Lessons from #SXSW

If South by Southwest (SXSW) offers one lesson, it’s a relatively simple one: We need to remain bold.

While that sounds great and edgy, this may require us to define what bold means for us – both individually and for each one of our clients.

In short, we must never stop pushing the envelope if we are to avoid being rendered obsolete. We need to remain vigilant in understanding what the latest and greatest technologies are, but be true to our larger mission (or client objectives).

Platforms will always change. Trends will always shift. Cutting edge is obsolete the moment a technology is released.

While we must be more nimble today than at any time in the past, my firmly held belief was reinforced at SXSW. Just because something is possible doesn’t mean it is the right approach for us or our clients.

We can become so blinded by technology and what we can do with new innovations that we fail to recognize how it is actually applicable to our professions. We mustn’t merely work to fit a square peg into a round whole. Rather, we need to make sure we’re telling our stories on the right platforms.

This is not a new sentiment by any means, but it is more relevant the more digital our lives become. We’ll probably fall short. We’ll probably have some missteps. But, we’ll only make mistakes because we tried something new. At least, we’ll have the opportunity to learn.

SXSW should make us realize the only limitations are the ones we set for ourselves. Keep pushing; we cannot, we must not and we will not be complacent. If we do, that will be our death knell.

Eyes open.