Lessons from a Mad Man

Back in the 70s and 80s, my father was a Madison Avenue advertising executive. Truth be told, his job took us all over the country and the world, but managing name-brand accounts for New York City advertising companies was just something I thought everyone’s parents did.

In the 90s he managed the Pepsi account for BBD&O and at one point introduced me to Ray Charles at a holiday party. Unfortunately, I was too young to recognize his greatness at the time, and have become a fan of his music as I grew up to appreciate his amazing talent.

So then, the MadMen show comes on – and sincerely I struggled watching the amazing series because it was way too inappropriate and close to home being a story about exactly what my dad did. So, instead of a list of things I’m sure that show glorified, here’s some lessons from the Don Draper’s of a more business-focused world.

1. The power of storytelling: Don Draper is a master at crafting compelling narratives that sell products. He teaches us the importance of understanding your audience and creating a story that resonates with them.
2. The importance of understanding your audience: Don Draper is able to create effective advertising campaigns because he understands the wants and needs of his target market. He teaches us the importance of researching and understanding the demographics, interests and behaviors of our target audience.
3. The value of authenticity: Don Draper’s advertising campaigns are often criticized for being inauthentic, manipulative, and deceitful. This teaches us the importance of being genuine and transparent in our marketing efforts in order to build trust and credibility with our audience.
4. The need for adaptability: Don Draper and his team are able to navigate the rapidly changing cultural and societal landscape of the 1960s. He teaches us the need to stay current and adapt to the changing times in order to remain relevant and effective in our marketing efforts.
5. The importance of creativity: Don Draper’s ideas and campaigns are often bold and unique, which is what sets them apart from the competition. He teaches us the importance of being creative and thinking outside the box in order to capture the attention of our audience and stand out in the market.