How To Defend Your Survivors: When the Creative Process is Like a Zombie Attack

How To Defend Your Survivors: When the Creative Process is Like a Zombie Attack

Every idea starts on a beautiful, clear day. There is so much promise and optimism at the start of a creative project like a new brand, website or a fundraising campaign. We gather round the conference room table and hatch the most beautiful plan. Then, the reports of dark happenings start rolling in. There’s the budget to think about. Well, what would the board think?

There are so many things that can get in between the realization of a good idea. These lurkers do shape your idea to make it stronger, more solid idea, but man, they are hard to hack through.

Pssst! Click on the links for great zombie video clips!

Use Weapons to Defend Yourself – In the zombie apocalypse you’ll wield blunt weapons for deftly blows to the head. In the creative process your weapons are experience, research and best practices. Have a quiver of useful articles, stories and reasons why your idea should survive.

Watch for Creepers – With every idea there is always that creeper that follows behind you, always present, never relenting. These can be the opinion of a naysayer stakeholder or something odd like the doubt about a color choice. Be strong with these creepers, even if you kill them off they will come back. Have a go to reason on why that color needs to stay or why the project will work.

Keep Out of Reach of Running Zombies – These killers are quick. It’s usually something that you know you should have taken care of, but was hoping that it would be a creeper. Regardless, these are serious idea killers that need to be dealt with. This can be a bad choice in a vendor or a major upset in your timeline. Take care of it swiftly. Put it out of its misery and move on.

That Zombie Lurking in the Dark – These surprise attacks get your adrenaline pumping. For ideas, these can be a bad focus group results or a VP stating that he hates the idea after weeks of work. Stumble backwards, gain a good footing and then prepare to defend your idea. Just because someone hates it, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t survive. Maybe you need to change it a little, but ultimately the core idea will come through.

Boom StickSacrifice One So The Group Can Survive – Your idea will not come through this process unscathed. It will be hacked down, slimmed down, toughened up. Sacrifice the slow, old and fat so your idea can see the dawn of another day.

Sometimes You Use the Boom Stick – Yes, sometimes you have to lay down the law. Know where your boundaries are. Get passionate and clear about what makes that idea work. Stand up for it, fight for it, bring a big stick.

Always Find Humor in Every Situation – Yes, the creative process can be difficult and stressful, but it’s worth it. Launching a great idea is the most rewarding parts of working. Your idea will survive!

Now, let the chainsaw fly!

 

 

 

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Kate Runy

CONTENT & MEDIA SPECIALIST

A passionate technical wizard, Kate thrives on managing online content, social media for communications, and development projects.  Kate is the workhorse of the team, pulling out amazing feats of content creation and management week in and week out. 

Prior to joining BC/DC Ideas, Kate coordinated website and social media content, communications, and advertising for Go Global NC and Alzheimer’s NC.

Things that make her happy: I love animals about as much as I love working for nonprofits.

Mishel Gomez Cespedes

CONTENT COORDINATOR

Mishel brings a passion for video storytelling and quippy social media content to the team.  At BC/DC Ideas, she is most likely editing video or scheduling the next moving social media post for our clients.

Her ear for storytelling is her greatest asset. Mishel has a unique ability to assemble content into a concise story that moves audiences to action.

A graduate of Wake Forest University she spent a semester in Spain and years serving her community through the campus organizations. Now, she is putting her passion for good to work.

Brian Crawford

creative director

Mix equal parts nerd and creativity and that’s Brian. A natural problem-solver, Brian’s ability to cut to the core of any problem helps guide our creative team to the correct solution without wasted time or money. It’s the core, this little nugget of truth, that helps our clients take the next step with their audiences.

Brian gets the greatest joy out of helping our clients realize and connect with their story. He is a true believer that everyone and every organization has a compelling story to tell, you just have to listen with an open heart.

Things that make him happy: Hanging out at the park with family, toddler-speak, hitting the focus pull, and good coffee.

Dawn Crawford

principal

The engine behind BC/DC Ideas, Dawn has dedicated her career to good. Dawn brings her considerable experience and expertise to helping elevate the nonprofit sector. Our team’s lead strategist, Dawn is often seen leading our IdeaStorms, penning communications plans, or checking in with clients.

Before launching BC/DC Ideas in 2010, she earned her chops in 10+ years of communications leadership roles for public health, healthcare and youth-focused nonprofits. Working for nonprofits is Dawn’s dream job, and she loves that her 40+ hours a week make the world a better place.

Things that make her happy: A glass of champagne to celebrate big wins, Basecamp, living in the South, seeing the world, and a well-formatted spreadsheet.