Quick Takes Report

What’s inside?

Hidden among the tumultuous past twelve months are moments that inspire the optimist in us. As we write this, COVID breaks records, a divided country struggles to unite, and a chaotic onslaught of headlines continues.Yet we cannot overlook the economic upswing, unprecedented growth, and rapid innovation transforming so many lives. We see yearning for close connection with each other again. We see patterns and insights that inspire us.

When hit with unexpected forces, we can choose to either push against them or adapt to the pressure. Since each traumatic event is different, there isn’t one right choice. For business leaders and marketers, this year has changed everything. It’s been more than a single challenge. It’s not as though these challenges were merely head winds.

The challenges we faced in 2020 hit us hard, and from the side. So what makes a side wind different from a head wind? Ask any airplane pilot. Pilots have to master the challenge of landing a plane through unexpected gusts from the side. The landing is entirely different than when faced with a head wind. To land safely, pilots use a technique called a “crab landing” that compensates for the side wind by positioning the plane at an angle to avoid striking wings on the runway.

For brand and marketing agencies, it’s time to create our own angled approach. To act. To accelerate. To adapt. If we succeed in the face of threatening side winds causing unbalance in so many industries, we can flourish. In this first edition of our annual insights report, we share ten observations that we hope help you navigate these disruptive forces and even take advantage of them.