This hits so close to home. Too many “rockstars” out there and not enough real business drivers or problem solvers.

Do you know what the problem with advertising is? Do you know why most people don’t trust what’s said in ads?  It’s quite simple really, most companies stretch the truth so far that really what they’re doing is telling a lie. Companies like AT&T spend millions of dollars trying to convince the public that their “network” is as good, if not better than Verizon’s. One of the benefits they tout is the consumer’s ability to multi-task on their phone. For example you can talk on the phone and surf the web at the same time.

I’ll let the ad do the real talking:

Technically, what AT&T is saying is true. I say technically, because so long as you are on the AT&T 3G network you can multitask. Of course the problem is that AT&T’s 3G coverage is horrendous. This isn’t a debatable question. The map doesn’t lie:

My belief is that it’s cheaper to simply be the company you want to be instead of paying millions of dollars to try and convince the public that you’re something you really aren’t. Think about it this way. Instead of dumping 10s of millions of dollars into advertising why not put that money into making the network better…into increasing coverage…into ACTUALLY SOLVING THE PROBLEM.

In the movie, Lord Of The Rings, there’s a very poignant scene when Gandalf tells Eragon “become who you were born to be.” Amen! To paraphrase, companies, become the company you should be instead of trying to convince the public you’re something that you aren’t. Trust me on this one…it’ll be cheaper in the long run.

As I’ve mentioned often, Almost Famous, is probably my all time favorite movie.  The writing, casting, acting, music, story, etc. are all top notch.  Unfortunately, hollywood didn’t let Cameron Crowe show the his version of the movie in theaters.  Thankfully, he opted to release a director’s cut version on DVD.  While there aren’t a great deal of major changes, the subtle nuances make the movie so much better.  But, you’ll have to wait till nearly the end of the movie for the best scene that was added back into the movie.  Right after the band is notified that William’s story for Rolling Stone paints them as a bunch of amateurs struggling with their own success, Jimmy Fallon’s character explains to the band that Russel must deny the story…in denying the story he has to lie.

As Jimmy Fallon explains, the reason he needs to dismiss the story is so the band can hold on to their mystique.  It’s the mystique that keeps the fans interested.  It’s the ambiguity and the unknown that makes them interesting, marketable, and will ultimately make them rich, famous, and successful.

Too often we’re not content with what we have, because the allure of the unknown and the alternative is so seductive.  Think about the last time a recruiter sent you an email or called you about a job.  Did you automatically say no?  Of course not.  You’d be silly not to at least listen to the opportunity.  Even if you are perfectly content in your current job, you’ll always take the call and listen to what the voice on the other end of the phone is saying.  Why?  Because…you already know what you have, but what you don’t know is what you might be missing out on.

Oh yes, we love the known.  Hey, like the old saying goes…the grass is always greener on the other side.  But, as someone who’s speaking from experience, I can tell you, it’s not always greener or better.  Frankly, sometimes it rather sucks.  Yet, despite the number of times I’ve been burned by the allure of the unknown, I always remain open to it. Why?  Because, you never know.  You simply never know when the unknown will be better than what you already have.

I’m finding myself thinking a lot about the unknown lately.  Not with regards to my job though.  For the first time in a long time, I’m completely closed off to the idea of another opportunity.  Not since I was at Fallon, have I found myself in a role where I literally look forward to coming into the office.  The thinking I’ve been doing is much broader and more centered on everything else not named J-O-B.  I’m certainly too young for a mid-life crisis, but I’m definitely old enough to realize that you don’t get too many chances to shake things up and still have enough time to fix it, if you’ve chosen poorly.

2010 is going to be a hell of a year.  It’s going to be a year full of the unknown.  And I plan on chasing it.

Oh god, this hits so close to home.  The best line is when the client asks for qualifications and the Social Media Guru is unable to provide them, but instead references his blog as evidence of skills.  Hahah.  Freaking brilliant.