We always see the light bulb as a symbol of a good idea.  I like the irony in the fact that the guy who invented the light bulb, Thomas Edison, said this:

“If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.”

Does your team have room to fail?  Do they feel empowered to try new things without fear of what failure means? 

More than ever radio brands need to innovate and create.  Your team needs to answer the question, “what’s next?”  And they need to have the freedom to try things, without the fear of what kind of effect a failure may have on next quarter. 

In fact, you won’t be able to even begin to judge the success or failure of most ideas in just a quarter.

When was the last time you celebrated a brave, creative idea from your team…that didn’t work out?

So we sailed on to the sun
Til we found the sea green
And we lived beneath the waves
In our yellow submarine

Then we raise our spiritual periscope and ask for money!

Why do we start talking different right before, and especially, during our on-air fundraisers? 

I’m guilty of it.  You may be too.

Why do we think that using more prayer, scripture and “christianese” will bring those crusaders and evangelicals to their metaphorical feet, wallets waving?

“See?!?  We’re one of you; we’re quoting the KJV right before we ask for a monthly TFN!!”

What‘s more concerning?  That we do it, or that it often seems to work?

Brand consistency isn’t easy.  But being able to see and acknowledge where we “miss the target” is a step at getting it right.