Everyone has heard of G.I. Joe. Introduced by Hasbro in 1964, the movable fighting man was the original “action figure.” Not only does G.I. Joe exist today as a continually evolving toy, but he has made the leap into popular culture, featured in a slew of cartoons, books, and even …more
In December, 1978, Gourmet magazine published the heart-warming tale of Bud and Jean Ince. It’s a beautiful story but, sadly, online versions of the article are becoming difficult to find. There’s a Gourmet magazine archive that occasionally doesn’t work, and I fear this story may soon be lost forever (barring …more
Tell me if this has ever happened to you: you’re out with friends and you comment on your work situation. No, let’s be honest—you outright complain about your job, your company, or your manager. You’re mid-rant, really just warming up, and the person on the receiving end of your tirade …more
I’m fully aware that any subjective analysis of music lyrics is fraught with danger. But hopefully we can all agree that there is great disparity in the quality, artistry, and virtue of modern song lyrics. Let’s face it, for every “imagine all the people, living life in peace” there’s an …more
Our Annual Sales Kick-off (ASKO) for Sprinklr is next week, and I couldn’t be more excited. Last year I got to roll out new branding, a new product line-up, new positioning, and new selling assets. Over the last year we’ve done a rev on our “Gold Deck” and updated the …more
“Good things come to those who wait,” said nobody while sitting on hold for 45 minutes randomly shouting “representative” at their phone in a futile effort to speak to a real human. Let’s face it, we don’t like to wait for anything. We’re busy, multi-tasking, impatient creatures who want it, …more
In my previous post (The late great Marx Toys, Part II) I talked about how toys and toy advertising used to give kids a chance to play at being grown-ups. Well, nothing was better than pretending to be a race car driver! Like everyone I knew, my fascination with cars …more
Marx Toys was arguably the greatest toy company of mid-century America. It created the coolest toys ever — our house was full of Marx Toys. They are remembered for inventing Rock’em Sock’em Robots (introduced in 1964) and its best-selling sporty Big Wheel tricycle, one of the most popular toys of the 1970s. In fact, …more
A little over a year ago I said “bye-bye” to both Microsoft and Seattle (previously) and started a new adventure at Sprinklr. If I were to summarize the last 16 months it would be: INTENSE. It’s exactly the kind of adventure I was looking for — with some amazing highs …more
The one mandatory must read of the year for my team (and me) is the Mary Meeker Internet Trends Report. It’s worth your time to read the full report (333 slides, but gripping reading) and watch her presentation at Code Conference 2019 (30 minutes, rapid fire). Ms Meeker’s Report is …more
It’s that time of year — late Spring Internet prediction season. In the last flurry of big events before we head into …more
Marx Toys was arguably the greatest toy company of mid-century America. It created the coolest toys ever — our house was full …more
Here’s this week’s TBT Leo: “The only creative conference worth a damn is one in which everybody in the room starts from …more
I’ll be speaking at Social Media Week in NYC tomorrow (Tuesday, April 30, 2019) and I’m looking forward to delivering a talk …more
“Mr Jobs, you’re a bright and influential man … and it’s sad and clear on several accounts that you don’t know what …more
Here’s this week’s Leo: “Good advertising does not just circulate information. It penetrates the public mind with desires and belief.” — Leo …more
Here’s this week’s Leo: “I have learned that any fool can write a bad ad, but that it takes a real genius …more
Here’s this week’s Leo: “The work of an advertising agency is warmly and immediately human. It deals with human needs, wants, dreams …more
Super bummed this morning — woke up to an obituary for Jane Maas, one of my advertising heroes. I’d actually messaged her …more
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Every year I like to roll out this little bit on American Thanksgiving history. It’s a good reminder that politics in America …more
Here’s this week’s Leo: “Advertising says to people, ‘Here’s what we’ve got. Here’s what it will do for you. Here’s how to …more
Here’s this week’s Leo: “Growing pains sometimes may seem unbearable, but believe me they are nothing compared to the pain of shrinking …more
Here’s this week’s Leo: “Collective solutions to problems start with individual human beings and individual efforts.” — Leo Burnett In The Art …more
Here’s this week’s Leo: “I have learned to practice what I call ‘constructive dissatisfaction.’” — Leo Burnett I certainly like “constructive dissatisfaction” …more
Today is Lester Wunderman‘s birthday (June 22, 1920). Mr Wunderman is arguably one of the greatest marketing geniuses of our time. He …more
Today is a very special day at copernicanshift.com. I have been waiting for YEARS for someone to post “What is a …more
Here’s this week’s Leo: “Rarely have I seen any really great advertising created without a certain amount of confusion, throw-aways, bent noses, …more
Here’s this week’s Leo: “Personal satisfaction, I believe, must come in a day-to-day feeling that one has earned his or her pay.” …more
It was 2006 — the housing crisis wasn’t on anyone’s radar … the iPhone had just been launched … and George Bush …more
Here’s this Sunday’s Leo: “There is no such thing as a permanent advertising success.” — Leo Burnett @LeoBurnett #100Leos #LeoBurnett #MadMenSunday Continue …more
