It's rare that a piece of copywriting has an affect on me, but this particular ad really speaks to me at the moment. It's a Nedbank ad that features actor and screenwriter Sharlto Copley, the breakthrough star from District 9 who went on to play "Mad Murdock" in the A-Team movie. The soliloquy is apparently "deliberations from Copley" on how we all fool ourselves out of taking the action that will make things happen in our own lives. I wholeheartedly agree and hopefully - with enough balls - I will soon embark on the next evolution of my dreams.
I've transcribed the script here:
We've all done it. We decide we want something to happen and then... we wait. We wait for a sign, or for someone to tell us to "Go ahead and do it!" That we have permission. Or we hope that by sheer chance that very thing we want will create itself. That it'll tap dance in to our lives and say "Surprise!" Then, nothing happens. So we watch TV and make fancy plans, waiting 'til we have the money or enough time before that elusive 'lucky break'. Or sometimes we're waiting to feel a little braver. For our fears and doubts to disappear. But there'll always be something else to wait for; until we face the simple truth. That thing we want is on hold, because it's up to us. We're waiting for ourselves. Things don't just happen on their own.
5 comments for this post
What an amazing ad. Thanks for posting it.
inspirational ad,thanks for posting the script.
Copley's words are the summary of how we decided to live our lives. We will MAKE it happen and leave nothing to chance. Take action in your life. Nobody owes you anything. Life does not owe you anything. It is up to YOU!
Words to live by.
They should be recited every morning at every school assembly.
Thank you for putting up the words.
Thanks for the comments guys. I see the ad is flighting again on TV. Love the idea of daily assembly screenings.