My son and I were talking about advertising and marketing today. He was quite surprised by the power of messages to change the way we think and behave.
His comments reminded me of the first time I watched the Apple 1984 ad (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYecfV3ubP8).
I was a student in college who had read George Orwell’s book.
I can remember watching the ad air– amazed by the movie quality of the ad.
But what struck me the most was the rejection of mass thinking. For the first time we were being told it was OK to think for yourself, to have your own dreams, to do things on your own terms and that the only thing limiting you was you (and an Apple computer!).
It was amazing to think that it no longer mattered who your parents were, what kind of education you had received and how much wealth you had. If you had the vision and tenacity you too could smash the machine and break free.
Looking back on the ad today with my son, I realized it took full circle the message of my parents that I could “be what I wanted to be” and translated it into popular culture.
And I think we are still seeing the effect of that ad.
Thank you Steve.  You taught us that not only could we dream but we really could change the way people think and dream!