I just *love* how Ad Age declared the Death of the Rock Star CMO. Well, who do you think anoints them as rock stars in the first place? I decided to explore this asinine trend:
Now, there’s nothing wrong with saying someone has extraordinary skill or talent. Heck, even an extra helping of charm and good looks can help you succeed in the ad biz. But to elevate someone to “rock star” status is sheer lunacy. In a business where we seek “universal truths,” the embrace of such poseurs is universal bullshit.
What’s even worse, it sets up unrealistic expectations for the person considered to be the rock star. Let’s face it, it only takes a little time spent working for a bureaucratic corporation, dysfunctional agency, or hack Executive Creative Director to kill off that reputation. And in corporate America, where nearly everyone has a leash-like electronic entry badge and a lengthy employee ID number, some things are simply beyond the power of one person to change–no matter how much that person thinks of him or herself as a “change agent.”
Read more in my new column on TalentZoo.com. And as I’m approaching nearly 5 years as a columnist on TalentZoo, I’ve created an easy-to-scroll website at AdColumnist.com where you can read them all. I hope you enjoy it– there’s over 85 columns there that I’ve written since 2002, it makes a good time waster at the office.