Wizard of Ads Monday Morning Memo

What Our Heroes Had in Common

The earth was stationary and the sun traveled around it. This was an established fact, and everyone knew it. But Copernicus had the audacity to ask himself, “What if eve

The Purpose of Advertising

I began talking to business owners all day, every day, when I was twenty years old. This is why I have I have been writing 20 ads per week for the past 48 years. Poke th

The Hammer and the Pen

Pennie and I are looking forward to 2027. She and I have always known that I will never “retire,” but we recently realized that several inflection points will soon align

The Station of Our Nation

I am troubled by the station of our nation in these amber waves of grain. What happened to “crowning our good with brotherhood” across the fruited plain? What did we do

People, Personalities, Corporations, Brands

Living people have personalities and imaginary people have personalities. Corporations do not have personalities. Corporations have brands. The average corporate brand

Water Creatures

I chose the title “Water Creatures” because it elicits the flexibility of symbolic thought, which is the subject of today’s message. “Elicits from where?” you ask. From

When is a Cliché Not a Cliché?

At the center of every cliché is a point that deserves to be made.We need to learn to make these points in new and different ways. Overuse make clichés predictable. Fami

Energy & Activities, Decisions & Consequences

Unexpected events happen to us all.This is why it is never completely within our power to determine the acceleration and elevation of our lives. We can, however, influenc

The Glimmering of Deep Waters

Linda Pastam wrote a marvelous poem called “Driving West” in which these lines appear: We are the pioneers of our own histories, drawn to the horizon as if it waited j

The Island Magic of Being Invisible

The Island Magic of Being Invisible(A Song for My Partners)Six months later, a thought occurred to me; Writing for Youtube is like writing for radio and TV. Every wri

Impression vs. Clarity

August 17, 2026 “Trust” is a fuzzy word. We know the meaning of the word, but it conjures no clear image in the mind. “Razor blade” is a vivid word. Every time you hea

Bernie was Born in a Farmhouse

Between the village of Anwick and the town of Sleaford in Lincolnshire, England, lies a farmhouse. It is at this farmhouse that our journey begins. Robert is a stockman

Shortcuts, Pro Tips, and Life Hacks

The Three Quivering Questions of Modern Society:How can I achieve my goals with less effort?How can I achieve my goals in less time?How and where can I find pleasure? The

Life is an Adventure Without Socks

Life is an adventure of choices and consequences.Choices and consequences. I believe that with all my heart. But I do not believe that wise choices will always yield th

Paint Jobs Don’t Win Car Races

Road Atlanta is a famous roadracing track 800 miles from Tulsa, Oklahoma, a grueling trip to make in the back seat of a 1972 BMW 2002.Tony and Indy ride in the front seat

What the Bible Teaches About Advertising

I received an email last Thursday from my friend Doug Burdon in which he mentions a story told by Jesus. That story is often called “The Parable of the Sower and the See

Elon Musk Wants to Sell Me a Tire

Dear Elon,Congratulations on your initial public offering of SPCX. Google’s AI says, “The blockbuster debut briefly made Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire on pape

Business Boundaries and Walls

There is a big difference between a boundary and a wall. A boundary is a friendly agreement that keeps people from going too far. But a wall separates people. A wall i

Predictable is Invisible

If your message is predictable, your message is invisible.If your advertising is predictable, your advertising is invisible. When something never changes, we quit paying

Writing Great Ads is a 10-Step Dance

Do you want to become a great ad writer?Follow these ten steps and you will rise high and go far. 1. Read poetry every day. 2. Memorize at least two dozen poems. 3. Re