Embracing the fear and giving it a good cuddle

So it’s been far too long since I put fingers to keyboard and wrote a blog. Well, I have moved office; 100 odd miles back up to my home roots in Nottinghamshire, but that’s no excuse. The real reason is that I’m human.

I’m sure you’ve noticed how some days the drive, the impetus, the get up and go are endlessly flowing, and on other days, you’ll find every distraction in the world to prevent you from starting the one project you simply must do that day.

On these days, I wonder what holds me back? Is it a lack of serotonin, vitamin D, creative block or the distraction of creating a Facebook page for my blind dog?! It’s really good! Ellie the Wonderdog! And yes, here I digress again …

Or maybe it’s the age old affliction that is the fear of not delivering the great goods? It’s probably all 4, but this last reason is unique as it is also the essential ingredient for making the work you do a success. Without the fear of under-delivering; be it a design, piece of writing or campaign idea, we would never push that boat out to be the best for our client.

And where does most of this fear come from, apart for those pesky parents we often love to blame? Well, I saw it first hand this week when the budget came out. Strike that, before the budget came out. I am sure some newspapers were geared up ready to complain no matter what was announced. Now, I’m not going to start positioning myself on a political side of the fence, but I will say that it is getting all a bit tiresome, knowing that doom and gloom will hit the front pages no matter what.

Placing oneself in a mood, before anything has occurred to create it is easily done. This goes both for the agency or for the client. Sometimes we just can’t help but prejudge. And frankly, it’s just not healthy!

Today, I need a mantra to drag me from the impetus-lacking ditch I fall into occasionally. Perhaps it’s like finding a circus mirror that continually reflects back creative brilliance whenever I stare into it. I believe the first and most important step is to recognise what I’m doing, then start viewing the fear as enabling; seeing it as the first step to creating the best possible product. Turn that frown upside down and all that!

So, Ellie the Wonderdog, you’re amazing but so are my clients that pay for your premium dog food. So fear come get me and make me brilliant!