TIME magazine has announced its list of the world’s 100 most influential people of 2009 and we're more than a bit chuffed here at Gizmag. That's because brand futurist and author Martin Lindstrom is on the list and Martin has previously worked with several of Gizmag's core team. Martin was selected in the category of Scientists & Thinkers for his groundbreaking work on neuroscience and branding. His latest book Buyology – Truth and Lies About Why We Buy has been translated into 37 languages and is on almost all major best-seller lists worldwide. Buyology is based on the world’s largest neuroscience study on brands and advertising (peering into the brains of 2,000 consumers across five countries) and questions a range of conventional thinking within the advertising and marketing community. Good on yer Martin!
“I am absolutely thrilled to bits about the TIME honor” Martin Lindstrom says. He continued, “Since I began this amazing journey some 4 years ago my mission has been to introduce a new and more reliable way to understand our unconscious mind in a commercial context. Today, nine out of ten new brands fail and the main reason they fail is because conventional research simply no longer works. Something new is required, and that “something” is a combination of science and marketing.
The fact that TIME feels my work has had such strong influence on the world gives me hope that we’re on the right path to uncovering the next generation of branding and advertising”
The TIME 100 list is an annual event which over the past decade has included personalities such as U.S. president Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, the Dali Lama, Pope Benedict XVI, Steve Jobs, Hillary Clinton, Rupert Murdoch and Nelson Mandela.
The honor is given to people recognized for changing the world within one of five categories: Leaders & Revolutionaries, Builders & Titans, Artists & Entertainers, Scientists & Thinkers, and Heroes & Icons. Within each category, the 20 most influential people (sometimes pairs or small groups) are selected, for a grand total of 100 each year. Managing editor of TIME magazine; Richard Strengelis says: “Influence is hard to measure, and what we look for is people whose ideas, whose example, whose talent, whose discoveries transform the world we live in. Influence is less about the hard power of force than the soft power of ideas and example.”
Check out this comprehensive preview of the Buyology book with video, read this authoritative book review, and buy the book in print or audio format. Martin also has an excellent video blog and an array of learning resources about the art and science of branding.
Martin has previously worked with several of Gizmag's inner sanctum, having worked at advertising agency Clemenger Interactive with Gizmag's Mike Hanlon and David Fromant, and internet measurement company Hitwise, where Gizmag's Noel McKeegan, Tim Hanlon and Mike Hanlon also worked.
Congratulations to Martin from the entire team!