The art of taking a chance.

Spoiler alert: there’s no art to it. Just do it. Take a chance. 

As we near the end of what’s been a year like no other, something that continues to come up in various conversations with friends, peers and others in business is that 2020 was the year that forced us - in some capacity - to take a chance. 

That got me thinking: why now? Why not last year when things were status quo and probably a bit more settled? The answer’s obvious, isn’t it? Sometimes we’re forced into making a decision that we didn’t feel ready to make. 

Taking a chance is invigorating. Whether it be business, life or love. It challenges the norm and it forces you to think outside of the box. It presents new challenges and new opportunities. Both of which are key factors when it comes to growth.

I had a conversation with a client recently about how best to communicate the story behind her brand: what makes her, her, and what is unique about her business. As two people whose backgrounds involve a significant amount of marketing theory and experience, we were initially of the opinion that perhaps she needed to articulate her true authentic self as a “get it down on paper” exercise, and from that write what her brand would offer to current and potential clients to become the crafted piece that people read when they engaged with her brand. 

But then we paused. We’re talking about a girl boss here. A woman who’s carved a career out of fierce decision making, brave executions and totally owning her space. This is, quite literally, part of what makes her, her, and it feeds directly into the purpose and the promise behind her brand. 

Of course, this doesn’t apply to all brands. Not all businesses are a one-(wo)man-band type operation. Although, expressing a brand’s authentic purpose - in my opinion - is never the wrong thing to do. 

Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Tell people what you do and why. The thing is, it’s not actually that easy. Crafting a written representation of what makes someone themselves, using words and a tone of voice that speaks in the way you want your audience to interpret and relate to your brand… that’s an art. 

It’s a rather personal thing; putting yourself out there to be analysed and thought about and found, and this is where being authentic pays off. Taking a chance on being real in order to connect and engage with people who more easily relate to you and your business is a brave thing to do. But let me tell you - it pays off. So, just do it. Go ahead and take a chance.