• July 26, 2001

Looking for a bright idea? Give yourself some time. In a recent survey of advertising and marketing executives, nearly half (47%) said tight deadlines are the single most common source of creative blocks for their employees. Lack of inspiration was the second most prevalent answer, with 14% of the response.

The survey was developed by The Creative Group, a specialized staffing service that provides marketing, advertising, creative and web professionals on a project basis. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes 250 responses -- 125 from advertising executives with the nation's 1,000 largest advertising agencies and 125 from senior marketing executives with the nation's 1,000 largest companies.

Advertising and marketing executives were asked, ”Which one of the following would you say is the single most common source of creative blocks for employees?” Their responses:
Tight deadlines - 47%
Lack of inspiration - 14%
Stress - 12%
Long hours - 8%
Fatigue - 6%
Lack of clear direction - 4%
Lack of information - 3%
Don't know/other - 6%