There's a reason why I don't talk about dead ideas. Dead ideas aren't dead to me.

Everyone likes to go on and on about the one that got away.

Here's another way of looking at the unfortunate consequences of what we do for a living. STFU and slide it into your back pocket. Let it live for another day. Show it to no one and move on as quickly and stealthily as possible.

Skip the histrionics and the pity party altogether. Solve the problem in front of you.

Don't point fingers and assign blame if you lose something great.

Don't badmouth so-and-so who couldn't sell it.

Don't act like it's the best idea you'll ever have even if it's a good one.

Look for another way in while everyone else whines about the client and the process. Because the client and the process aren't likely to change.

But you can. You can choose to bounce rather than break.

Move forward with talent and agility and you just might surprise yourself at what you're able to accomplish while everyone else is writing off the client or hiding under their desks for fear they'll be asked to solve the problem.

Here's the thing about back pockets.

The more you work, the better the opportunity you'll have to revisit your back pocket vault.

It certainly improves your chances of coming through in the future if you've got a war chest of thinking others have forgotten about because you allowed it to take a nap rather than holding a damn wake.

I once had a flower ad I couldn't sell to a client because they thought it was too racy for an outdoor board. I put it in a drawer. It sat there for over a year.

One day, a panicked AE came racing into my office needing an instant ad for an upscale publication.

I reached into my drawer and pulled out the flower ad.

HEADLINE: Improve your Chances of Pollinating.

"I'll take you to the lunch of your choice if you can sell this ad, Christine."

I called the writer who'd written the ad and had since left the agency.

He couldn't believe I got it sold.

I've never been prouder to take a great account person to lunch.

#theadvertisingsurvivalguide

Cameron Day is the author of the Advertising Survival Guide trilogy. His first two books, "Chew With Your Mind Open" and "Spittin' Chiclets are out now. Book Three is coming soon.

www.iamcameronday.com