Comments for The Road to Abilene

Comment on The Sunshine of Branding, or How to Make the Invisible Visible by Phil Granof

Phil Granof — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:06:17 +0000

That is an excellent observation and question. I think the creation myth for the KONY 2012 brand will be centered on the moment of Jason Russell’s “awakening,” when he says “if this happened one night in America, it would be on the cover of Newsweek.” The story wrapped around that enlightenment, including his meeting Jacob provides completes the narrative.

There is of course an older myth, “The Allegory of the Caves” in Plato’s Republic, in which a man is pulled up from a false world of shadow puppets into the world of light. He experiences blindess and shock as he’s pulled up until his eyes adjust, and once he sees the world as it really is, he feels compelled to return to his brothers in the cave and illuminate their condition. Of course, they think he’s gone crazy, and want to kill him.

This myth is beginning to play itself out now… Just wait. It’s only the beginning. Eventually, the world will come to think of Jason Russell as crazy, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see his whole effort attacked on every level.

Comment on The Sunshine of Branding, or How to Make the Invisible Visible by lstofft

lstofft — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 03:10:30 +0000

Great brands also frequently have a creation myth, like Nike’s story about a coach and an athlete selling shoes out of the back of the car (the creation myth may be real or made up or exaggerated like legend).

In the case of Invisible Children, what do you think the creation myth is? Is it Jason meeting Jacob Acaye in Uganda in 2003?

Powerful brands use their creation myths to reconnect with their publics when they are perceived as too dominant. Perhaps Invisible Children would be served by reminding people about this genesis?

Comment on There’s No Crying in Investment Banking, or Don’t Take a Ride on a Snake’s Back by bowden2bowden

bowden2bowden — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 14:37:32 +0000

Integrity and honesty, enough said! Good analogy, good read.

Comment on The Abilene Paradox by There’s No Crying in Investment Banking, or Don’t Take a Ride on a Snake’s Back | The Road to Abilene

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 14:13:58 +0000

[...] their career traveling down a path they never should have been on. All of our careers have been on the road to Abilene at one time or another. (To paraphrase a bit…Let he who has not imagined smashing a [...]

Comment on The Abilene Paradox by The Sunshine of Branding, or How to Make the Invisible Visible | The Road to Abilene

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 14:42:00 +0000

[...] can participate in folly that as individuals they know to be ridiculous. This is the focus of The Road to Abilene: my puny contribution to an imagined world of corporate excellence in which every person remains [...]

Comment on The Abilene Paradox by McDonald’s Sign Going Green, Or I Will not Eat Green Eggs and Ham. :: Thap

McDonald’s Sign Going Green, Or I Will not Eat Green Eggs and Ham. :: Thap — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 02:39:51 +0000

[...] What I am most self-righteous about is that I’m honest in my sinfulness. I don’t pretend to be something I’m not, and I think that’s part of my brand, so to speak. This brings me to a sensitive issue. Can going green put you on The Road to Abilene? [...]

Comment on Kia Super Bowl Ad Measured with The Abilene-O-Meter by bowden2bowden

bowden2bowden — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 19:31:06 +0000

way cool, “The Abilene-O-Meter.”

Comment on The Power of Tension and Trans Fatty Acids, or why 2012 is like 1984. by Jordi

Jordi — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 18:58:10 +0000

I read the “Road to Abilene” article sometime ago. Great blog title.

That was an amazing ad. I was not paying any attention to the game and my ear heard it and turned my head… maybe Clint’s voice. was key.

Comment on The Abilene Paradox by The Power of Tension and Trans Fatty Acids, or why 2012 is like 1984. | The Road to Abilene

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 15:20:02 +0000

[...] Even if you think that Chrysler will never produce a product as significant or wonderful as Apple can, one thing’s for sure. The Chrysler ad did what few ads will ever do. It continued to move our jaws well after we were done gnawing on buffalo chicken wings, giving us pause long enough to look down to make sure our feet are pointed in the right direction -180 degrees away from Abilene. [...]

Comment on Prestidigitation and Brand Strength – A Hypothesis by Allen Roberts

Allen Roberts — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:26:50 +0000

Hi Phil,
As with those comments above, i would never have made the connection with hands.
Good one!
Glad you like what I write on my strategyaudit blog, just one “like” makes the effort worthwhile.
Cheers
Allen