Brian Wright “Learn From Failure”
It’s always a good idea to be looking for that one new idea that will help create a stronger connection with your audience. Many find it difficult to try something new for fear that it may fail. Our margin of error is smaller than ever. Why experiment when it may cause you problems? Here’s why…In order to continually bring your station to the next level of product satisfaction you must find new ways to generate emotional connections with your audience and to keep them coming back for more. It’s better to have a plan that fails than to fail to plan. Calculated risks are a good thing, from on air content, promotions, contests, marketing & social media.
Is it possible that a certain level failure is actually the key to success? History would seem to indicate this. Babe Ruth, one time home-run king of baseball was also the strike-out king. Bill Gates is a college drop out who tried over and over to get someone to support his “disk operating system”(DOS). George Eastman of Eastman Kodak, Thomas Edison, and Walt Disney were all people who found significant failure before they found profound success. They learned from their failures and achieved more than most people on earth, all by trial and error.
I’m not suggesting that failure comes without risk because it does. I’m simply saying that it is a bigger risk to not try at all with a 100% effort. If fear of failure governs your decisions and your brainstorming, you’ll develop small plans with little to no growth. Your focus will be on not failing, instead of relentlessly focusing on winning. Don’t be afraid to think something through, look at all the possibilities, dream big dreams, and then make logical and intelligent decisions. Many radio stations have spent countless hours on eliminating tune-outs and no time at all on creating tune-ins.
If you need to improve your station’s position, you’re going to need to try something new. If you’re already in a strong position you’re going to need to continually keep it fresh to stay on top. Creativity, that missing ingredient in many stations, requires that you try something new. Your success or failure is bound to your ability to learn and your knowledge bank.
Dare to be great with calculated risks!
Brian is a 30 year radio veteran who has successfully served many companies over the years as Program Director, Operations Manger and VP of programming and consultant with Wright Media Group. For the last 15 years Wright has enjoyed building alliances with scores of stations in the US & Canada helping them grow in ratings and revenue. Contact Brian at brianw6187@aol.com.
