… how to stock my office bar, tips on merging two firms in 72 hours, the importance of ice …
OK, I’m a bit late to the series, but I got Mad Men seasons one and two as a Christmas gift and did a marathon viewing of all 26 episodes during the holidays (it was a battle not to take up smoking).
As pretty much everyone knows, the show satirizes glam ’60s agency life and the post-war American dream and the writing and acting is superb. Watching so many hours of it within a week made me expect to run into a few of the characters on Bloor street.
I know it’s fiction, but here are three lessons in the agency biz I learned from the series:
- Don’t be dull. In one episode, the ad men talk about how a boring Nixon for prez ad must have been created by PR – because all it does is hammer home the same old messages in a quotidian way. Point taken – with PR and social media, we need to ensure the story is meaningful and not a concoction of canned messages; think conversations and visuals (and maybe a little pizzazz). That means video, too.
- Never underestimate the power of romance. Here I’m talking about the chase for new clients and how the agency goes all out to woo them by showing off their understanding, creativity, passion and how much they care (about service). It comes down to relationships and boy do the ad guys understand the value of that!
- Mixed drinks are good. Mixed personal and professional, not so much. Just ask Pete Campbell who tried to get ahead by bringing in his father-in-law’s company as a client. When things go sour at home, work isn’t far behind. That’s even more important today with the blurring of lines betwen our personal and professional lives and the fact that lack of discretion and credibility don’t mix.
What other lessons have you learned from the show?
Now, if you’ll excuse me I have to go shopping for enough white shirts to fill my desk drawer.
sherrilynne Thinking big is important and breaking down the preconceived notions. Interested to hear what you think about season 5 and beyond. Thanks for the comment!
I’m just catching up with Mad Men now. I’m in the 4th season. The lesson for me is to not to be afraid to take bold steps. Don’s ‘Why I’m giving up tobacco’ open letter is and excellent example. Think big. Take risks.
I’m just catching up with Mad Men now. I’m in the 4th season. The lesson for me is to not to be afraid to take bold steps. Don’s ‘Why I’m giving up tobacco’ open letter is and excellent example. Think big. Take risks.
Great points! Well written. Welcome to the cult of Madmen :). And I know what you mean by struggling to not start smoking after watching the first few seasons ha ha ha. Cheers
Thanks @kris_ugu. Drinking too 🙂