People just don’t overachieve or even averagely achieve these days… and why? How many of you started in marketing and communications with actual passion and the determination to bring value? I’d say we all did. Communicators are probably the most passionate people on this planet. We don’t do things just because, we do them because we want to see results.
If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know I’m all about getting the best ROI with everything that I do. Taking risks is how brands and companies have become successful. From Keurig to Amazon, brands have thought outside of the box to produce something wildly successful.
Do you think you can model that success without taking risks? Definitely not. People who play it safe never get anywhere in life, and companies that play it safe never beat the competition which means what? Yep, you guessed it. They go out of business. To win the game you must play the game.
You might be thinking, “Why go the extra mile just to be turned down?” I’ve had data-driven projects turned down because someone was too immature to like something they didn’t come up with, or just the politics of life intervened in actual success. We’ve all had to deal with egotistical pricks. The major key is that your career and overall success depend on your ability to take risks.
If that means finding a brand or company that isn’t filled with losers, then go there! You’re no good to a dying brand, like hello its dying! The thing about being a communicator is that even though we do a lot of miraculous things, we aren’t Jesus Christ, the son of God. We can’t give life to brands and companies that are on the verge of death. Let them sink, while you go swim. Take the extra lap when you do, and watch your network expand and your performance soar! Believe me or don’t believe me, but if you want to be the best you have to take risks.
I’m always thinking out of the box. I don’t do things to avoid the opinions of losers. I do things to bring success to the leaders who make the best decisions. You can sit around and be average all day, but it was Gary Vaynerchuk who said that “if you don’t love what you’re doing, you are going to be outworked by someone who does.” I can tell you that everyone who takes risks love what they do and they are filled with passion, dedication, tenacity, and a strong work ethic.
So it’s up to you. You can make business or go out of it. It all starts with taking a risk!
Keiana Holleman 