--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Draper Principle Don Draper, in case…" description: "\"“The Draper Principle Don Draper, in case you don’t know, is the fictional character from the hit AMC show Mad Men. He plays the creative director of a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/301/bill-mcgowan-19272_draper_the-draper-principle-don-draper-in-case_2925982.jpg" --- # The Draper Principle Don Draper, in case you don’t know… ![“The Draper Principle Don Draper, in case you don’t know, is the fictional character from the hit AMC show Mad Men. He plays the creative director of a Manhattan advertising firm and is known for his effectiveness at pitching ideas. I based the final principle on him because I believe it’s one he…” quote by Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/301/bill-mcgowan-19272_draper_the-draper-principle-don-draper-in-case_2925982.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/301/bill-mcgowan-19272_draper_the-draper-principle-don-draper-in-case_2925982.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/301/bill-mcgowan-19272_draper_the-draper-principle-don-draper-in-case_2925982.jpg) > ““The Draper Principle Don Draper, in case you don’t know, is the fictional character from the hit AMC show Mad Men. He plays the creative director of a Manhattan advertising firm and is known for his effectiveness at pitching ideas. I based the final principle on him because I believe it’s one he would teach you himself if he were not in fact a work of fiction. The best way to stay on point is to make sure the flow and focus of the discussion plays to your strengths. If it strays elsewhere, away from an area in which you can shine, transition it back. It’s the ole Don Draper adage, “If you don’t like what’s being said, change the conversation.”” [Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcgowan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stay aligned with personal strengths; redirect conversations when they stray. **In simple terms:** Keep discussions focused on your strengths. Key Takeaway Guide talks toward your expertise. Themes communication leadership focus Mood analytical strategic Type advice leadership When to use this quote - meetings - presentations - team brainstorming - client pitches Key Concepts strategic alignment conversation control Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when a topic strays? - When should you steer back versus explore? A Different Perspective Risk of ignoring valuable divergent ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fictional character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fictional-character/) [Mad men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad-men/) ## Related quotes > [I'm able to leave Don Draper at work. I'm quite dissimilar from him in real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/i-m-able-to-leave-don-draper-at-work-i-m-quite-dissimilar-from-him-in/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [I'm not exactly Don Draper when it comes to physical attractiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-m-not-exactly-don-draper-when-it-comes-to-physical-attractiveness/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [If you're familiar with a principle you don't have to be familiar with all of its applications.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-you-re-familiar-with-a-principle-you-don-t-have-to-be-familiar/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“We adhere to the principle 'what they don't know won't hurt them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-habel/we-adhere-to-the-principle-what-they-don-t-know-won-t-hurt-them/) [Lia Habel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-habel/) > [I am in awe of Ruth Draper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-am-in-awe-of-ruth-draper/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [“Mr. Charles Dickens was serializing his novel Oliver Twist; Mr. Draper had just taken the first photograph of the moon, freezing her pale face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/mr-charles-dickens-was-serializing-his-novel-oliver-twist-mr-draper/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“As a rule, theologians know nothing of this world, and far less of the next; but they have the power of stating the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/as-a-rule-theologians-know-nothing-of-this-world-and-far-less-of-the/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [I''ll make it official. I care about Don Draper and what happens to him and I'm not the only one who does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/i-ll-make-it-official-i-care-about-don-draper-and-what-happens-to-him/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [ We didn't want to make it a parody of Don Draper\[in Keeping Up With the Joneses\] but we did arrive on this idea that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/we-didn-t-want-to-make-it-a-parody-of-don-draper-in-keeping-up-with/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [One of the striking features of the early episodes of AMC's hit television show 'Mad Men' is the similarities in the lifestyle enjoyed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/one-of-the-striking-features-of-the-early-episodes-of-amc-s-hit/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [What needs to change is the nature of advertising itself. That business hasn't really evolved since the days of Don Draper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lyons/what-needs-to-change-is-the-nature-of-advertising-itself-that/) [Daniel Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lyons/) > [I always say the classier cousin of 'Anchorman' is 'Mad Men,' because when you really look at it, why do people really love Don…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/i-always-say-the-classier-cousin-of-anchorman-is-mad-men-because-when/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [“multi-screen world of ad-wary consumers has rendered Don Draper’s big budget brainwashing useless to all but the biggest brands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nir-eyal/multi-screen-world-of-ad-wary-consumers-has-rendered-don-draper-s-big/) [Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nir-eyal/) > [I felt very comfortable playing Don Draper, because I knew that Don Draper is a character - that Dick Whitman is playing Don Draper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/i-felt-very-comfortable-playing-don-draper-because-i-knew-that-don/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [If you look at the heritage of the best advertising, you can make stuff that is great for both readers and advertisers. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-peretti/if-you-look-at-the-heritage-of-the-best-advertising-you-can-make/) [Jonah Peretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-peretti/) ## More by Bill McGowan > [“For the next three hours . . .” Wow! Talk about an interest-killer. The last thing any audience wants to be reminded of is that it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcgowan/for-the-next-three-hours-wow-talk-about-an-interest-killer-the-last/) [Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcgowan/) > [“fact, good communication is a lot like pasta sauce. The more you boil down and reduce a sauce, the more dynamic the flavor. Speaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcgowan/fact-good-communication-is-a-lot-like-pasta-sauce-the-more-you-boil/) [Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcgowan/) > [“According to Inside Apple, Steve Jobs practiced dozens of times before a big presentation, staging and rehearsing so that nothing was left to chance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcgowan/according-to-inside-apple-steve-jobs-practiced-dozens-of-times-before/) [Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcgowan/) > [“The Conviction Principle Convey certainty with words, eye contact, posture, and tone of voice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcgowan/the-conviction-principle-convey-certainty-with-words-eye-contact/) [Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcgowan/) > [“To Drive Home a Point People think that the more they elaborate and explain, the more convincing they will be. They confuse quantity with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcgowan/to-drive-home-a-point-people-think-that-the-more-they-elaborate-and/) [Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcgowan/) > [“To be more thoughtful and selective, we need time. To gain more time, we need to slow down. Yes, it really is as simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcgowan/to-be-more-thoughtful-and-selective-we-need-time-to-gain-more-time-we/) [Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcgowan/) > [“Speaking cleanly is a very Zen experience. It’s about being 100 percent focused on the thought you are in the midst of articulating. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcgowan/speaking-cleanly-is-a-very-zen-experience-it-s-about-being-100/) [Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcgowan/) > [“Gratuitous Gratitude Gratitude has a place, but don’t spend the first full minute of your remarks thanking a long laundry list of people. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcgowan/gratuitous-gratitude-gratitude-has-a-place-but-don-t-spend-the-first/) [Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcgowan/) > [“Consumers don’t want to know about the process of how something came into existence. What they want to know is: How will this product…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcgowan/consumers-don-t-want-to-know-about-the-process-of-how-something-came/) [Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcgowan/) > [“Focus on What You Want to Say, Not on What You Think the Audience Is Thinking Many people pay too much attention to how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcgowan/focus-on-what-you-want-to-say-not-on-what-you-think-the-audience-is/) [Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcgowan/) > [“Prepare, prepare, prepare. Practice, practice, practice. From here on, accept every invitation you get to do public speaking. Be the first one with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcgowan/prepare-prepare-prepare-practice-practice-practice-from-here-on/) [Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcgowan/) > [“Discomfort Many of us are uncomfortable with silence, so we compensate by filling that silence with words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcgowan/discomfort-many-of-us-are-uncomfortable-with-silence-so-we-compensate/) [Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcgowan/) > [“Five minutes before you start speaking, take a long inhale through your nose—hold it for a couple of seconds—and then very slowly exhale through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcgowan/five-minutes-before-you-start-speaking-take-a-long-inhale-through/) [Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcgowan/) > [“Being on the Defensive Many people think that the faster they talk, the more convincing they’ll sound. As I’ve said before, however, the opposite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcgowan/being-on-the-defensive-many-people-think-that-the-faster-they-talk/) [Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcgowan/) > [“The first thirty seconds of any conversation or presentation are like the last two minutes of a football game. This is when victory or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcgowan/the-first-thirty-seconds-of-any-conversation-or-presentation-are-like/) [Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcgowan/) [Explore all 33 Bill McGowan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcgowan/) ## More Draper quotes > [I'm not exactly Don Draper when it comes to physical attractiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-m-not-exactly-don-draper-when-it-comes-to-physical-attractiveness/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [“Mr. Charles Dickens was serializing his novel Oliver Twist; Mr. Draper had just taken the first photograph of the moon, freezing her pale face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/mr-charles-dickens-was-serializing-his-novel-oliver-twist-mr-draper/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“As a rule, theologians know nothing of this world, and far less of the next; but they have the power of stating the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/as-a-rule-theologians-know-nothing-of-this-world-and-far-less-of-the/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [I'm able to leave Don Draper at work. I'm quite dissimilar from him in real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/i-m-able-to-leave-don-draper-at-work-i-m-quite-dissimilar-from-him-in/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [I am in awe of Ruth Draper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-am-in-awe-of-ruth-draper/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) Browse all 6 Draper quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The Draper Principle Don Draper, in case you don’t know, is the fictional character from the hit AMC show Mad Men. He plays the creative director of a Manhattan advertising firm and is known for his effectiveness at pitching ideas. I based the final principle on him because I believe it’s one he would teach you himself if he were not in fact a work of fiction. 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