Like a Rock

Have you ever been inspired by a car commercial?

I was watching TV last nite (surprise, surprise), and I got stopped in my tracks by the new commercial GM is running. First I watched it live, then I watched it again.

It was SO inspiring it made me want to run out, buy a red pickup truck, wave a cowboy hat up in the air, and eat a hot dog.

Haven’t seen it yet? You need to. From sea to shining sea, over moving photos of losses (a defeated hockey player pounding on the ice, the desolate streets of Detroit) and victories (a 1-legged runner in a marathon, a sprout of grass growing from the dirt), is a voice...

First, he lays it on the line: “Let’s be completely honest. No company wants to go through this.” Referring, of course to GM’s declaration of bankruptcy. He says the days of having 8 car brands are gone, and promises a bright future where "leaner, greener, faster, smarter" models run on new technologies like fuel cells (see, monster trucks ARE good for the earth!). “Reinvention is the only way we can fix this,” he boldly declares, “and fix it we WILL.”

Then, he hits it out of the fruited plain, “This is not about going OUT of business. This is about getting DOWN to business. Because the ONLY chapter we’re focused on... is chapter one.”

Wow. I think by that point, I stood up and saluted the TV.

I don’t own a car anymore now that I’m a city slicker (sniff, sniff). When I did, GM was not even on my radar. I was all about the imports -- Volkswagen, Nissan, and BMW. So that’s some pretty powerful advertising. What’s even more impressive to me is that GM only announced this news, like, 2 weeks ago, and they already have an ad campaign addressing it head-on. It also stands to reason that with all the people they owe millions (billions?) of dollars to, their ad agency's hand is most certainly outstretched. And yet, they still delivered. Big time.

This can-do spot gives me hope that maybe the worst of this slump is behind us. And we can ALL get down to business again. That’s good marketing.

But what do I know? I thought Adam Lambert would win American Idol.

Watch the full commercial below: