The Mazda of your dreams

The other day I was driving along here in Virginia Beach and a sign outside a Mazda dealership caught my eye. It said to visit such and such website and, “RESERVE THE MAZDA OF YOUR DREAMS!”

Now I’m no marketing genius, but I have never heard the word “Mazda“ and the words “of your dreams“ spoken in the same sentence. Unless the perception has changed considerably from when I was a kid, Mazda, while it does have the Miata which looks pretty cool, has never been known as a “dream car,” the way some folks dream of owning a Mercedes, a Porsche, even a Bentley or Lamborghini.

I did a quick internet search, and it doesn’t appear “Mazda Of Your Dreams” is a national tagline, so maybe this one dealership has gone rogue in their efforts to change the perception of their product. But it seems to me a wiser course of action would be to play to their strengths, not their own insecurities. 

When I personally hear the word Mazda, I think of words like, “affordable, sensible, family-friendly.” Again, the Miata looks cool, but Mazda is more known for those qualities. Consumers settle for a Mazda because they can’t afford a new Jag. They might have better luck being aware of that and using that to draw in new customers vs. trying to pretend they’re the Prom Queen of cars when they’re clearly not. 

I see this type of thing in more than just random signs on the lots of local car dealerships. People in my own industry of digital publishing try to overhype their own value to their marketplace. People who average 50 downloads per episode (and I know because I produce their shows) give off this air of we’ve got everything put together; we’re in control; when they’re clearly not. 

But it’s that word CONTROL. We hate to admit we’re not in control of something, especially when it’s clear we’re in that “dog walking the owner” scenario. We give off an air of superiority and false confidence to hide this insecurity, but anyone from the outside looking in can see things as they are. 

Self-awareness breeds humility. I’ve been producing my new This Is What We C.R.A.V.E. podcast for almost 6 months now. I look at my own download numbers which aren’t huge, but it scratches an itch inside me. It also keeps me in practice so I can consult clients who hire me to advise on best practices with the podcasting craft to the best of my abilities. So while the show isn’t putting up Joe Rogan numbers – not even close – it’s serving a very important purpose nonetheless.

So if you or someone you know is thinking of getting involved in the podcasting craft, we’ve got room for you. Check us out and see if we might be a good fit to work together: podcastartistry.com