Roy Williams recently wrote a Monday Morning Memo that said…

“To accomplish the miraculous

you must attempt the ridiculous.

Before you attempt the ridiculous

This image is only to remind you forgetful people that Valentine’s is in a few days. You at least should get a card. Better yet, write one yourself.
Image courtesy of “Stuart Miles” / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

you must announce it to the world.

If you don’t have the courage to announce it,
you must at least whisper it in the dark.
Because it must be spoken.
You’ve got to hear yourself say it.
And then you’ve got to take action.

Are you sufficiently ridiculous to do this?”

This was taken directly from his memo.  Click here to read the whole thing.  I forwarded that memo on to a few people whom I know are just a little bit crazy and just a little bit genius.  And I told them that I admired them for that… and I that hope to be those things some day.

There is no way in hell that I will ever make a real difference to anyone if I decide to “play it safe” every time and not be a little bit crazy.  Whether I’m writing a blog or writing a radio ad, I better not ever sell out.  I better not ever be someone who I’m not.  I’ve made it this far and have become somewhat successful because I tend to move to the beat of a different drum.  And that’s OK, right?  If it’s not.  I’ll move along.

Did you hear what Sam Smith said at the Grammys last night?  He said,

“Before I made this record I was doing everything to try and get my music heard. I tried to lose weight and I was making awful music. It was only until I started to be myself that the music started to flow and people started to listen.”

Did you catch that?  Only when he started to be himself…

And it’s a good thing that the Brits only care about “the voice”… unlike America where all the singers have to be pretty.  No, Sam Smith is not a super model.  He’s a great singer.  He’s a human being.  And he figured out that all he had to do was be himself.

Why is this post called Radio Advertising Ridiculousness?  Well, it started out about Roy Williams’ Monday Morning Memo called Are You Sufficiently Ridiculous.  But it turned into a bit of ridiculousness from me.  I guess if I’m not being different (in a pretty big way) from the other 200 advertising “executives” or salespeople in my town, I’m not going to be happy.  I’m not going to be as successful as I want to be.

I think I hold back.

I think I care what people think too much.

On the other hand, I’m not a complete “follower”.  And I think that scares people in power.  I think that makes them nervous.  And for what?  Life is too frickin’ short ain’t it?

So, when you want advertising that is going to be different enough from the other 5000 advertising messages being HURLED at people EVERY SINGLE DAY… to actually make an impact… then I’d like to sit down and chat with you. 

Would you like to forge ahead of your competition?  Would you like to be the pioneer who isn’t afraid to get the attention needed to grow your business?  Hey… me too.

Radio advertising doesn’t have to be ridiculous… you just need your radio ad writer to be!

Duane Christensen

SIOUX FALLS RADIO ADVERTISING blog

(Head pencil sharpener at Results Radio Townsquare Media)