May Your Creativity Reward You with Licorice-Flavored Treats

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I saw a rather remarkable quote yesterday from Edwin Land, “An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail.” Is that really possible? Can a person be 100% unafraid to fail? It’s not possible for me, but I’m working really hard towards taking more calculated risks in my life – like delving back into writing after a longer hiatus than I care to admit – and focusing on what magical things may happen if I succeed rather than the worst that could happen with a failure.

It also got me thinking about our sheep. How’s that for a subtle transition? You see, sheep are basically adorable little floofsters built to eat a lot, poop even more, and run really fast…away from humans, even their human family. I try not to take it personally. It makes sense since they’re prey animals who believe safety lies in numbers. Being creative wouldn’t really fit with flock mentality.

But I’ve found a loophole – treats, specifically licorice-flavored goat treats. (Make sure any treats you pick are safe for sheep; they can’t have copper!) The catch is that our sheep have to risk failure to be brave enough to take a handful of treats. I would imagine it would take a little creative thinking to comprehend my outstretched hand might contain something non-threatening and delicious like licorice-flavored snacks. This little bribery has really divided our small little flock into creative thinkers who cast thoughts of failure to the wind and those who feel safe with the status quo. I think you probably know which group is reaping more rewards.

The same philosophy applies to marketing – you have to be creative, and a bit of a risk-taker – to keep advancing and performing. The profession is changing quickly, and if you’re constantly afraid of failing, you’re not keeping pace with the industry. As a marketing professional, you need to shirk the status quo and really think creatively, sticking out your neck for the treats and rewards (like KPIs and conversions) as you go. 

So my advice to you is to be brave, be bold, and may your creativity reward you with your own version of licorice-flavored treats.  

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