2016 @BrandQuarterly 50 Marketing Thought Leaders Over 50

Maybe life really does begin at 50

In their latest issue, Brand Quarterly honored the top “50 Marketing Thought Leaders Over 50.” And while we like to think we’re ageless over here at Blue Focus Marketing, both Mark Burgess and I were nevertheless honored to be recognized for our social advocacy efforts.

In recognizing these 50 thought leaders over 50, Brand Quarterly asked each of us to contribute our own marketing mantras for the coming year.

Here’s mine:

And here’s Mark Burgess:

Why the “old guard” still matters

We appreciate Brand Quarterly’s continued efforts to highlight the contributions of the so-called “old guard” of marketing. Sure, in just a few short years, Millennials will make up roughly half of the work force. But while these bright young minds will bring exciting and disruptive new ideas to the table as they transform marketing in a digital world, it will be the job of older generations—the outgoing Baby Boomers and the now well-established Gen-Xers—to offer their practical experience in the quest to turn new ideas into reality.

Why experience still matters

Make no mistake, experience still matters—and it always will. If you’ve been in the marketing trenches for a couple decades or more, you’ve seen a few things. You’ve watched your share of “next big things” sputter out before ever catching on—just as you’ve seen your share of Cinderella stories rise up out of nowhere and capture the world’s imagination. You know that innovative thinking matters, but you also know that it’s only half the battle. Fortunately, as the most engaged, professional, knowledgeable, and hardworking segment in the workforce, you also know a thing or two about turning those ideas into a practical reality.

So three cheers for the old guard. What you do still matters—and in fact it’s vital to business success.

Other eye-catching mantras

We’re honored to be featured alongside so many great thinkers. Here are a few mantras from thought leaders we especially admire.

From David Aaker, whose most recent book, Aaker on Branding: 20 Principles That Drive Success, continues to inspire us:

And, finally here are a few more ~ Deborah Weinstein, Alan See and Susan Borst:

Congratulations to all these vital marketing leaders. Here’s to your continued leadership in the years to come!

Marketers over 50, we want to hear from you! How is your experience guiding you in the latter half of your career? What advice do you wish you could go back and give your younger self?