Advertising is important. It shows us what American culture values. It shows us what American culture aspires to be. It’s a pulse check on who we are currently, what we want, and where we want to go.

It’s difficult to make a compelling artistic statement about moderation. But Kota The Friend did in this lyric.

In this week’s ads review, I’ll break down Nike’s product photo slideshow videos and explain a few ideas you can incorporate in your own ads.

Every great American brand has invested heavily in brand marketing. Coca-Cola. Nike. Ford. Budweiser. Many of their ads don’t sell their products. They sell the lifestyle. The feeling. The identity.

A healthy skepticism and pessimism is helpful because it shows me all the things that could go wrong. Then I troubleshoot those things in advance.

Being grateful now is a training ground for being grateful later. Things in your life will only get more stressful, with higher stakes, greater risk and reward, and more people depending on you

Value-driven professionals have a growth mindset. This means that they don’t believe they are completed works, or that they have to play with the cards they started with. They can learn new things and improve their skills.

I saw the painter there. He walked up to me, handed me his business card, and said, “If you ever need a painter.” Then, without saying another word, he went back to his work.

With too much input, everything begins to feel dry. Take a break from the input. Take a break from the output.

This week we’re reviewing 3 product animation ads. We have 1 from outdoor wear company 686, and 2 more from bag company Bellroy. These ads are all completely product-focused, meaning they have no lifestyle elements, and they all use stop-motion style animation to achieve an interesting look.

American culture is almost singularly focused on results. We want to know what’s in it for us if we put in all this work. The journey is fine, sure, but after that part, will we get money or connections or status or what? Meanwhile, the things we do each day sculpt strong grooves into our lives. Our habits are formed, our network is built, our neural pathways are deeper carved.

If you’re still building your network, I don’t recommend hiring a crew you’re completely unfamiliar with. Work with new vendors one or two at a time, and be sure to ask for recommendations from your current network.

Is your current business model focused on helping other people achieve their goals? If not, it’s smart to redesign it. Step in your customer’s shoes.

It has been said that a rising tide lifts all boats. Not only do I have more connections because I’ve lived in Los Angeles for 5 years, but my connections have more connections too. Since they have better opportunities, so do I.

I was recently talking to a director friend of mine who owns a creative studio about how how the classic agency “flex” model is on pause because of COVID. You can’t take a client to a basketball game, or a fancy restaurant, or invite them to your hip office anymore.

Everything we experience has a deep effect on us whether we realize it or not. The people we are with, the media we consume, the choices we make. These things slowly shape us, like water passing over a rock in a stream.

This week I’m reviewing an ad from Kinetic Society, a company that makes custom sports jerseys. I came across this ad on Instagram about a month ago, and was immediately impressed by the immersive way they showed their product purchase pathway. I’ll break down why this ad works, and a few ideas to make it better.

If someone is sitting down to hear your ideas, they’re extending a lot of generosity to you. They’re going to an imaginary place with you, which takes a lot of emotional energy. You need to understand this, because if your audience isn’t in the right frame of mind to go there with you, your idea will die.

What gives you the right to offer your services as a freelancer? What gives you the right to open up shop as an entrepreneur? Is it skill? A great client list? Stellar reviews or a shiny portfolio?

If something isn’t written for you, don’t be discouraged. There is still plenty to learn from things that aren’t meant for you. You just need to be vigilant in asking yourself what helpful information can you pull, and how can you reinterpret that information for your context.