Could You Be an Ad Man?

 I was reading a Malcolm Gladwell column the other day. As you probably already know, Gladwell is the author of books such as The Tipping Point, Outlier and Talking to Strangers as well as a writer for The New Yorker since 1996. I am a fan...what can I say...I just think the guy has something worthwhile to say.

So, anyway, the question was "Can you say what you need to say in 60 seconds or less" and still tell the whole story. Gladwell podcasts are long and deep. He needs every second to tell you or convince you that what he is saying might be important. An advertising person can tell their story in 60 or less.

I have written posts that I actually went through eliminated all the unnecessary words. When I was done you could still understand the story. Most of those words just didn't make the story any better.

I like the idea a lot but...the real question might be "why do we write?". I for one am not a best selling author and do not need to satisfy a publisher or an audience. Writing is a personal expression of who I am or what I NEED to say. Sometimes even unnecessary are important to me.

So, how about you? Could you be an Ad Ma and say everything you need to say in 60 or less seconds. Would that satisfy you?

I would like to know.

b+