Reilly Newman | Typically when something is hard to do, very few people do it. It’s human nature. As it is with owning a business, managing a team, or making an investment, these harder tasks come with a lot of responsibility and risk –—but they also have much reward.
When it comes to business, marketing, and brand, there is very little reward when the safer road is chosen. A business who doesn’t have innovation or passion, a marketing campaign that sounds just like the others around it, a brand that lacks voice or unique qualities — sadly these are the majority of cases in all marketplaces.
It’s the risk that is scary.
The risk of standing out from the industry.
The risk of investing in something that may be a longterm play.
The risk of not doing what’s “standard” to do in business.
The risk of getting attention.
The irony sets in when you think about how these “concerns” are the very excuses businesses use to explain their lack of growth, awareness, or overall success.
All in all, when it comes to risk, it’s much easier to use it as an excuse than as a potential opportunity.
The easy way to do business is playing it safe.
The hard way is to partner with risk.
The tradeoffs are obvious in that the easy, safe route comes with a sense of security, however you leave the rest of the market for those willing to take a chance or two. (And they might eat your lunch one day)
Those who are risky and take the harder path, choose an uphill battle. They have failure breathing down their neck. However, if they get it just right, the reward can be massive leading to much, much more.
From advertising and operations to marketing and brand, opportunities hide around every corner. It’s up to the business to decide if they choose to take the easy or hard way. To take a risk or play it safe.
For those who take chances, the safe players would like to thank you for pushing limits and being the first to test ideas and try new things. For those who play it safe, the risk-takers would like to thank you for creating opportunity through your absence in the market.
Which are you? Which will you choose to be?
The choice is yours.
