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Ganbatte! A Not-So-Fancy Way to Keep Your Marketing Career from Spiraling

2025

Ok, so it’s pretty easy to get caught spinning your wheels lately, right? Campaigns pile up, platforms flip the script every five minutes, and everyone keeps shouting about "viral" like it’s still 2015. As a matter of fact, that’s kind of what sets people's minds back to needing something solid to lean on — something like Ganbatte, that old-school Japanese idea about just keeping at it, no matter what.

I picked up "Ganbatte: The Japanese Art of Always Moving Forward" by Albert Liebermann and, honestly, it hit like basslines heavy on the reverb — steady, simple, but totally unforgettable. So in some respects, let's chat a bit about why this dusty little philosophy is exactly what your marketing and PR plans have been thirsting for.

Keep It Movin': Why Ganbatte Matters for You

You know, marketing and PR don't exactly throw you softballs. You might land that perfect placement one week, then watch it get buried by a dog meme the next. Ganbatte, though, kinda sneaks up and reminds you: keep going anyway. In a way, it’s like telling your inner marketer, "Yeah, that campaign kinda bombed, but who's counting?"

Very few people actually finish anything anymore — that's what makes a steady-handed director or PR ace stand out. That daily grind, those consistent "just showing up" moments? That’s your real brand.

Progress > Perfection (And Why It’s Fine to Look Messy)

Ok finally, let’s just be straight: "perfect" campaigns are like unicorns — shiny in theory, completely exhausting and imaginary in practice. So, basically, Ganbatte leans into the idea that progress, even when it's held together with duct tape and half-hearted coffee runs, actually matters more.

Clients, bosses, and audiences? They’re kinda like your distracted cousin at Thanksgiving — they're not grading you on elegance. They're watching to see if you keep showing up. Seemingly "small" wins stack up. Pretty much the whole deal.

How Resilience Got Cool Again

Frankly, "resilience" used to sound like one of those throwaway HR buzzwords, right? But now, in an era where platforms change faster than your Spotify "favorites," resilience is the one thing that doesn’t flake out.

Ok so, I’ve had my share of brand flameouts — "exciting new campaigns" that died harder than a Blockbuster membership. Yet, here's the thing: every time you drag yourself back into the pitch meeting with a half-decent grin, you’re actually getting stronger. Sort of like emotional squats — painful, but seriously worth it.

Finding Your Squad (Because Doing It Alone Kinda Sucks)

Apparently, somewhere along the line, we all decided being lone-wolf geniuses was the thing to aim for. Meanwhile, Ganbatte sort of leans more into the "village raises the campaign" vibe. So in some respects, you’re way better off linking arms with your network: peers, vendors, even that annoying freelancer who sends too many emails.

For example, my crew at Business Intelligence Group isn’t just there to slap awards on people (although, like, we do that too). We actually spend a lot of time talking with our judges and nominees, building out smarter awards programs together. Basically, collaboration means you’re not screaming into the void alone. Kinda nice, huh?

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