"What would ___ do?"

Stuck on a big marketing problem? Here’s a simple brain hack: ask, “What would my hero do?” This question pushes you out of your own head and into a smarter one.

Marketing Analysis

Instead of looping on the same ideas, imagine how your favorite marketing legend or business icon would think. Would they simplify the message? Test three variations? Double down on an emotional story?

Why It Works

• Creates instant objectivity
• Forces different mental models
• Breaks emotional attachment to bad ideas
• Boosts creativity through role-play

Examples

• Apple asks, “What would Steve Jobs cut?” before a new product launch.
• Nike often channels “What would Phil Knight risk?” in bold campaigns.
• Marketers testing ad copy imagine their hero making it punchier and faster.