I’d like to introduce you to a tradition here at Firehouse we call Champagne Thursday.

The last Thursday of each month we get the entire agency together and take a moment to celebrate the ideas and efforts that helped make the month a success. It’s a way to reinforce the kind of effort, attitude and output that’ll separate our work and ultimately our clients from their competition.

How it works is that over the course of the month everyone takes a moment or two to nominate the individuals or teams they believe have been doing the type of work and achieving the kind of results we all strive for.

Now, I grew up the son of a West Point grad, so for me the reward for a job well done has always been the job done well. Good for getting things done, not so good for managing creative minds in this day and age. So, more than anything Champagne Thursday is an opportunity for me to take the time to see, hear and realize how many great ideas and how much great effort is exerted each and every day to drive our clients’ brands forward. I read all of the “nominations” to the crowd; we all have a laugh and then raise a glass of champagne in a toast. Then the corks are “awarded” to those individuals deemed to be most responsible for that month’s celebration.

It has been a great source of pride for me personally and I think for the entire agency as well. My hope is the people here continue to find creative ways to display their cork collections for all our clients and new hires to see.

Because of that, I want to extend the tradition into this space. A virtual nod each month to “nominate” work, effort or ideas I am seeing out in the marketplace. A way to stop and recognize some people, brands, clients, competitors…anyone or anything that is producing work worthy of recognition.

This is in no way intended to be comprehensive, so add your own thoughts, opinions and nominations. All are welcome.

SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU, THIS MONTH’S NOMINATIONS:

They came right out and said they put the “No” in Innovation. Shredded Wheat’s new work is funny and honest. A trait we all could strive for. It is what it is, and the honesty makes me like and respect the brand more than ever. Let’s face it, you can’t BS someone into thinking Shredded Wheat is cool. But, lo and behold, after seeing this spot they got me there all the same.

Secondly, I watched the US Open over the weekend and I came across IBM’s “Let’s Build a Smarter Planet” campaign. I know it is not new, but I noticed for the first time that the writing and flow of the television are fantastic. If you haven’t seen the particular execution about the medical profession it makes me think they ought to be in charge of healthcare reform, not government (but that’s another post altogether). It’s really timely stuff that continues to move that brand from its history as a purveyor of beige box commodity to a commissary of intelligence and problem solving.

IBM has the tough task of selling service and thinking, and they’re doing it in a way that makes me believe they are really eager thought leaders ready to solve the kind of business problems that may ultimately lead to even bigger solutions than just business success.

And the cork goes to….

Both are great in their own right, but I say “Well done to the team at O&M” for the IBM work. Smart, heady, timely. All in all a great idea well executed.

Eager to here what you think.