Ad men seem to be the new lawyers/cops/doctors in terms of TV protagonists. The new TNT series Trust Me follows critical darling Mad Men in depicting the inner workings of an advertising agency. But as a seasoned marketer, do you buy into the new show’s authenticity?

I can’t really say for sure, having never worked in an advertising agency.

But being a writer who covers marketing, Trust Me seems to be shallow in terms of its reflection of the real advertising world. There are references to Clios, depictions of focus groups, talk of tag lines, and scenes where ad men incredibly sell half-cooked concepts to hardened clients. The latter also frequently happens on Mad Men, sometimes in the form of grandiose, borderline pretentious monologues. But the 1960s-set Mad Men uses the world of advertising to intelligently comment on a changing culture. Trust Me is primarily content to showcase neurotic/quirky banter and behavior.

It’s a bit of a disappointment, considering Trust Me, centered around a pair of Chicago ad men, has been created by a pair of former Chicago ad men, Hunt Baldwin and John Coveny. They may want their audience to trust them, but I’m not so sure that Baldwin and Coveny trust their audience. Thus far in Trust Me, there has been no reference to DVRs, no discussion of YouTube or Facebook, no mention of the evolving consumer mindset or debate over the breakdown of push marketing mentality. Advertising has been impacted and challenged by these breakthroughs for years, certainly before this show went into production. It wouldn’t be right to chastise Trust Me for being dated just because it was written and shot before the recession, but it’s obvious that the show’s writing was dated from the beginning. Even the show’s own method of advertising via product placements (a growing trend in the TiVo era) is more cutting edge than what’s depicted in the on-screen scenarios. The creators talked a little bit about this in an interesting Forbes interview.

My sense is that there’s a concern by the producers, the writers, and/or the network that what’s been happening in the real advertising world is too nuanced, too inside-baseball, for a general audience to digest in hour-long TV episodes. Maybe there’s a worry too that advertisers would be scared away from a show that too realistically depicts the trials and controversies of advertising.

But I argue that these challenging times make advertising an incredibly fascinating industry to study right now. It inherently makes for good human drama, and should make for great TV entertainment. In turn, honestly addressing these obstacles can make people better appreciate and understand the art of advertising, and the show could gain more viewers, or at least coveted critical acclaim, as well.

Again, I’m a writer who covers marketing. What do you readers out there who make a living doing marketing and advertising think of Trust Me, or for that matter, Mad Men? Do you think shows about advertising can change viewers’ perception of advertising for the better? And why do you think that advertising has become a focal point for not one but two TV shows in the last few years? Please post your thoughts.

m a r k e t i n g p o w e r 2 . c o m

* Registered US Copyright, Angela Butera Dickson, 2004

Motivational experts get paid big bucks to tell professionals, striving for success, that they must constantly examine these factors.  How do you do that?  Follow the 5 tips that follow, and watch the changes.

1. Maintain a Positive Attitude – Let’s realize that life is only 10% of what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.  We’re responsible for our own actions and attitudes, and changing them when appropriate.  When you’re around people/things that are uplifting and positive, you feel that way.  You have more confidence in yourself, and know you can change whatever needs changing. If you can make your workplace such a place you’ll find happier workers and higher production. You might even find your employees look forward to coming to work!
2. Leave Personal Troubles Home -  Everyone has problems, but they don’t belong at work. Turn your attention and energy entirely to your on-the-job tasks.  This will actually be good for you because you’ll get a mental break from your troubles.
3. Create Positive Affirmations -  The reason for writing goals for your business is the same as creating positive affirmations on paper.  What your eyes see and ears hear, your mind will believe.  Try it!  After you’ve written them down, read them aloud to yourself – and do it every morning when you get into work.  You’ll be amazed at what happens.  Come up with a set of new ones every month.  Statements such as, “I’m an important and valuable person,” or “I know I’ll make good use of my time today.”  Repeating them out loud everyday at a set time will help reinforce positive actions.
4. Make Sure Break Times Are Really Break Times -   This is an area where most bosses/entrepreneurs fall down.  You become so intense about the project or situation you’re working on that you don’t ease up.  Thinking that it’ll be solved in the next few seconds, and then you’ll get a cup of coffee can lead you right up to quitting time.  Regularly adhering to a specified break schedule, even if you’re the boss, releases the tension.  If you work on a computer this is even a greater problem because before you realize it – you’ve been working in that same position for hours.  The best answer to this is to set yourself a reminder on your appointment calendar for every 2 hours, and let the computer reminder chime send you the alert to move around.
5. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise -      I know that lately it seems that “exercise” is the cure-all to every physical ailment or your love life, but despite that there is some truth to that ugly word.  By “exercise” I don’t mean that you should go out and join a gym and spend your lunch-time, 3-days-a-week there working out.  What is really beneficial and workable is that at those chiming alerts from your computer, get up and walk around your desk or room.  Maybe go outside and get the mail and enjoy the sunlight (if you’re an entrepreneur that has a home office), or just get up and do a few stretches.  Concentrated, tense thinking – typing – plotting plans – or whatever your work, makes all those muscles tighten up and knot up.  Then when we move we “ooh” and “ouch” because we’ve knotted up into a ball of tension. Periodic stretching, even at our desk, or just getting up and walking over to the window and getting a different view can help.  One of the greatest disservice modern business décor has done to us, is making our offices pristine, sleek, unencumbered spaces.  There is nothing more relaxing than getting up from your desk and walking over to a peaceful, serene, seascape or pastoral painting and just drinking it in visually.  Momentarily transporting your mind out of work and into that place does wonders.  A few good paintings and less shiny chrome in offices would benefit us all.

It only takes a little concentrated effort on our part to keep motivated and productive, which leads to success.  I know you’re going to hate hearing this, but it’s true anyway – and that is, “WHEN LIFE GIVES YOUR LEMONS – MAKE LEMONADE!”