Words Mean Different Things To Different People. What Does This Mean To You?
I was In New York last month and was on my way to dinner. Since I had some extra time and it was beautiful out, I thought I would walk the twenty-five blocks and five avenues needed to get there. As I was walking down the street, I was trying to take in all the sights from the cool decorated windows that some of the stores had to some of the people walking around. I also love to check out the advertising in New York — to me it is some of the most creative in the world.
I came across a billboard with a picture of Albert Einstein that read - As a student he was no Einstein. Confidence. Pass it on.
The billboard made me stop and think. I looked at it for a few minutes and then kept walking. As I got to the other side of the street I couldn’t get the billboard out of my mind. It made me think further and then I decided to cross the street again and go back for another look at the billboard.
The question is…what does it mean?
To me, it meant that he never stopped learning. You can work hard and become smarter. People aren’t necessarily born brilliant — you have to work at it. The question then was what does the word confidence mean here? I think it was saying that people need more confidence and if they have self-confidence, that can help them become smarter.
Words mean different things to different people.
- What does this mean to you?
- What do you think of what it means to me?
I look forward to hearing your comments.
February 4th, 2008 at 9:43 am
You are right. The overwhelming message of this billboard is that you never stop learning, and having confidence in your ability to continue learning will help you to move forward, especially in today’s world, when things are changing at breakneck speed.
Whether we like it or not, it is a Global business world and jobs we once thought could only be done by Americans are going to be outsourced. Regardless of what the politicians are telling us, this is going to continue. They — the politicians — have little control over it.
Gone is the generation of my father, where many people spent their entire life working for one company. I am 53. I am on my third career and I have been through eight jobs (that I can remember). I am constantly reading, listening to podcasts and attending seminars. You can never stop learning.
There is another message. You have to have confidence in your own insights. Every one of us has had this experience. You are in a group of people examining a problem and it occurs to you that there is an insight or issue here that is so incredibly obvious that you can’t believe it has not been brought up. But no one has brought it up, so it must be a bad idea or observation. Nevertheless, you finally muster the courage to speak on it, and half the room is vigorously nodding their heads in agreement. They were thinking the same thing. You were the only one with courage and confidence to speak out.
Just as with Einstein and his theory of relativity, and Darwin and his theory on the origin of the species, it sometimes takes great courage and confidence to speak out on revolutionary ideas.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:50 am
More again on this subject, especially in regards to what the creators of this ad meant and what people derive from it.
Read “Words that Work,” by Frank Lunz, a pollster, largely for Republican causes. The subtitle is, “It’s not what you say, it’s what people hear.” This is one of those books that reorients everything you do and the way you communicate with people. It really is true: regardless of how hard you try to communicate your message, people are going to hear what they want to hear, not what you meant to communicate.
Reminds me of the current political campaigns. Each candidate spends an inordinate amount of time trying to get their opponent to say, “That’s not what I mean” or “That’s not what I said.”
Read this book, and then prepare to become painfully aware of how regardless of what you say, people are going to hear what they want to hear.
February 11th, 2008 at 9:44 am
While I appreciate the idea of continuous learning that is not what this ad means to me. To me, the ad means that each of us has our own talents that often go unrecognized. I think that the ad is designed to encourage kids who may not be getting the best grades in school, by telling them that even Einstein wasn’t always recognized for his intelligence. I find it inspirational.
This is a great ad to use for the question, by the way. As Tim says, “You have to have confidence in your own insights.” Einstein looked at the same world as everyone else, but he saw something different.
Who knows how many people come up with *different* ideas but never pursue them, never get them published?
Or. more to the point, how many people have great ideas but are unable to communicate them to others? Would Einstein have been as famous if his equation was not as easy to remember as “E=M Squared”? Heisenberg, Fermi and others were arguably about as brilliant, but their pictures are not on billboards today. How much did it help Einstein’s fame to have a catchy slogan? (Even if no one really understands what it means?)
What does “E=MC Squared” mean to you?
Steve
February 11th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Hey Merrill. A few things - first of all, I can’t believe you were in NY and didn’t call me - SHAME ON YOU.
Secondly, this billboard has always stuck out to me as well. For me, it tells a story of someone who believed in himself so much, that even though he may not have gotten good grades in school, he didn’t let that squelch his thirst for knowledge, or let it “chink the armour” of his faith in himself and what he wanted to accomplish.
I think it’s very important to be open-minded in the way of constructive criticism, and of course outside measures of performance by which we are all gauged, throughout our lives. They KEY is, do we use that information as a means to drive ourselves to try harder, or do we choose to let these grades/evaluations/measures DEFINE us, rather than GUIDE AND DRIVE us.
I found this billboard inspirational, and it touches me in a similar way every time I see it.
February 11th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
I have always liked this ad as well and agree with Steve and Lance about the meaning. I think it is communicating to kids who may not do well is school to not be discouraged and to think outside of the box. That they can still accomplish great things if they have faith and confidence in themselves. Confidence is one of the most important things for young kids today. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. Each person needs to find his or hers and pursue their areas of interest or talent. And they too can be successful- even if they are not top of their class.
This rang true in my house today when my kids got their report cards and wanted to compare grades. I didn’t allow this explaining just this reasoning with them- that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses and it doesn’t make them any better or worse than another person.etc.
This also says to me that things will be interpreted differently by people everywhere ( and we all see this through the work we do) but its important to see the positive side of things- be confident, creative and see the good in everything.
February 15th, 2008 at 8:34 am
For me, this campaign is an indicator that we must encourage each other to realize our full potential, whatever that may be. With such overwhelming negativity to be overcome in our modern landscape, every time that I drive or walk past this billboard around the country, it reminds me to give ourselves and those around us the confidence to pursue our goals, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable adversity. It is also a great thing to repeat at cocktail parties, after someone has been particularly judgemental and pompous, that makes everyone laugh and changes the energy in a positive direction
Confidence. Pass It On. Keep up the good work!
February 15th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Stacey,
Thanks for your comments and story. I can remember when I was younger and my parents compared my report card to their friends kids and to be frank - it really irritated me.
Thanks again.
Merrill
June 21st, 2008 at 4:34 am
i also have seen this ad couple of times in new york.. it is really amazing ad.. good thing that you had the image.. i lost my photo from iphone crash.
anyways.. to me it always meant that what and how you are doing today should not put you down, keep going and be confident of yourself. Einstein was not that great student but he persisted and achieved phenomenal success later on. So keep the confidence going…