• by Sue Geramian , June 24, 2015

Is it a coincidence that my first day at the 2015 Cannes Lions Festival was the northern hemisphere's summer solstice? I think not! Think about what summer conjures up; sun, sand, the sea and beautiful flowers.  It's also a time to retreat a bit, relax and rejuvenate. Think time. A time to be more carefree and enjoy the breezes; real and imagined. Remind you of something else? The Lions Festival perhaps?  I'm not so sure everyone here understands that.

The past few years I have been to Cannes I find myself drawn to the energy coming from the groups of Young Lions. For the most part, their excitement level is so lively you can feel it walking by. Maybe I'm a bit prejudiced since the main project I devote myself to each year at Cannes is our agency's global competition for our own Young Lions, the "MRM//McCann I Am" contest, or as we like to say, our "CannesTest"! The winner has to convince the judges why they embody our brand. They win an all-expense paid trip to the Festival where they blog. Bergendi Hatch from our Salt Lake City office is this year's lucky winner and you can see her fantastic blog herehttp://mrm-i-am-bergendi.tumblr.com.

Yes, there have been great sessions here with agency legends and I have taken new ideas from each. Today I had a special spur of the moment invitation to hear a conversation between the incredible advertising legend herself, Mary Wells and the fabulous Joni Evans. Wow! Mary reminded us that if you really want something and believe in it, it can be yours. This year's Festival has become a true 360 degree mentorship. Another opportunity to learn from the wise and those on the road to wisdom.

Now let's focus on those Young Lions on the wisdom trail. In the past three days I have probably met around 30 YL's. Their poise among what can be a tough and intimidating crowd is awesome. Their brains seem to be in "no-filter" zone, letting everything in and then speaking out. Their openness to opportunity, eagerness and need for a creative state is palatable. And they are not afraid to teach us too. 

These are things we forget about sometimes. We each need a little Young Lion in our head every day. We can't forget what it feels like to dip our toes in the sea. We need to rejuvenate, to find time to think and open our minds. Learn from everyone. Make it your business to have your own solstice every day.  If you did not renew yourself today, you just stayed the same. 

Like I told Bergendi, yes, we want you to have a kick-ass blog, but we want you to stop a few times each day and look where you are. Feel the breezes, smell the flowers dream about which yacht you will own one day. 

Winter will be here soon enough.