“Though experience be our only guide in reasoning concerning matters of fact; it must be acknowledged, that this guide is not altogether infallible, but in some cases is apt to lead us into errors.” - David Hume
“The invalid assumption that correlation implies cause is probably among the two or three most serious and common errors of human reasoning.” - Stephen Jay Gould Read more »
“Who are you going to believe: me or your own eyes?” - Groucho Marx
In About Face, Dan Hill makes a clear and compelling argument for the use of emotion in advertising and it’s power to drive changes in behaviour. The book is full of useful examples and anecdotes and some statistics too. In one study by Omnicom, emotional engagement with customers resulted in 20% higher return on investment than mere awareness in advertising. In another review by Pringle and Field (based on 880 case studies from the UK’s Institute of Practitioners Advertising Effectiveness Awards), ‘soft sell’ ads that inspire strong emotional responses in their audience make more money (almost twice as much as ‘hard sell’ ads with more fact-based and rational arguments). And more emotional ads also reduced price sensitivity, created greater differentiation and were more important in more mature markets. Read more »
“Our minds are like our stomachs: they are whetted by the change of their food, and variety supplies both with fresh appetites.” - Quintilian
“Food is an important part of a balanced diet.” - Fran Lebowitz
Foodtrotter’s recent post on world food trends has some great insights into new trends in food and drink around the world, and most of them are relevant in Asia too (based on my recent experiences), so here is a quick summary. Read more »
Many people today still believe in ghosts. Some people also believe that the mind, and even a soul, exists separately from the brain. The ‘social sciences’ and humanities often still hold that people are born as ‘blank slates’ ready to be molded by society. They cling to romantic notions of the “noble savage”, primitive hunter gatherer societies unfettered by violence or sexism. The truth is that science has over the last ten to twenty years shown much of this to be “poppycock” (senseless nonsense).
The need for engagement in all areas of business and marketing continues to grow in importance.
For employee motivation, Dan Pink, has recently highlighted the need for business to catch up with scientific understanding. Carrots and sticks, Pink argues, are so last century. Carrots and sticks actually distract us from all but the most mundane tasks. They make work feel like work, worse still they encourage dishonesty and short term thinking. The hold that traditional economics and behaviorism has had in management maybe waning.
Did you know that in American culture
Clotaire Rapaille writes about his last 30 years of work spent unlocking various “culture codes” in his book The Culture Code. His book contains many insights about the various reference systems that are put in place for all of us at an early age. By discovering the subconscious emotional attachments we have to various concepts and brands, he’s been able to illuminate the frames that surround these concepts.
Mad Men is an American dramatic television series set in the 1960s, at the fictional Sterling Cooper advertising agency on Madison Avenue in New York City. Mad Men depicts parts of American society and culture of the 1960s, highlighting cigarette smoking, drinking, sexism, adultery, homophobia, anti-Semitism and racism. Themes of alienation, social mobility and ruthlessness underpin the thematic tone of the show.
