Monday Morning Memo
b’b’b’Bennie and the Jets
A Monday Morning Memo from The Wizard of Ads I stand on Staten Island in New York Harbor, quietly gazing upwards at the torch of Lady Liberty, when my ears catch the sound of a distant rumble. The noise quickly becomes a rushing roar and for an instant, the pale blue sky above the Lady’s &hellip Continue reading
Below Deck in a Storm at Sea
A Monday Morning Memo for the Clients and Friends of The Wizard of Ads Ted pursued a Ph.D. in English literature at Oxford for awhile, but dropped out when he decided that his studies were “astonishingly irrelevant.” In 1950, Ted invented the word “nerd”. In 1984 he won a Pulitzer Prize. After dropping out of &hellip Continue reading
Beginnings and Endings
A Monday Morning Memo from The Wizard of Ads Matthew wants a career writing miracle-producing ads, so he goes to college to refine his skills. Journalism instructors teach Matthew to present the facts in an objective manner: “The goal of the journalist is always to inform, never to persuade.” Creative writing instructors teach Matthew how &hellip Continue reading
Are You the Average American?
Looking Ahead to the Future, Behind to the Past, Inward at Ourselves, and Outward at the World. “Rich people and poor people are exactly the same, except in one respect -rich people think rich.” Herb Kay You may have gathered from the recent MMMemos that my mind of late has been orbiting the question, “How &hellip Continue reading
Atmosphere: The Quiet Killer
A Monday Morning Memo from The Wizard of Ads “It’s amazing how when a customer feels good in a store, they want to spend money there.” “We didn’t put a lot of money into remodeling stores…” John Sipala, Explaining why his chain of ninety JAMESWAY stores failed. In a study of 866 retail outlets which &hellip Continue reading
Are You Driving The Dog Crazy?
A Monday Morning Memo for the Clients and Friends of Williams Marketing You already know that Pavlov used an echoic reticular activator (the sound of a bell) to implant an associative memory into the mind of his dog. But have you ever wondered why Pavlov chose to use sound rather than sight? The answer is &hellip Continue reading
The American Year
A Monday Morning Memo from The Wizard of Ads White Wind is duty, pure and clean. Yellow Fire has high and lofty dreams. Red Earth is all adventure; Tom Sawyer to the core. Blue Rain is quiet wisdom. Who could ask for more? North, South, East, West: Arrows pointing in four directions; The compass that &hellip Continue reading
All I Said Was…
A Monday Morning Memo from The Wizard of Ads I make a simple statement; “It’s not who you reach, it’s what you say that makes the difference.” But you should see the anxiety! First the startled eyebrows and slackened jaw. Then, almost imperceptibly, the eyebrows descend and the chin moves slowly upward until dawning realization &hellip Continue reading
Advice From The World’s Richest Man
A Monday Morning Memo from The Wizard of Ads Back when I was a media salesman I made a profound discovery that altered my future forever. (Most of us hate stories that begin with “Back when I was…” But I promise to make this story different! This one actually has a point.) The day when &hellip Continue reading
Accidental Magic
WARNING – Today’s Memo could easily be perceived as an ad for Wizard Academy. (If you are of a cynical or suspicious nature, please do not read today’s MMMemo.) July 3, 2000 – To the friends who have called, faxed and emailed to ask about the success of last week’s inaugural Wizard Academy, I’m thrilled &hellip Continue reading