Initiative’s Post

Nike’s search for its lost mojo continues. The Olympic Games is always a huge brand and business moment for The Swoosh - only the FIFA World Cup rivals the Olympics for global reach - but the stakes are unusually high this time around for Beaverton. Nike is guaranteed insider status, and the profile that comes with it, during the Paris Games; count how many times you see the Swoosh on an athlete. But it will take much more than that to re-activate the brand, hence this new global campaign, which broke on Friday. My $0.02? Not bad, but not a classic. However it did instantly remind me of a genuine Nike classic, ‘You Don’t Win Silver, You Lose Gold’, the brand’s controversial ad for the Atlanta 1996 Games - worth looking up, if you don’t know it. The DNA of that ad is clearly here too. But the mojo? Still elusive, judging by initial consumer reaction. What do you think? Hit, or miss, or somewhere in between? #Paris2024 #OlympicGames #SportsMarketing #Sponsorship

🥇 Yesterday, I shared Nike's ad for the 2020 Olympics on LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/dSJf6TRu), to celebrate the beginning of the Olympic games, instead of their new "Winning Isn’t for Everyone" ad. Today I want to explain why. I don't like the message in Nike's new ad. I believe it is riding a dangerous wave of promoting hedonism and a "win at all costs" culture. This message glorifies a new and toxic value that is creeping into various areas of our society. Nike knows that this mentality of "winning at all costs" is becoming more prevalent. Many who can afford to buy Nike products think this way but are still ashamed of it. However, Nike seems intent on normalizing and even glorifying this mentality. In contrast, the 2020 Olympics ad celebrates values like unity, perseverance, and hard work without compromising integrity. This is the type of message I want to promote and support, as it reflects the true values of sports and life. I firmly believe that we need to be careful about the kind of message we choose to spread and the values we want to associate with our success. Victory should come from dedication and fair play, not from selfishness and sacrifices at any cost. What are your thoughts on this? Let's discuss this in the comments. For your reference this is the ad I am talking about https://lnkd.in/d5H6BqAR #IntegrityInSports #TrueValues #OlympicSpirit #FairPlay #Dedication #Perseverance #Unity #NikeAd #WinningIsntForEveryone #Leadership #Success #CulturalValues #SportsEthics #PositiveMessaging

"What's mine is mine - and what's yours, is mine" 👏 Impressive yet subtle cropping, face tracking, time warping, and probably AI upscaling to get these clips all in the right ratio/aspect for something like this. Using stock/archive footage can often be hard especially cause it's often not at the right fps or the right resolution. A+ to whoever made this happen and A+ to Adobe after effects for powerful tools.

Winning isn't for everyone.

Nike stays true to its brand; a Max Max/Hunger Games take on sport. It works for them and their audience. And Nike is, by any measure, the most dominant and successful sports apparel brand in history. Hard to argue with them. But. I think this spot is about so much more than sports, whether intentional or not, I have no idea. To me, and it’s only my subjective opinion, this spot goes far beyond “Just Do It”, which was at least aspirational. This new spot and tagline encapsulates where we are as a species today in 2024: “Life is a zero sum game - I win you lose, I take from you, without any sense of respect, honor, or compassion because the strong have no responsibility for the weak. None. Losers lose and die, winners win and live. Welcome to the jungle, welcome to the Pleasuredome.” There is no “we” there’s only me. It feels dystopian. It’s red meat, and there’s no question it cleverly ties into the zeitgeist roiling the world right now. As noted it works for them and their brand, congrats to their shareholders; it doesn’t work for me. Nike did the same thing just before the Atlanta Games in 1996 with their campaign, “You Don’t Win Silver, You Lose Gold.” The IOC’s responded with an ad about winning a Silver Medal in their great “Celebrate Humanity” brand campaign. Google it. Advertising is fascinating. I give Nike full marks for understanding their core audience, less so on understanding the universal values embedded in sport. But, that’s never been what they’re about anyway, so really, why stray from who they are? They shouldn’t and haven’t.

Nike #Nike Nike's 'Am I a Bad Person?' sparks Thoughtful Dialogue on Self-Perception Nike’s boldly titled advertisement 'Am I a Bad Person?', has ignited a vibrant social media discussion, prompting individuals to articulate their thoughts and sentiments. The provocative tagline resonates deeply with audiences, touching on universal fears and insecurities associated with self-perception and societal judgment. It prompts individuals to rethink the Good and Bad The ad challenges conventional notions of good and bad, prompting viewers to question who defines these labels and why we often seek validation from others. By posing the direct question, "Am I a bad person – Tell me!", Nike encourages us to confront our inner perceptions and reassess our understanding of morality and self-worth. Empowered Self-Reflection Through powerful storytelling, the advertisement encourages empowered self-reflection. It explores themes of self-doubt and personal empowerment, depicting diverse individuals grappling with moments of doubt and resilience. This portrayal underscores the complexity of human experience and highlights the universal nature of insecurities. Society's Influence The ad also critiques societal pressures that shape our perceptions of goodness and badness. It challenges viewers to consider the impact of societal expectations on our self-perception and emphasizes the importance of authenticity over conformity. Complexities of Perfection Intriguingly, the advertisement prompts us to ponder whether striving for perfection is inherently good or bad. It invites us to recognize the nuances and complexities inherent in personal growth and self-acceptance. Embracing Complexity Nike's 'Am I a Bad Person?' ad serves as a catalyst for profound introspection and dialogue. It encourages viewers to embrace the complexities of human nature and to challenge simplistic categorizations of morality. Ultimately, it reminds us that the question of whether we are 'good' or 'bad' defies easy answers and invites ongoing exploration and understanding. As the discussion sparked by this ad continues to unfold, it prompts us all to engage in meaningful conversations about identity, self-perception, and the pursuit of personal authenticity in an increasingly judgmental world. Top of Form Bottom of Form

Winners often have a #positive impact on #humanity. Winning usually drives people to push their limits, #discover new capabilities, and #achieve great things. This desire to #win encourages us to leave our comfort zones and explore our true #potential, raising #standards for everyone. However, defining a 'good' or 'bad' person is complex. For example, am I a good person if I support my team to create #synergy and inspire those around me, but then cause a severe car accident impacting another family financially? Or am I a good person if I'm a selfish winner who #motivates others by example but never supports my #teammates? Or, am I a bad person if I #sacrifice myself to help others to achieve their #goal, but never able to get my #priorities dialed? The concepts of '#good' and '#bad' are not black and white. Many #variables and #perspectives influence how we define someone as a good or bad person. However, this is a great video that can spark up some profound discussions and let people share their ideas about the topic of 'winning = bad?'. #NIKE

#AmIaBadPerson Nike strikes again. Nike's latest advertising campaign has once again initiated passionate debates across social media. True to form, the sportswear giant has released a provocative ad that's anything but neutral. The reactions have been predictably polarized. Whatever your stance, Nike has once again succeeded in getting people talking. In a crowded marketplace, their ability to consistently create emotional, debate-worthy content sets them apart. What's your take on the ad? Has Nike gone too far, or is this another marketing masterstroke? #Nike #Marketing #BrandStrategy #AdvertisingDebate

W.O.W. We live in a world where political correctness is the rule. People, values, brands, we all need to be politically correct. We stay inside a box where we don't offend, where we are kind and we always choose words carefully. The problem with politically correctness is that, while it comes from the best of intentions, it is a box. It is self-limiting and does not accept nuances. Grey areas. Words that do not fit our small, limiting box of political correctness are outrageous, offensive, rude. The same rule applies to brands. Maybe, even stricter. That is why this ad is amazing. It is offensive. It makes you accept that there are grey areas. That maybe there is a not-so-kind aspect in the pursuit of greatness. Its controversial, in an era where controversy is the sweat-inducing fear of marketing teams in rooms with long tables. It sparks debate. Is it a bad ad? NO. It's genius, coming from a brand that has never ceased to pursue greatness. gg Nike! #WinningIsntForEveryone #JustDoIt

I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews on Nike’s latest campaign. Hot take: I love this ad. Nike is a brand that was built to support athletes with cutting edge gear to bring out their best performances. This is what Nike has always been about. I love athleisure and a good pair of Js as much as the next person, but the heart of Nike is high performance and that’s exactly why the absolute best athletes on the earth choose to sign with the Nike team. I love how inclusive the brand has become over the years and the ways in which they’re continuing to innovate to meet the needs of every athlete (think: adaptive footwear—Nike EasyOn, or Nike Victory for modest swimwear). I was a high performing athlete for a good chunk of my life. This ad reminded me of the sacrifices that are required to be at the top of one’s game. Where others see selfishness, these athletes see sacrifice. The question in the ad “am I a bad person?” reminded me of the guilt that comes with trading in social time for time in the gym. To get to a high level of sport one must be meticulous but to get to the Olympic level one must be obsessive. That level of drive and commitment is what Nike is celebrating in this ad. Winning isn’t for everyone because not everyone is willing to make the sacrifices it takes to do so. But for the ones who will, the victory is even sweeter.