The $3.95 Joke That Made Millions 🪨
In 1975, ad copywriter Gary Dahl joked that a rock was the perfect low-maintenance pet.
He turned the joke into a product.
The Pet Rock sold for $3.95, came in a cardboard pet carrier with air holes, and included a 32-page “training manual.” More than 1.5 million were sold in months.
Proof that sometimes the best ideas aren’t complicated. They’re just brilliantly packaged.
Campaign of the Day: Milka ‘The Nameplates Revival’ by Ogilvy Poland
20% of Poles don’t know a single neighbour’s name.
Milka noticed the empty space on apartment doors where nameplates used to hang and brought them back. 50,000 custom plates were placed across seven cities, each paired with a Milka bar to share next door.
Simple. Human. Hard to ignore.
The campaign reached 21 million people and sold out 3.7 million limited-edition bars.
Proof that the most powerful ideas are often the most personal. @ogilvy | @ogilvypl | @mondelez_international | @milka_belgium
What if the trick isn’t doing more, but doing the right thing first?
In this clip, Dan Ariely and Chris Rawlinson explore a simple idea about focus, priorities and why timing matters. @danariely
A small behavioural shift that can make a big difference.
Discover more practical insights like this in our Behavioural Science for Life course at 42courses.com
Book of the Day 📘: Open to Work by Ryan Roslansky & Aneesh Raman
AI is reshaping work. The real advantage lies with those who adapt.
Written by LinkedIn’s CEO and Chief Economic Opportunity Officer, this book explores how careers are changing and why human skills like curiosity, creativity and communication matter more than ever.
Practical, timely and grounded in real data. A smart read if you’re thinking about what comes next. @ryanroslanskylinkedin
Today Sir David Attenborough turns 100. 🎉
For more than seven decades, he’s helped millions of people stay curious about the world around them. From bringing rare wildlife into our living rooms for the first time, to challenging us to protect the planet for future generations, his work has never stopped teaching us something new.
“I wish the world was twice as big – and half of it was still unexplored.”
At 100, he’s a reminder that curiosity doesn’t age. The best learners never stop exploring.
Happy birthday to a true legend. @davidattenborough
Book of the Day 📘: Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
What if the answer to burnout isn’t quitting, but working differently?
In Slow Productivity, Cal Newport challenges hustle culture and makes the case for doing fewer things, at a natural pace, with an obsession for quality. It’s about producing meaningful work without sacrificing your sanity.
A thoughtful reset for anyone who wants to achieve more by forcing less. ProfCalNewport
Campaign of the Day: Mother NY ‘M.A.M.A. Training’
Over 300 NYC subway stations still don’t have elevators. Which means mums are regularly hauling strollers up endless stairs while everyone pretends not to notice.
So this Mother’s Day, Mother NY created M.A.M.A. Training. Men Assisting Moms Ascending. A tongue-in-cheek workout class where guys literally train to carry strollers up subway steps.
It’s funny. It’s slightly absurd. But it’s rooted in a very real, everyday frustration.
A smart example of using humour to spotlight a truth people see all the time, but rarely step in to fix. @mothernewyork
Ad of the Day: Disney+ ‘Under The Bed’ by VCCP
Disney+ leans into what it does best: storytelling.
A lovely reminder that great stories do not just entertain us. They grow up with us.
@wearevccp | @disneyplus
