“Got…. an original idea?”
by: Dave Ozment
Do you remember the original “Got Milk?” advertisements? The print ads displayed a stack of Oreo cookies next to a tall glass of milk. The image with the solitary words communicated more than simply a message. Rather, it perfectly encapsulated an essence.
It was a true original. Now the “Got………?” ads are ubiquitous.
“Got Insurance?” “Got Teeth?” “Got Debt?” “Got Carpet Stains?” are all billboards I’ve seen in my travels. In fact, the other night I was confronted with a work truck sporting “Got Stumps?” signage.
Perhaps imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, but at some point it is just plain lazy.
I agree with the idea Scott Van Pelt espouses when he says “by the time the latest trends hit JC Penny’s, it’s too late“.
Said another way, originally I might add, a path to success once well worn, is sometimes only a path to mediocrity.
“Because everyone else is doing it” is poor justification for adults, as much as it is for high school kids doing….whatever it is that high school kids do today. In fact, I might argue that it is worse because, as adults, the stakes are higher.
Rather, exercise your creativity and be unique. Be your own original. Be authentic in your approach and don’t fall prey to dimwitted marketing and entertainment offerings. Be supersized because it is what you want, not because an underachiever can follow a one line script.
I encourage you, and in doing so encourage myself, to resist the cookie cutter sterilization running rampart in our culture today. Do something original, be something original, demand something original from yourself and your surroundings.
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I really like your blog but could you please have more than one paragraph? It’s really hard on my eyes reading one long paragraph.
Keep up the good work!
Hey Breezer thanks for commenting… I’m not sure what you mean. I probably use too many paragraph breaks in my posts.
I really enjoyed this post. It seems to me that there is a real lack of creativity, or perhaps courage, in marketing circles today. At least my perception tells me that there are very few original ideas in advertising, and when one thing works it is quickly copied until it loses its charm.
However, I think the marketers are simply doing what works, and for whatever reason consumers seem to like cookie-cutter, repetitious offerings. You only need to drive down any suburban highway in America to see this…oh look, there’s Wal-Mart, and McDonald’s, and PetSmart, and a Verizon store….its the same stuff everywhere because retailers believe that’s what sells.
And yes, I agree that we need a creative outlet. That’s why this engineer has started blogging about marriage!
Thanks for sharing Dustin… similar to Steven’s response, I think we sometimes actually do want and even crave conformity. I like the contrast that this discussion brings out. I hinted in my comment back to Steven that I may write more on this topic and I fully plan to do so. Stay tuned, I’m churning ideas even now!
Thanks again for stopping by!
Dave
I don’t think creativity is typically welcomed in our society as a whole.
Let me elaborate a little. I’m in my mid (oh Jesus) twenties and have always been a creative, unique and sometimes eccentric individual. Throughout most of my “younger” days (and even today, I recently dyed my hair half black, half fire engine red, right down the middle) I have been met with resistance, always someone trying to make me feel “strange” or abnormal. I always looked at myself as being creative and showing it outwardly in how I dressed or styled my hair.
In the “real world” of work I tried to fit in while maintaining a small portion of my individuality as often as I could, even in small ways. I was still met with a stigma of being “non-conformist” and was therefore looked at differently, as some sort of rebel. Even though I was dedicated, worked hard I carried this “image” that I couldn’t shake.
The world does not like creativity and individuality. They are afraid of what isn’t exactly the same as they are. If you are different there is fear associated with the unknown. Its probably the same reason why people of different races and religions can’t get along. They are afraid because they are different.
Try it some day. Wear something that you wouldn’t normally, something “out there” and see how people respond to you. Its really quite interesting and you will put yourself in the shoes of the creative people of the world. Its hard to be unique in a whole struggling so hard to be the same…to conform to other’s standards.
.-= Steven@hundredgoals.com´s last blog ..Save the Environment Without Going Green =-.
Hey Steven, good to hear from you. You know, I really like your comment…. it really got me to thinking. Stay tuned and see where that goes….
Hope all’s well with you!
Dave
I eagerly awaits with antici……..PATION!
I love creativity and that’s why i think that generally creative people are the key to a successful country. After all it’s creativity that creates inventions, discovers news ways of working and comes up with great new business innovations. My personal view is that everyone should put time aside to do something creative and different and take themselves out of their comfort zone. Great picture by the way – love the cow!
Thanks Jonathan… I agree that it is important to have a creative outlet, something unique to our normal day and process to help exercise a different part of our brain and contibute to the good of our whole person.
Thanks for sharing.
Dave