Maybe humor is the answer.

 

Think back to the last time that you flew on a plane.  Did you pay any attention at all to the safety announcement?  Probably not.

 

But one time when I was flying home on a Friday night the flight attendant surprised me by turning the speech into a comedy routine.  What surprised me even more was that I listened.

 

Apparently flight attendants aren't the only ones who have gotten in touch with their inner comedian.  Over one million people follow the TSA on Instagram.  Fashioning itself as "Teller of Travel Trips" the feed recently posted a photo of a bazooka rocket launcher found in luggage at the Raleigh-Durham airport.  (You really can't make this stuff up.)

 

My favorite post so far was the one where they picked up on "Dude with a sign," because I'm a fan of his too. :-)

 

I read that the National Park Service's feed is funny as well so I decided to follow them too, because I can always use a good laugh.

 

Research tells us that humor can be a very effective form of communication - particularly irony.

 

Do you look for humor in your life?  Have you encountered the use of humor in boring/difficult situations?  Has it helped?  Did you become more engaged in the message?  And did you respond as intended?

 

What about controversial topics?  "All in The Family" was a ground breaking 70's sitcom, which tackled serious subjects like racism and misogyny.  Its impact and influence were significant.  And, I am sure that anyone who watched it still remembers when Sammy Davis Jr. kissed Archie Bunker.  It was that shocking.

 

Given the decisiveness we see in the world today - would a little humor help?

 

 

Brooklyn, C. (2022, March 25)  The Funniest Travel Account on Instagram Is Run by the T.S.A. Seriously.  nytims.com.  Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/25/travel/tsa-social-media.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage&section=Travel

 

What was plan B?

On February 24, 2022 Russia invaded Ukraine.  By all reports, Putin believed that it would take three days to conquer the country.  Two weeks tops.  The war is currently in its fourth week.

It appears that the Ukrainians were far better trained, better equipped and more determined to resist Russia then they ever imagined.

Meanwhile thousands of Ukrainians are sheltering in subways.  When asked why, one said: "We don't know what to do, should we make a run for the train station or should we stay here?  Maybe it will be over tomorrow."

Anyone who teaches strategic planning for a living knows that when you make a plan, you need to also consider the potential unforeseen consequences of that plan and make contingency plans for that scenario as well. 

To quote Ben Franklin: "Fail to plan, plan to fail."

Gaming simulations have been popular since the mid-90's.  And while I wouldn't expect a Ukrainian civilian to have played one, I am a bit puzzled by the fact that Putin apparently didn't either.

Why do you think Putin didn't have a Plan B - i.e. a plan for what to do if his initial actions were unsuccessful?  Was he overconfident?  Poorly advised?  Or was it something else?  Remember all decisions are emotional.

Why do you think so many Ukrainians didn't have a Plan B and thus have ended up sheltering in places like subways?  Did they think the invasion warnings were fake news?  Did they have nowhere to go?  Or was it something else?  Decision-making under stress is tricky.

 

 

Have you bought something based on a podcast?

 

Podcasts are getting more popular every day. 

 

According to eMarketer the number of monthly US podcast listeners will increase by over 10% this year to 117.8 million.  60% of US Adults 18-34 listen to podcasts, but fewer than 20% of US Adults over 65 do.  That nets out to 50% of US Adults.  Which is why podcasts are a $1 billion industry.

 

Hypotheses about why people like podcasts includes human attraction to "storytelling" and that they can provide "focused relaxation."  But neither of those things lend themselves to merchandising.  (Hotchkiss, 2022)

 

Per Marketing Charts, the top five podcast advertisers in first half 2021 were: BetterHelp, ZipRecruiter, Geico, Hello Fresh, NBCUniversal. (2021)

 

Do you listen to podcasts?  Do you know others who do?  Which ones and why? 

 

Have you bought anything, or visited a website for more information about a brand you heard about on a podcast?  Was it a :30 or :60 ad?  Or was the product/service embedded in the podcast? 

 

 

Hotchkiss, G.  (2022, March 15)  Why Are Podcasts So Popular?  mediapost.com.  Retrieved March 15, 2022, from  https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/372087/why-are-podcasts-so-popular.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline&utm_campaign=125607&hashid=c4hmrOYncfZiBl7GlC72xy3E6dw

 

(2021, November 2)  Who’s Been Spending the Most on Podcast Ads?  marketingcharts.com.  Retrieved March 15, 2022, from  https://www.marketingcharts.com/advertising-trends/spending-and-spenders-118776

Hasbro thinks grown-ups want to play.

 

Hasbro's new CEO played with G.I. Joe and Transformers as a child.  Then he moved on to Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering.  He still plays both.

 

Not surprisingly, he thinks there is money to be made targeting adults.

 

According to NPD, people over 12 account for 23% of toy sales in Europe. (2020)   While Mintel tells us that 38% of Americans have bought a child's toy for an adult. (2016)

 

I couldn't find specific data about Lego, but the proliferation of AFOL (Adult Fans of Lego) groups, the LEGO Masters tv show, and the $700+ price tags for branded sets, suggest targeting "stressed out adults" is working for them.

 

Crowdsourcing ideas for new Lego sets has led to the development of the Beatles Yellow Submarine, Central Perk from Friends, and Apollo 11 among others.   It's easy to see the role that nostalgia is playing in these selections.

 

Research has shown that what you like to do in high school you will continue to like doing your entire life.  So it makes sense for companies to observe and capitalize on these behaviors.

 

What childhood habits have you continued into adulthood?  Hobbies, sports, foods, or something else?  What companies have you observed taking advantage of this tendency?  What companies might want to consider following suit?

 

 

(2020, Jan 17)  The Guardian view on Lego for adults: play is a serious business.  theguardian.com.  Retrieved March 7, 2022, from,  https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/17/the-guardian-view-on-lego-for-adults-play-is-a-serious-business

Macke, D. (2016, December 2)  Not just child's play: Two in three U.S. toy shoppers agree toys and games are for adults, too.  mintel.com.  Retrieved March 7, 2022 from  https://www.mintel.com/press-centre/leisure/not-just-childs-play-two-in-three-us-toy-shoppers-agree-toys-and-games-are-for-adults-too