Inevitably there will be times when you have setbacks or things don t go your way. Maybe you didn't get a job you thought you were sure to get. Maybe you lost a job unexpectedly, didn't win a contract, or lost a major client. Your car always seems to break down right after you've had some other unexpected expense. These kinds of situations immediately place us in crisis. They don t feel good, but sometimes they re what we need in order to grow. The beautiful thing about crises is that they force us to take a step back and reevaluate what s going on in our lives and rediscover what we truly want and need. When we get over that initial shock and feeling of disappointment, we might realize that maybe that job wasn't really the best for us anyway. Maybe, just maybe, that wasn't what you really wanted to spend your life doing. Maybe that friend was holding you back instead of pushing you forward. The way I deal with crises of these sorts is simple: If something doesn't go my way professionally, I try to create a situation that would be more rewarding than the situation originally planned. A while ago, I was offered a job that looked very promising. After I accepted the offer, they pushed the start date back three times, later informing me (via e-mail) that they wanted to bring me on in the near future but I should feel free to explore other options. I was extremely disappointed. I felt disrespected and angry, but decided to make the best of the situation and follow my dream of working internationally. I then flew to Santiago, Chile and had great professional and personal experiences I wouldn't have had otherwise. Later, reflecting back on the original opportunity, I realized that working for a company that avoids a start date three times and then can t pick up the phone to explain the situation is probably not where I need to spend my time. Use setbacks as an opportunity to put your goals in order and act on them. In the moment, it s difficult to look at a setback as temporary, but they are. They happen to everybody. It s how you respond to them that will determine how they affect you.
Today I came across an interesting article in Change.org by Tara Lohan, describing how one company is planning on using Soda to solve global warming. To read the article in full click here.
I know it’s not new, but I thought I’d show this video of a newer Old Spice commercial. Over the recent years, Old Spice has retargeted their demographic to the younger male. (It’s probably been a challenge with the wordold in the name). This commercial, and others like it have been receiving considerable attention in various publications such as GQ and Ad Age.
Why does it appeal to men?
This Old Spice commercial speaks directly to men’s insecurities about wealth, body image, prestige, power, and the fear that their “lady” might leave them for somebody who fulfills these insufficiencies. Sociologist Jackson Katz has written in length about how these insecurities often manifest into larger issues such as physical abuse and psychological problems such as the Adonis Complex. Old Spice pokes fun at these insecurities to make a comedic commercial that has gained tremendous media attention and increased its brand recognition.
Why does it appeal to women?
This commercial appeals to women by speaking directly to them. The commercial opens up by saying, “Hello Ladies…” Furthermore, Old Spice employs the use of a good-looking, realistically muscular, confident actor (and former NFL wide receiver) Isaiah Mustafa that neither intimidates nor condescends his audience, yet is able to make fun of popular discourse: money, power, and success. I personally can’t buy into the Old Spice brand, but their commercials are tapping into the psychographics and sociological findings that add relevancy to their messaging.
