I heart Subway. I, literally, could eat lunch at my neighborhood Subway each and every day. I’ve tried each of their sandwiches over the many years I’ve been in love with them and I’ve never left a bite untouched. My only request would be the addition of Guacamole… come on, I’ll pay more for it!
A few minutes ago, one of Subway’s catchy “Five Dollar Foot long… ANY Five Dollar Foot long….” commercials came on. In addition to making me want a Veggie Delite with black olives, lettuce, American Cheese, cucumbers, banana peppers, pickles, and sweet onion dressing, it made me think about their successful advertising campaign. This one took guts – and paid off.
If I had a Sales and Marketing blog, I’d applaud Subway’s brilliance for attacking the fragile economy head on with their infamous $5 Subways. I’d point out that they know that they get that the best way to woo the public is to tap into into the things that matter most to them:
- Health and Fitness. Remember Jared? He showed us how “one of us” (the guy or gal next door) actually lost weight while eating delicious food. They’re also prominent sponsors of the popular show The Biggest Loser… again reminding us that they’re on our side. They’ll provide us with delicious, healthy alternatives and save us from the fried, greasy stuff we might get elsewhere.
- Saving Money! A footlong sub (piled with goodness) for $5.00 is an excellent deal, just when we need excellent deals the most. Brilliant.
Alas, I don’t have a sales blog because I know diddly squat about selling. I’m on team buying, not team selling. Which, I suppose explains why my husband is on team selling.
From a Self Help and Self Improvement standpoint, I think we can actually learn something from this popular, catchy Subway campaign. Whether we use the lesson in our daily life, in our writing and blogging, in our work, or in the ways we try to make the world a better place – it’s right there, waiting for us to scarf it up as readily as we do the subways, themselves.
Here are a few of the lessons I think we can learn from Subway:
- Originality rawks and originality rawks hard.
- We shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously.
- We should often look for ways to renew, refresh, and reinvent ourselves.
Think about it. Subway took a huge chance on this campaign. They chose a jingle which, let’s be honest, is a little cheesy. Yet they went with it. In fact they ran with it – laughing at themselves in the process. How cool is that?! Jingles like this are very hit or miss. Subway could have been laughed AT or laughed WITH. They went over the top and landed in the zone. Life is about taking chances and taking risks. Sometimes you have to just go for it – without hesitation and without fear. Many times, these risks pay off better than you ever even hoped for.
Don’t ever be afraid to be yourself. Don’t ever be afraid to stand out from the crowd. Don’t ever aspire to be a wallflower.
I also love the fact that this successful campaign doesn’t involve them trying to sling lettuce on their competition (though they have in the past gone down that yellow and red brick road). These types of campaigns always turn me off. It’s like, if you believe in what you have to offer, why bring the other guys into it? In fact, some fast food restaurant recently had a campaign where they took a swipe at Wendy’s (by showing the back of a girl with big red ponytails). Here’s the effect it had on me: I rushed out for some Wendy’s chili. I got an instant craving and addressed it immediately.
Hmmm, I seriously can’t even tell you who’s commercial it was. For me, it was Wendy’s.
Brought to the world of self improvement and self help: We will never climb higher by stepping on other people. Putting our footprints on others never adds value to them – it lessens what value they had. Every time.
If you value what you have to say and what you have to offer, what does it matter to you what others are doing or saying? Why go to their blogs and leave negative comments or try to run their name down on yours’? If you believe in yourself, believe all the way and keep the spotlight on yourself. I suspect that many times insecurity is the reason people shine the spotlight on others. Why else wouldn’t they want it on themselves?
I know that many things in life are gravely serious. I’m as aware of that as anyone. However, I also know that many people take things far too seriously. Life should be enjoyed, not stressed over. Let go of little things and you’ll find that the world is a beautiful, wonderful place. Let it be.
Finally, Subway teaches us the value of reinventing yourself. They knew that Jared’s campaign had kind of worn itself out. The public had gotten pretty accustomed to his handsome face and winsome disposition. I’m not saying he doesn’t have a lot of mileage left – I love the Jared commercials! I am saying this, Subway knew it was time to mix things up a little and throw something unexpected out there.
Now, when Jared does come back, we’ll be more apt to pay attention.
Never allow yourself to fall into a rut. Mix things up every now and then! Be true to your message, your goal, your dreams, and your life’s mission…. but keep things interesting. If you lull everyone to sleep, they’ll never hear a word you’re saying.
You know what makes me sad? When people WANT to do something, learn something, or try something but hold themselves back. No one else is standing in their way but themselves.
- If you wish you kept a cleaner house, pick up the broom and make it happen. Start now!
- If you wish you knew more geography (or history, math, botany, a foreign language), what are you waiting for? As soon as you leave Self Help Daily, find some wonderful educational websites and/or head off for the library. Learning new things is invigorating and makes you feel more alive than ever. Have at it!
- If you wish you were known for having an easy-going, laid back temper instead of being a hot head – start working on it.
You get the point. If you aren’t happy with the path you’re on… make a new one. No one’s making you stay on this one. Pave your own path and, you know the rules by now, don’t just walk down it, dance.
Dance on!
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