At 1:59, Peggy Olson of Mad Men rewrote the game: “If you can’t tell the difference between which part’s the idea and which part’s the execution of the idea, you’re of no use to me.”
While Mad Men, in its final season, is keeping fans on the edge of their seats, no character has seen a transformation as dramatic as Peggy Olson played by the remarkable Elizabeth Moss.
This amazing compilation video below shows a shy, uncertain woman transforming into a formidable, resilient force of nature that changed the role of women in the male-dominated world of advertising captured in the hit TV series Mad Men.
If Your Mind’s Your Weapon,
Come to the Party Fully Armed
Have you ever felt like Peggy above, not knowing your place in the world?
This “awkward phase” (quite similar to Peggy’s transformation) is what many brands experience. It’s amazing how many brands feel exactly like that.
Some start out without a clear sense of their role in the world. Others are shy and expect (and rely upon) some stroke of luck.
Some companies experience it at the start while others run into it later on when they’ve grown a bit and have to redefine how they fit into a rapidly changing world (with customer needs changing faster than the costumes at a Cher concert).
5 Ways to Think Big
and Execute Bigger
Fact is: Knowing your craft and knowing your field are important.
Knowing how to outsmart your competition is way more important.
But like the Mad Men star says in the video compilation above: “If you can’t tell the difference between which part’s the idea and which part’s the execution of the idea, you’re of no use to me.”
So when planning your next step in making an enormous impact in the world with your brand, demand this of yourself and those who work with you:
- Know the idea your brand is about — that core differentiator
- Know what aspects of your brand messaging forward that idea and position
- Know where the bar is so you outperform your competitors (in other words, stay informed and stay hungry)
- Know that everything you do either contributes to, or detracts from, your brand position (if for example your brand was about simplicity, then it better not be complicated to navigate your site or do business with you. It better be s-i-m-p-l-e)
- Make sure those around know what your brand’s position and differentiator is and live up to in actions and every detail, so your brand has a life in user experience
Now, Go Ahead and Kick Some Butt
Need more ammo? Try these:
- Exclusive Interview with Shark Tank Investor Daymond John: “Why I do what I do”
- How to rebrand: How an INC 5000 Tech Company Did it Right
- Helping a startup avoid this most common branding pitfall
- In 2 Minutes and 33 seconds, this video reveals what no design firm will ever share with its clients
- How to rebrand: 19 questions to ask before you start
- Knowing your customer: Every 7 seconds…
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Top photo credit: Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com
Bottom photograph credit: Featureflash / Shutterstock.com
