Are We Still "Mad Men"?

With much anticipation, I watched the Season 6 premiere of "Mad Men" last night, right along with many of my colleagues.  I say "right along with my colleagues" because everyone was on social media chatting during it!

Yes, "Mad Men" is all about an era, as shown through the eyes of the advertising industry.  And while it seems like it's all about the drama around these advertising executives, what it's really about is Fashion, Furniture, and Cocktails.

How do we know that's true?  Take a look at the pop culture trends that the show has sparked in these categories, particularly the come back of the Cocktail.  "Cocktail" has even come back into our vernacular.

The fun part about last night was all of the Premiere Parties ... with the Fashion and of course the Cocktails.  I was at one myself ... great fun.

One thing did struck me, however, as it relates to the advertising/marketing industry ... of which I have spent the bulk of my career:  it's just not like that anymore!  I'm not even sure it ever was, although I am sure that there are parts of it that are quite accurate, sans at least some of the drama.  Ok, maybe with all the drama.

But it's not like that anymore, at all.  My generation and the generations younger just don't operate this way anymore.  No cocktails at lunch and certainly no smoking in the office.  But also the way that these characters do business has dramatically changed.  It's much more collaborative and democratic, and far more (dare I say) strategic.  So while this is just "television," it is an amazing look into how business was "done" in an era gone by, of which we can celebrate now how we "do things."

Thankfully!  What's your experience?  Jim.

Jim Joseph
- President, Cohn & Wolfe NA
- Author, The Experience Effect series
- Professor, NYU
- Contributor, Entrepreneur