I’m fascinated by the aging process. As I’ve grown older, I’ve grown wiser. However, I’m discovering that, culturally, my growth is much slower. My tastes seem to remain locked in time, like an ancient mosquito imprisoned in amber. And, as much as I hate to admit it, I suspect it’s affecting my creative judgement.
The other day I found myself recoiling at a popular music track that had a couple hundred million views on YouTube. I shook my head and wondered how young people could listen to such derivative, unimaginative noise. And then it hit me… I sound like an old man. Like the ones I heard railing against my generation when I was younger.
It got me thinking.
Apple’s “1984” TV commercial is considered the best ad of all time. However, it would likely be received with yawns if it ran on TV in 2016 for the first time. That’s because an ad dramatizing a dystopian future in which a specific product is the cure has since been done to death. And yet marketing departments are still studying and imitating old ads and old formulas.
Should senior advertising executives retire earlier in their careers and hand over the reigns to someone younger before they become anchors in their companies? It’s a good question.
Over the years, I’ve had many advertising clients in their 40’s and 50’s who were painfully out of touch. Now I’m realizing that I’m not immune from that disease and it’s given me more perspective.
I’m only in my mid forties, but if I’m honest, I have to admit that I’m more and more out of touch with popular culture. The culture I’m appealing to every day.
So how can we possibly stay current as we age? I don’t know. It’s a vicious treadmill. And the speed setting is currently up around 9.5.
I think the answer is this: as senior advertising executives age they must be more self-aware and question their creative judgement more often. And trust younger execs who are more in tune with the core audience. That kind of approach is a true sign of maturity and humility.
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Right now, you have a million dollar idea in your head. You probably have two or three of them. Have you ever stopped to consider that there are thousands of people just like you who will bring their million dollar ideas to life in the next 5 years?

In 5 years, a currently unknown musician will win a Grammy. In 5 years, a currently unknown actor will win an Oscar. In 5 years, a currently unknown chef will get her own TV show. In 5 years, a currently unknown entrepreneur will be offered a billion dollars to sell his company. In 5 years, a currently unknown technology will change our lives. We could go on and on.

Every world changing idea existed in someone’s mind before it ever became a reality. So the big question is: why can’t that idea come from you?

Envision a future when your idea has already become a reality. Tell yourself you’re going to do it, big or small. Fixate on it. Obsess about it. Imagine it happening. Make yourself act upon it.

Never in history has so much possibility been so attainable. Never before have people achieved their wildest dreams so quickly. Ideas can become viral almost overnight. Including yours.

Five years from now, things will exist that are now only thoughts. Will your thought be one of them? It won’t if you keep it shackled inside your head.

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