--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the area we're discussing, leadership…" description: "\"In the area we're discussing, leadership begins on Madison Avenue, on the desks and in the offices of people who spend hundreds of millions of dollars ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/norman-lear-7597_buying_in-the-area-we-re-discussing-leadership_3005335.png" --- # In the area we're discussing, leadership begins on Madison… ![“In the area we're discussing, leadership begins on Madison Avenue, on the desks and in the offices of people who spend hundreds of millions of dollars buying what will get them ratings.” quote by Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/norman-lear-7597_buying_in-the-area-we-re-discussing-leadership_3005335.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/norman-lear-7597_buying_in-the-area-we-re-discussing-leadership_3005335.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/norman-lear-7597_buying_in-the-area-we-re-discussing-leadership_3005335.png) > “In the area we're discussing, leadership begins on Madison Avenue, on the desks and in the offices of people who spend hundreds of millions of dollars buying what will get them ratings.” [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership in media is driven by the massive financial stakes of advertising, which dictate content and ratings. **In simple terms:** Big money controls TV leadership. Key Takeaway Focus on audience demand and ad revenue. Themes media leadership advertising ratings economics Mood critical analytical Type media business When to use this quote - Network programming - brand sponsorship - campaign planning - budget allocation Key Concepts Business strategy media studies political economy Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do leaders have beyond profit? - How can content stay authentic under commercial pressure? A Different Perspective Creative integrity may be compromised by profit motives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/) [Discussing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discussing/) [Discussing Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discussing-leadership-4790985/) [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership Begins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-begins-611996/) [Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madison/) [Madison avenue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madison-avenue/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Offices People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offices-people-4115612/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Spend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-spend/) ## Related quotes > [First, this isn't about telecommuting, because we still have offices that people will come to regularly when they need to brainstorm together, meet with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chiat/first-this-isn-t-about-telecommuting-because-we-still-have-offices/) [Jay Chiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chiat/) > [I think the greater responsibility, in terms of morality, is where leadership begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/i-think-the-greater-responsibility-in-terms-of-morality-is-where/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [Television, introduced at the close of World War II, has become a form of electronic heroin, and it isn't even your trip. They don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/television-introduced-at-the-close-of-world-war-ii-has-become-a-form/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Madison Avenue is afraid of the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/madison-avenue-is-afraid-of-the-dark/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [ It \[culture\] invites people to diminish themselves, and dehumanize themselves by behaving like machines, meme processors of memes passed down from Madison Avenue, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/it-culture-invites-people-to-diminish-themselves-and-dehumanize/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Wrong' training can be a very innocent thing. Consider a father who allows his child to read good books. That child may soon cease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/wrong-training-can-be-a-very-innocent-thing-consider-a-father-who/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Politics is not really politics any more. It is run, for the most part, by Madison Avenue advertising firms, who sell politicians to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-caldicott/politics-is-not-really-politics-any-more-it-is-run-for-the-most-part/) [Helen Caldicott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-caldicott/) > [Ads are carefully designed by the Madison Avenue frog-men of-the-mind for semiconscious exposure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/ads-are-carefully-designed-by-the-madison-avenue-frog-men-of-the-mind/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [If I'm walking very, very fast down Madison Avenue in the middle of the day, I'll say I'm stopped 10 times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-davis/if-i-m-walking-very-very-fast-down-madison-avenue-in-the-middle-of/) [Kristin Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-davis/) > [As the great philosopher George Santayana would have said, 'those who cannot remember the past . . . should simply read Jan Van Meter's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-rocca/as-the-great-philosopher-george-santayana-would-have-said-those-who/) [Mo Rocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-rocca/) > [There is no question in my mind that we live in one of the truly bestial centuries in human history. There are plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-chargaff/there-is-no-question-in-my-mind-that-we-live-in-one-of-the-truly/) [Erwin Chargaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-chargaff/) > [There is nothing Madison Avenue can give us that will make us more beautiful women. We are beautiful because God created us that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/there-is-nothing-madison-avenue-can-give-us-that-will-make-us-more/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Calvin: Trick or Treat! Adult: Where's your costume? What are you supposed to be? Calvin: I'm yet another resource-consuming kid in an overpopulated planet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/calvin-trick-or-treat-adult-where-s-your-costume-what-are-you/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [There are certainly numberless women of fashion who consider it perfectly natural to go miles down Fifth Avenue, or Madison Avenue, yet for whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-romains/there-are-certainly-numberless-women-of-fashion-who-consider-it/) [Jules Romains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-romains/) > [They say that Madison Avenue will only pay high dollars in advertising if they get the 18-35 age range.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gless/they-say-that-madison-avenue-will-only-pay-high-dollars-in/) [Sharon Gless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gless/) ## More by Norman Lear > [When we went on the air, I didn't want to be interrupted for an act-one curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/when-we-went-on-the-air-i-didn-t-want-to-be-interrupted-for-an-act/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [In this nation, leadership is dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/in-this-nation-leadership-is-dollars/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [The American people may not be the best-educated, but they're very wise at heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/the-american-people-may-not-be-the-best-educated-but-they-re-very/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [Maybe they continued to agree with Archie Bunker - as I said earlier, you can't change people's minds, but you can get them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/maybe-they-continued-to-agree-with-archie-bunker-as-i-said-earlier/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [I think if you're feeling great about where you are, everything that led up to it had to be terrific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/i-think-if-you-re-feeling-great-about-where-you-are-everything-that/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [Life goes on pretty much the same way. I've been working on a couple of films on the side. You may see some more.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/life-goes-on-pretty-much-the-same-way-i-ve-been-working-on-a-couple/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [If there is a reason to believe in God, it would be the Havana Leaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/if-there-is-a-reason-to-believe-in-god-it-would-be-the-havana-leaf/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [In my 90-plus years, I have lived a multitude of lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/in-my-90-plus-years-i-have-lived-a-multitude-of-lives/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [America is a country of excess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/america-is-a-country-of-excess/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [We just may be the most well-informed, yet least self-aware, people in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/we-just-may-be-the-most-well-informed-yet-least-self-aware-people-in/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [The people responsible for the dollars that will buy the sex and violence so many deplore, don't even know what's going - well, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/the-people-responsible-for-the-dollars-that-will-buy-the-sex-and/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [... For all our alarm, it is clear that the religious right is responding to a real hunger in our society... a deep-seated yearning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/for-all-our-alarm-it-is-clear-that-the-religious-right-is-responding/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [The movies had a slogan at the time, to distinguish themselves from TV, that said 'movies are better than ever.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/the-movies-had-a-slogan-at-the-time-to-distinguish-themselves-from-tv/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [I think Americans have become a - much more a nation of consumers than citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/i-think-americans-have-become-a-much-more-a-nation-of-consumers-than/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [My dad called me meat head dead from the neck up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/my-dad-called-me-meat-head-dead-from-the-neck-up/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) [Explore all 89 Norman Lear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) ## More Buying quotes > [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Corporations invest in sophisticated CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, programs to effectively oversee their relationship with their customers at every point during the buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/corporations-invest-in-sophisticated-crm-or-customer-relationship/) [Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/) > [I'm being called in by all the great casting directors. It's no longer based on a headshot. I realize now what they're buying is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-gonzalez/i-m-being-called-in-by-all-the-great-casting-directors-it-s-no-longer/) [Nicholas Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-gonzalez/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Truth is, people like buying things for $0.99 and $1.99 for their digital devices. We know that from iTunes. We know that from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lee/truth-is-people-like-buying-things-for-0-99-and-1-99-for-their/) [Jennifer Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lee/) > [There's a whole generation of women who never really heard the word investment before, when it came to fashion. They've been buying things because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kors/there-s-a-whole-generation-of-women-who-never-really-heard-the-word/) [Michael Kors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kors/) > [I think buying a home is the best investment that any individual can make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paulson/i-think-buying-a-home-is-the-best-investment-that-any-individual-can/) [John Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paulson/) > [The more a prospective customer clicks on you and your stuff, the easier it is for them to make a buying decision in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/the-more-a-prospective-customer-clicks-on-you-and-your-stuff-the/) [Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/) > [“If you have half a nothing - sell it for a double something, resell half at double-price, and buy another something and a half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/if-you-have-half-a-nothing-sell-it-for-a-double-something-resell-half/) [Will Advise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-advise/) > [Every kid looks forward to buying their first JanSport backpack for school - you know my kids did!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-buteau/every-kid-looks-forward-to-buying-their-first-jansport-backpack-for/) [Michelle Buteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-buteau/) > [What is the focus of the new image infrastructure? Attention. It's all designed for capturing, tracking, quantifying, manipulating, holding, buying, selling and controlling attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mau/what-is-the-focus-of-the-new-image-infrastructure-attention-it-s-all/) [Bruce Mau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mau/) > [It’s always going to be easy to live like others or other’s life, because creating or innovating something of own is always difficult in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/it-s-always-going-to-be-easy-to-live-like-others-or-other-s-life/) [Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/) > [The truth is, if I was maybe better or funnier or prettier, wouldn't I have starred in a movie? I can see it objectively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-greer/the-truth-is-if-i-was-maybe-better-or-funnier-or-prettier-wouldn-t-i/) [Judy Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-greer/) [Browse all 1,598 Buying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the area we're discussing, leadership begins on Madison Avenue, on the desks and in the offices of people who spend hundreds of millions of dollars buying what will get them ratings.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norman Lear" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/in-the-area-we-re-discussing-leadership-begins-on-madison-avenue-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Buying" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/in-the-area-we-re-discussing-leadership-begins-on-madison-avenue-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/norman-lear-7597_buying_in-the-area-we-re-discussing-leadership_3005335.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/norman-lear-7597_buying_in-the-area-we-re-discussing-leadership_3005335.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/norman-lear-7597_buying_in-the-area-we-re-discussing-leadership_3005335.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the area we're discussing, leadership begins on Madison Avenue, on the desks and in the offices of people…” — Norman Lear", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Norman Lear", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In the area we're discussing, leadership...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/in-the-area-we-re-discussing-leadership-begins-on-madison-avenue-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/in-the-area-we-re-discussing-leadership-begins-on-madison-avenue-on/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```