The Power of One Good Friend

As I sit right smack dab in the middle of the holiday marketing season I am inundated with ads of families, couples, parents, romantic partners.....but there's one relationship that's glaringly missing from the ads...

Friends.

Sure there are ads with female friends doing their holiday shopping together. But where's the ad with the woman/man/kid shopping high and low to find the perfect gift for their best friend?  

When you DO produce a commercial about true friendship, it stands out.

For example - This TV spot from Mastercard remains one of my all time favorites.

"Being with people who understand you......priceless."

Yup. That's what true friendship is all about.

The power of one good friend

I've written before about my family tradition of drinking tequila in the bathroom on Thanksgiving.   It all started because one year my sister and parents came to visit me on Thanksgiving.  My sister was going through a divorce.  I asked her what she wanted to do when she visited and she responded, "Sit on the bathroom floor and drink tequila."

So I decorated my tiny upstairs bathroom with candles and flowers and got a bottle of tequila and two shot glasses, and we snuck away from the crowd and sat on the commode and the bathtub and cursed men and celebrated the fact that we still had each other.

And so, a tradition was born. 

So many people feel alone on the holidays.  Why don't we see more commercials celebrating true friendship - talking about the life-saving power of having someone in your life who gets you and supports you, no matter what?

And I do mean life-saving.

I was reminded of this when watching the video of a boy who had been bullied and harrassed since the 1st grade   He doesn't speak in the video - simply holds up index cards telling his story and sharing his despair.   When he talks about wanting to commit suicide, he follows with this index card....

That's the power of one good friend.  Sometimes it's the only thing between you and the abyss. And that's enough. 

So people......this holiday season, look for ways to share stories of the power of one good friend.  Feature good friends in your marketing materials.   Tap into that universal longing we all have to be understood and supported - to have that one go-to person you know always has your back, even when you don't deserve it.

And if you're lucky enough to have that friend - reach and out tell them so.   It will make their holiday.

 

Comments

[SEO Companies]

This actually made me tear up a bit. The importance of good friends cannot be overstressed ever. THANK YOU for writing this and making my day.

[Tim Hargis]

I completely agree with you. The majority of the ads are about choosing the perfect diamond ring or necklace to surprise your significant other wise. When it comes down to it though, shopping for my true friends is one of the most important parts of my holiday season.

[church website design]

That is so true!!!
I have one VERY special friend. We studied together for 4 years and spent 10 hours everyday (besides Sat) with each other.
He moved to Germany half a year ago, but I'm telling you, anytime I feel down, all I have to do is to call him.
He knows me and my thoughts. He knows my soul. Talking to him for about an hour gives me hope and courage.
I have many "friends", but only ONE "special friend".
This post rocks!