Listening to Jay Shetty, renowned life coach and ex Monk, on the radio recently, he observed that linear deadlines, time-based goals and round number anniversaries were very much ingrained in our culture and were often powerfully limiting. I found myself nodding furiously as a 56-year-old who still doesn't know what they want to do when they grow up.
Similarly, the internet abounds with advice for new parents, for start-up businesses; newness is lauded. If you are freshly minted and fail, never mind, because that is the entrepreneurial way.
There is also no real, authentic prize-giving for our industry. There are pay-to-win contests. There are awards akin to carrot-dangling, motivating buyers to turn up to trade shows. There are other awards that seek to level the playing field between start-ups and well-established businesses, as if their wins and triumphs are comparable.
There are no bridal Grammys. No Beyonce-esque award for being highly creative, tenacious and innovative, yet established. Queen Bey sells a lot of records, and the industry will, rightly, reward its earners and its box office safe bets.
Am I arrogantly comparing Miss Bush to Beyonce? Kinda... Miss Bush is a bankable established ‘act,’ celebrating its 35th brand birthday. Miss Bush has had a couple less facelifts than Madonna but has evolved as any ‘retail entertainer’ ought to over the years.
