Football isn’t my thing. (Yes, I’m divulging one of my deepest secrets here.) But this weekend? I’ll be watching.
For a marketing and branding geek like me, the Super Bowl is the prime time to actually WATCH the commercials. It’s when brands bring their A-game, many packing powerful storytelling into less than 30 seconds.
My top pick so far? (Yes, I have been diving into them early!) The Squarespace ad, “Hello Down There,” directed by the godfather of movies, Martin Scorsese.
This isn’t just any commercial. It’s an intergalactic plea for connection. These interstellar beings, in their imaginative quest, have been trying to catch our attention for years with signs and wonders we’ve often overlooked. Snowstorms in the Sahara, rhinos stampeding down Wall Street — these weren’t mere coincidences but messages, attempts at sparking a dialogue across the cosmos. And yet, despite these grand gestures, they remained unseen, their calls for connection echoing silently in the vastness of space.
Enter Hello Down There, a Squarespace website — expertly designed by Marty and his daughter, Francesca — that acts as a digital olive branch from the stars to our screens.
As you know, I love stretching a metaphor. And this commercial? It’s ripe with them. A perfect hero’s journey, a plea for connection, the need for a powerful personal brand that packs a digital punch, and more.
Yet, it’s just a commercial.
But, if you have a few minutes, dive into the backstory, the commercial itself, the extended play, the making of the commercial, or even the website. It’s a delightful rabbit trail of creativity! (BTW:Check out the bodily coverage tab on the website. 🤣)
Where I landed after about 14 drafts of this email?
It’s fascinating that Martians (or their creative stand-ins) crave the same thing many of us humans do. To have someone. To listen. To notice. To care.
Happy Super Bowl Sunday!
Obviously, I do know that Taylor Swift’s boyfriend is playing on Sunday. If you watched the Grammys, did you happen to see her accepting Grammy #13? It was a fabulous lesson in the need for a powerful and clear Call to Action.
🐲 Gong Xi Fa Cai! Happy New Year! We’re welcoming the Year of the Dragon this weekend, a creature I hold in great esteem. In my office, two dragons stand guard: one, a swirl of purple and gold, a framed page from a vintage paper sample book, a testament to the artistry of paper and printing from the 90s. The other, a kite from the World Kite Museum in Long Beach, Washington, watches over me from the corner. Dragons symbolize strength, luck and power. They are regarded as the most auspicious and powerful of all the animals in the Chinese zodiac, embodying charisma, leadership, ambition and courage. Dragons are thought to bring vitality and prosperity, symbolizing success and the ability to overcome obstacles. They are also associated with innovation and transformation.
Sounds like the perfect year to transform your personal brand and leadership at SWAY | LIVE! Hope to see you in Palm Springs.
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Be unforgettable,
~ Sheri