Impossible Is Nothing – Adidas Slogan Explained!

Are you looking for the meaning of Adidas Slogan: Impossible Is Nothing? If yes, this article is going to explain it to you in detail.

As an entrepreneur, I’m very interested in learning about the slogans of some successful companies like Adidas. Because it inspires me to use the same kind of marketing tactic in my own business.

So in the past week, I have studied a lot of materials about Adidas Slogan: Impossible Is Nothing. I’m going to share with you my findings of the slogan. You may find it very inspirational if you are a business student or business owner.

In this article about “Impossible Is Nothing”, I’m going to cover the following topics:

What Does “Impossible Is Nothing” Mean?

This is, without a doubt, an extremely powerful message. One of the most motivating messages you can give a sportsman is that nothing is impossible.

You can probably give that message to anyone as the best motivational message. But why? This encourages the individual to pursue their dreams, no matter how unattainable they may seem at first.

It is quite remarkable how the phrase ‘Nothing Is Impossible’ is turned into the phrase ‘Impossible Is Nothing’ by inversion.

The line would not have worked as well had they chosen ”Nothing is Impossible” – you lose an important element of depth.

There are two ways to read the line.

1. Abstract View

The act of doing the impossible and achieving it “is” nothing. It is easy. It is simple. This reading of the line implies that it minimizes our wildest dreams into something achievable, something we can achieve every day. It is my preferred reading of the line.

As a method that can be applied to daily life, it is no doubt inspired by the dedication and desire required to reach the heights of athletic excellence Adidas empowers its sponsors (and consumers) to reach. Even so, it reads quite existential when you look closely.

”Nothing” evokes images of emptiness, loss, failure, and so on, juxtaposed with the triumphant, joyous images connected to the ”impossible”, creating a light vs dark tension. 

Again, this is a riff on the emotional roller coaster experienced by elite athletes, particularly those who suffer the heaviest defeats and greatest comebacks. But we mortals also experience it.

2. General Reading

Simply put, nothing is impossible. That is the essence of the statement. Life is a possibility. Every day is a possibility. Life is about making the impossible possible.

Because of the way the words are positioned, it can imply that the concept of impossible means nothing. Such a concept does not exist.

Because ‘impossible’ doesn’t exist, what holds you back may simply be your own invisible chains.

Whatever way you look at it, the words have a profound impact.

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How Was The “Impossible Is Nothing” Slogan Created?

It wasn’t until 1974 that Adidas came up with the slogan, “Impossible is Nothing” that is actually a quote by Muhammad Ali, one of the all-time great boxers who ruled the ring:

You might be surprised to learn that Muhammad Ali was an Adidas endorser during his peak. We now know how Adidas came up with this slogan: through brand endorsement and smart positioning, Adidas nailed the iron while it was hot.

Adidas used one of Muhammad Ali’s quotes in their 1974 ad campaign as the slogan for their brand, which was fascinating and inspirational:

“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” by Muhammad Ali

Adidas launched an “Impossible is Nothing” campaign in 1974 that featured Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali’s daughter Laila Ali competed in the first boxing match of the series at the height of her father’s career against a younger version of him.

In a second video, titled “Long Run,” seven legendary athletes from recent times were shown with a young Muhammad Ali on one of his mornings runs in 1974 (Zinedine Zidane, Laila Ali, David Beckham, Tracy McGrady, Ian Thorpe, Haile Gebrselassie and Maurice Green). In both videos, the editing was masterful and left a lasting impression on the audience.

To reinforce the brand philosophy, a series of events and celebrity-based campaigns were held based on the “Impossible is Nothing” slogan.

How Do “Impossible Is Nothing” Campaigns Work?

Adidas launched this marketing campaign in 2004 and it left a lasting impression on not just a young, sporty target audience, but a wider market as well.

It inspired, encouraged, and uplifted the audience.

As Adidas put it, it embodied “the attitude Adidas shares with athletes around the world – the desire to push yourself further, to never give up, to break new ground.”

Impossible Is Nothing

For this campaign, Adidas chose the best athletes. They emphasized that difficulties are temporary and it is important to keep going along with the slogan. Aside from that, Adidas created great commercials that fit their identity as a ‘folk brand’. 

For example, the video advertisement featuring Beckham, Zidane, Platini, Kaka, and many others. A commercial showing a football star playing with street children is extremely kind. 

Let’s take a look at the video (unfortunately, I couldn’t find it on the official channel):

In addition to Muhammad Ali himself, various athletes took part in the campaign, including Zinedine Zidane, Laila Ali, David Beckham, Tracy McGrady, Ian Thorpe, Haile Gebrselassie and Maurice Green. 

The ads stayed true to the brand’s ‘good guy’ appeal, bridging the gap between famous sports stars and the rest of us.

The Long Run

Muhammad Ali leads Laila Ali, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Ian Thorpe, Haile Gebrselassie, and Maurice Green on a run in this advertisement.

People who listen to themselves rather than others are described in the passage. Those who break down barriers, do not confine themselves within them. Those who encourage others to maximize their potential.

It is the story of individuals who are not deterred by words such as ‘can’t’ and ‘impossible’ and who achieve their dreams by any means necessary.

Through the message, ‘Impossible is Nothing,’ Adidas brings it all together and gives the world a strong, empowering message.

It is a brilliant advertisement. Through Muhammad Ali, Adidas exemplified its entire philosophy. It had a never-say-die attitude. It never gave up, no matter what. The will to win.

That’s what Muhammad Ali represented. That’s exactly what Adidas wants to help athletes achieve – perfectly exemplified through the advertisement.

David Beckham’s Story

The video above is one version of an ad created as part of the campaign.

In it, football star David Beckham recounts his story of defeat and loss and how he overcame them.

With his determination to make his country and fans proud again, he tells the listener how he came out of the darkest time of his life.

When he finally achieved that, how it felt.

Throughout the story, he paints his thoughts onto a large canvas. As a result of his success, he stresses the importance of belief, strength, and family.

As part of this Adidas marketing campaign, there are other ads as well. Another video featured over 20 athletes with the same message about perseverance, courage, and winning.

However, these three are by far the most talked about videos, not just for Adidas, but in general for their empowering messages.

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Adidas Slogan Since 2011

Adidas’ slogan ‘Impossible is Nothing’ has been a popular slogan for decades, and people will continue to associate the brand with that philosophy in the future. After March 2011, the new Adidas slogan has been changed to “All In,” the company’s most expensive marketing campaign to date.

Football superstars Lionel Messi and David Beckham, NBA champion Derrick Rose, and world-renowned pop star Katy Perry are among the stars of the show.

This ad and its message convey the idea that all of these people, these individuals who are heroes in their fields, are all in. They are giving it their all to succeed.

This accomplishes two things:

We, as viewers, are encouraged to do the same.

It shows that Adidas is all in when it comes to providing sportsmen and women with the finest equipment. The company is willing to go to any lengths to achieve this.

That’s exactly what Adidas wanted.

From there, Adidas launched a number of campaigns. ‘Your Future Is Not Mine,’ ‘Unleash Your Creativity’ and ‘Unite All Originals’ continue the brand’s legacy of spreading positive and impactful messages.

Why Is the Business Slogan Important For Adidas?

Slogans are short, catchy phrases that are frequently used in advertising. Catchy slogans are an effective way to draw attention to a brand or product. 

In marketing, slogans have long been used, but today they are everywhere, used by a variety of brands. 

Good slogans should highlight the benefits of a product. A memorable slogan will also emphasize the brand’s image. 

In general, a phrase that has meaning resonates more strongly with customers than a brand’s name alone, because a good slogan provides more than an assurance of commitment, but also explains what the brand stands for.

In marketing, slogans are important for the following reasons:

Brand positioning and recognition

Brand identity is determined by a distinctive logo, a memorable slogan, and the brand name. 

So, if your slogan is catchy and memorable, it will help create brand recognition in the market. A slogan’s tone and language will impact how your brand is positioned in the market.

Building better customer relationships

As a connection between a business and its related customers, slogans have always been treasured throughout history. 

Advertising slogans help brands be remembered by their audiences, which, in turn, results in a positive attitude toward them.

Stand out from the crowd

A brand’s slogan should be distinctive. That way, people will remember your brand. 

By mentioning the slogan, your brand can be identified without mentioning the product or brand name. 

Make your product more popular

A slogan can not only tell the audience about the product, but also about its advantages. 

A slogan describes the way people view a product. A slogan can therefore be used as a marketing strategy to enhance the appeal of your product.

Final Words: Adidas Slogan

The people at Adidas know what they are doing, and Adidas is a great brand. The commercials and branding are especially impressive.

Brand and campaign slogans for Adidas have a lasting effect – they help people recognize the brand and associate it with positive feelings. This, as we mentioned above, is an important reason for the success of the brand.

People are encouraged to push boundaries and become the best version of themselves by the taglines and campaigns. It’s all about conquering the outside world.

By using real-life examples of people who have shattered records in their respective fields, Adidas is also very clever in its use of celebrity endorsements in its advertising campaigns. In campaigns, this is true, among many others, for the Impossible is Nothing and All.

Successful athletes such as Muhammad Ali or David Beckham, Katy Perry or Derrick Rose endorsing Adidas’ products and marketing efforts reflects the brand’s mission. To do that, you must believe in yourself and give it all you’ve got to come out on top.

Basically, what do I think about? In the modern world, Adidas is one of the brands that keeps it both simple and stylish. The main strength of the brand is its popularity and reputation. Therefore, that matters a lot.

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