Skip to main content

How Old is YOUR Imagination??



















I always wonder why people insist on wanting for others to think as they do. I remember growing up and thinking that the world was huge and that anything and everything can happen in it. As I get older, I continue to realize that less of this is expected of me... in other words, people like to subscribe to the status quo... the less creative you are, the better you will fit in today's world.

After spending some time with my nephews, I realize that to some extent my imagination has been trained to think as an adult... WHY?! I went to a business school the other day, and I felt that as I walked inside the building my imagination was vacuumed or made to be parked outside the building. I say this because in today's "sales" world, whether you admit it or not, everything is about sales, numbers drive everything.

I would like to propose that we need to go back to basics... we need to be creative, think and try to reach for the impossible. The world (business or not) is about stories...

So, how old is your imagination?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Its the explanation of the phenomena that gives the insight...

I have always found the following idea among the most interesting in business: numbers = true insight. Strong statement right?! Depending on where you stand, Positivist or Post, you might say that the above statement is true. Now, dont get me wrong, I enjoy numbers (a lot actually), but I feel that businesses nowadays are hanging thei hat on a percentage. Some examples of things I've heard - "Our brand tracking is showing that our awareness has declines 2%... are our TV not working?"  "The advertising strategy is not really moving product (sales)... I really haven't seen a percentage increase..." And I could honestly keep giving examples, but the above two are some I can recall pretty fast. Now, let me say that there is nothing wrong with the above statements, what bothers me is that with numbers we tend to look for one answer and one answer only. The thinking behind this is that there has to be some variable that is affecting the phenomena.But, if the...

Is this not a bit too intrusive?!

I know that good marketing is supposed to catch you a bit off guard and make you think about the message but this is just too much... Why? Because, 1) although it in fact was unexpected, it crossed the privacy line (which by today's standards is pretty low). 2) it's not creative, and 3) lacks authenticity... Which is the last thing you want if you deal with money. Thought?!

Honestly... Who is thinking Arby's??

Having worked at a McDonald's and for the McDonald's brand for a couple of years, seeing advertising like the one below reminds why the golden arches still have the higher share in the fast food market. Please know that I am not saying that McD's has this share solely because of its advertising, but at the very least, their advertising doesn't turn anyone away. While watching TV a couple of weeks ago, I came across the Arby's B-day spot, which you can see below. After watching it I just thought... wow, somebody actually produced this spot? Let me say that there is really nothing wrong with the production, it is more the idea that got produced. The strategy behind this campaign was pretty insightful and good. I'm Thinking Arby's . Ownable , different and niche enough that when you want to eat something hot and tasty only Arby's will suffice, hence you crave and can only think Arby's ... the problem was the execution. Does the guy like the food?...