The crisis of cold feet.

Fair warning: this rant is based on recent events.

A colleague of mine was hired to rebrand a small company, then hand-slapped for pushing the envelope. “Let’s not deviate too much from where we are,” she was told.

A class of master’s students shared that they feared questioning the corporate process. “I might get fired.” Are we building a workforce of wusses?

What do you do when despite your best advice & experience, your client has their fingers in the ears & is reciting “La La La!” Keep pushing? Acquiesce? Walk?

The question was posed anonymously in a network forum I recently attended. But it could have been asked by anyone. Because we’ve all been there before.

We are experiencing a crisis of cold feet.

Now given an uncertain economy, tight budgets, ROIs, & the very real pressure of management & boards, I get the CYA client trepidation. Companies have mouths to feed.

And not everyone has the luxury to say “Fuck it.” People in vulnerable positions have to just suck it up.

News flash: The minute a brand becomes formulaic, the clock starts ticking.

Anyone who is not at the top of their game is fair game.

Ultimately, mediocrity is never good for anyone.

As a client, you potentially miss out on game-changing ideas that just might transform your business.

As a creative, your integrity & reputation suffer. In the end, you own the work even if it sucks.

“I can’t think of anything more heartbreaking than starting with an idea you love & allowing people to change it to the point it’s unrecognizable. It goes out into the world to succeed or fail & you have to look at it & say Where’d that come from?” said Emmy Award-winning actor & director, #Dan Levy during #BOF Voices 2023. “I have no problem saying if we can’t do it right, we won’t do it. We’ll find another idea.”

I’m with Dan. Before I began my-sexy-on-paper job in corporate America, I promised myself that no matter how soul sucking the comments from the higher-ups were, I’d never just hack it out to survive. I’d always deliver my best. Sure, I got banged up. But when the gig was up, I was able to exit stage left with my integrity & dignity intact.

Yes, there’s risk involved. But what of any value in life doesn’t come with some risk?

The fact is, it’s up to all of us to demand better.

If you’re a client, demand more of your agency.

If you’re an agency, demand more of your brands.

Damn straight, creativity & corporate goals can come together to produce something remarkable & revolutionary. It just requires courage, commitment & some cojones.

For something to be successful, you’ve got to preserve your passion. Give it everything you’ve got. Everything it deserves. And fight for the integrity of the idea from beginning to end.

Above all, believe wholeheartedly that good enough is never fucking good enough.

Rant over. Now hot foot it outta here & do something great.