As a marketer, it’s inevitable that you will start to pay more attention to the ads all around you. You’ll start to notice where people are advertising, what they’re saying, and even how people respond to it. Chances are that you’ll be able to see through some sneaky messaging, or have an opinion on the call to action they’re using.

The truth is, just like it’s important for any business owner to stay on top of the competition, it’s important for any marketer to make themselves aware of what else is out there. You certainly won’t think of every great idea, but you can learn from those who do.

This is a commercial T Mobile recently came out with to mock AT&T. The reality is that T Mobile has been using a series of ads just like this to separate themselves from the iPhone. But they got the exact concept for the idea from Apple’s original Mac vs. PC campaign.

These commercials have been parodied time and time again, but T Mobile is seeing some real success from the ads. Now, I’m not saying that stealing ideas is the best way to win in the market. But a good marketer will be able to pull certain aspects of an ad that they see and apply it to something they can use.

So keep your eyes and ears open, and start reading more ads!