Media is such a new phenomenon, how can anyone classify themselves as an expert. Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn followers do not justify guru status. Among the conventions that Bogusky questioned were the value of search consultants (he's not a fan), the notion of being an expert at social media (something that, by definition, is a relatively new phenomenon) and the idea that you can learn from your mistakes. 

Alex urged attendees of the Mirren New Business Conference to defy convention when approaching potential clients but warned that some may think "you're an idiot."

"We can mock what the new business meeting is like right now. That part we see," said Bogusky, co-chairman of MDC Partners' Crispin Porter + Bogusky and chief creative insurgent of MDC. "But stepping out of our culture and redesigning the new presentation where you're going to say things that no one else can, do you really want to potentially seem that stupid?

"So five agencies have gone before [you]. They've all said the same thing. We know that's going to happen," Bogusky added. "Then here you come and you're going to say something completely different. Some people are going to like that and a lot of people are going to think you're an idiot."

But to Bogusky, that's just fear talking. "The reality is people will actually think you're smart," he said.

On Failure

"I've never learned anything from my mistakes," Bogusky said. "Again, I hate conventional wisdom. (Me to Alex. Jim) Conventional wisdom is learning from your mistakes. What about learning from your successes? That's where I've focused [my energies]. Like, this works, we better get down and study on this."

Says Bogusky, "If you're thinking about the ways things are right now, then you're outdated." Bravo. Stomp your feet and shout. Somebody finally gets it!! Peace Jim