Jesse’s Challenge/Question: I’d define capitalism as the belief that everyone has the right & responsibility to use their own resources in the way which they think is most conducive to improving the world. If that’s not capitalism, what is it? My Answer: Christianity. And perhaps it is Judaism and Buddhism and Zoroastrianism, as well. But I’m not familiar […]

Sixty-six percent of Americans believe our nation is in decline, according to a study from the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture.

You want to start at the beginning of Manley’s book? Here’s how to do that.By the way, it’s not yet published so you’ll just have to keep waiting for achapter or two each week. Sorry about that. – Indy

What a fun question! I would buy a condo in Paris, my favorite city.I would buy a condo in Barcelona, my second favorite city.I would buy a condo in Manhattan, NYC, my favorite city in the USA.Naturally, I would keep my condo in Fort Worth, Texas. Then, so that I could travel to all my […]

I will now do a dangerous thing. I will explain it at the end, but in the beginning I must do it. Let us begin. Life. What is the essence of it?  If you squeeze it hard enough, what is its juice? Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life, and have it […]

Two-Minute SeductionBy Toni Morrison I took my heart out and gave it to a writer made heartless by fame, someone who needed it to pump blood into veins desiccated by the suck and roar of crowds slobbering or poisoning or licking up the red froth they mistake for happiness because happiness looks just like a heart […]

Battleground or Playground? Jacques Cousteau, the man who made the world care about the ocean, said, “A lot of people attack the sea. I make love to it.”  But he was French. Not being French, I don’t see each day’s work as a choice between attacking or love-making. I see the future unfurl each morning as […]

The ways the country has changed in my 82 years astonishes even me! I can remember World War ll.What I remember clearly is watching ‘news reels’ at the movies. I knew that the war was far, far away but ‘seeing‘ it was scary.When an airplane would fly over, I crossed my fingers hoping it wasn’t a […]

You want to start at the beginning of Manley’s book? Here’s how to do that.By the way, it’s not yet published so you’ll just have to keep waiting for achapter or two each week. Sorry about that. – Indy

Indy, The Wizard has often said that good ad copy will work on any media.  It is the message that is important.   I was speaking with one of my brilliant Wizard of Ads Partners, Matthew Burns, the other day and he shared a little story that demonstrates what Roy has been saying.   Matt […]

Revelatory poems are like good ads.This is our interest-captivating opening: “Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice.” Interest now obtained, we bridge to the first transition: (The objective is to introduce a new element into the equation. In this case, the relationship between desire and fire.) “From what I’ve tasted […]

The music is emotionally disarming. It sets a mood that is innocent and lighthearted, reinforcing all that you are saying in the ad. I added the music for precisely the same reason that every movie you’ve ever seen has a musical score. Music speaks to the unconscious mind. When words and music are delivered together and the […]

Google says you should buy ads online. Outfront Media makes a compelling argument for outdoor advertising. Yellow Pages (yes, they’re still out there) has sales people telling you you’re missing out on an untold number of calls. Newspaper, Radio, and TV have shoehorned digital advertising under their umbrellas promising to be a “one-stop-shop,” but even they can’t be […]

Hello Ryan and Nicole,     I just read the next round of ads…….you two are really goooood!!Sincerely,Ben Nicole wrote:Ben,I couldn’t agree more except for the number TWO.  Ryan is remarkable.  We talk in our marketing meetings all day long about our messaging…we send newsletters, email blasts, create videos etc etc…IN MY OPINION…Ryan is the true […]

You want to start at the beginning of Manley’s book? Here’s how to do that.By the way, it’s not yet published so you’ll just have to keep waiting for achapter each week. Sorry about that. – Indy

Is Your Company Out of Rhythm? The economy, commerce, business, the stock market and free trade: all of these were built on our ability to sell things to each other.  This is why the job of the ad writer is incredibly important. Television and radio, newspapers and magazines, direct mail and email, word-of-mouth and live […]

Seinfeld and Solnit Seinfeld was “a show about nothing,” but we couldn’t get enough of it because each of us knew a George, an Elaine, and a Kramer.  Rebecca Solnit’s book, The Faraway Nearby, reminds me of Seinfeld. I love this book, but I can’t really explain what it’s about. Solnit can write about nothing and keep you mesmerized. Sort […]

Art is valuable to the degree that it triggers emotions. But it isn’t always the art, itself, that triggers the emotion; sometimes the art is merely a point-of-contact with an iconic figure with whom we identify. Would this scene have been as memorable had it not clearly echoed the promise of the return of Christ? – Roy […]

Got something interesting to share? Send it to Indy@WizardOfAds.com and perhaps it’ll show up in the rabbit hole. If you’d like to see Ralph Marston’s Daily Motivator, go to www.greatday.com

Last week’s Monday Morning Memo, Islands of Writers, reminded me of this true story: I spent New Year’s Day 2008 where the Sea of Cortez washes into the Pacific Ocean. My choice of wardrobe on that day would change the course of a man’s life. Dale Mapp was born on the Caribbean island of Barbados […]

Old lady: You are always wishing people good luck and telling them about their mistakes and it seems to me you criticize them very meanly. How is it, young man, that you talk so much and write so long about these bullfights and yet are not a bullfighter yourself? Why did you not take up this […]

Your memo of September 28 jogged my memory. You’ll notice that I’m not responding directly to what you asked. I have been blessed with an agile mind but cursed with a very short attention span, or at least I thought so. I started a construction company in college and started buying houses and flipping them. […]

I would tell my 20 year old self, “Get out of this marriage.” I should never even have married.Mores were different in 1954.Unbelievably different.There was nothing worse than being an unwed mother. Nothing. “Shame. The most powerful, the most poisonous of human essences.“ – Jean Korelitz There were many times I should have left my marriage.Many […]

You want to start at the beginning? Here’s how to do that.

Hey Indy,It’s been a while. There’s a new virtual class at Wizard Academy called The Art of Working, happening on November 12th. Thought it might interest you.Aroo, Little Buddy.Zac SmithVice Chancellor, Wizard Academy

INDY BEAGLE: It is here for only a little while, and then it is gone. ALFIE the ELF: What are you talking about? INDY BEAGLE: Everything.

via GIPHY If you want to look deeper into this idea of multi-dimensionality, take a look at the video on this page of last week’s rabbit hole. Aroo. – Indy Beagle

How to Walk Though an Advertising Minefield If you are going to communicate effectively with a person, you need to know something about their beliefs. Most writers assume their readers see and believe as they do. And when they knowingly write to people who believe differently, their writing often takes the tone of an argument, leaning heavily […]