I like everything about this. Ad from 1955.

The Advertising Award Industrial Complex Has Jumped the Shark Now that we're in the heart of awards season, it's time to recognize one of advertisings most remarkable achievements: the Advertising Award Industrial Complex. The advertising industry has an awards problem. Or perhaps an awards addiction. There are now over 150 different awards celebrating everything from creativity and effectiveness to innovation, leadership, diversity and lifetime achievement. At this rate, we may soon need an award for the best advertising award! Most are operated by media companies that have perfected a rather ingenious business model: Charge to enter. Charge to attend. Charge to receive the award. Charge to sponsor the ceremony. Its the ultimate full-funnel monetization strategy. And unlike most advertising campaigns, the conversion rates are spectacular. Now, don't get me wrong. Awards serve a legitimate purpose. They recognize excellence, celebrate achievement, inspire talent and elevate our industry. Many recipients are thoroughly deserving. But let's acknowledge the elephant in the ballroom. Some awards have evolved into thinly disguised pay-to-play schemes where the primary qualification isn't achievement. It's a corporate credit card. And when everyone gets a trophy, the trophy loses its meaning. Which raises an uncomfortable question: Are advertising executives really that narcissistic? Or just that insecure? Or have they simply embraced the charade because awards make great pitch-deck fodder? Apparently, all three. We work in an industry dedicated to manufacturing desire, yet we seem incapable of satisfying our own need for validation. We've created an entire ecosystem of organizations selling recognition to people seemingly desperate to be recognized. And the irony is delicious: an industry obsessed with measuring ROI rarely questions the ROI of its own vanity. To be clear, Im not suggesting we eliminate awards. Genuine achievement deserves genuine recognition. But perhaps we could use a little less self-congratulation, a little more selectivity, a little more scarcity and a lot more credibility. If I read one more LinkedIn post beginning ‘Im humbled...’ Im going to scream. Apparently, humility now comes with a trophy, a photographer and a LinkedIn engagement strategy. And if your sense of accomplishment depends on a hunk of lucite, you might want to spend less on entry fees and more on therapy. And if this post offends anyone, I sincerely apologize. I hope you'll still consider me for a Lifetime Achievement Award. Terence Kawaja Award-Winning Investment Banker