Every year, it’s disturbing to watch Rudolph on TV and see how mean Santa and the reindeer coach are — all that bit about not letting Rudolph join in any reindeer games and what a shame it is that his nose is ruining an otherwise high-potential flying career. And poor Hermey, the would-be dentist. And the whole “Island of Misfit Toys” — that Santa would simply toss aside obviously thinking, feeling toys because of imperfections flies in the face of the benevolent, inclusive, jelly-man we all know and love. While I’m glad Santa sees the error of his ways by the end of the show, I do think there’s still an island out there waiting for rescue. Only it’s not populated by misfit toys, but by misfit ideas.

I know every “creative” who’s ever peddled an idea has come away disappointed when some higher-up hasn’t shared the vision. It still hurts to think of the really clever Christmas (errr “holiday”) card my designer partner and I created one year. Perfect image, perfect message. We loved it, the client’s marketing team loved it, but the man signing the checks, not so much. So off it went to the Island, replaced by a generic greeting. Just like that.

That card lives on in our memories (computer and mental), and every year we share a rueful chuckle over it. At least it’s in good company, out there with the thousands — millions — of really clever, really inventive ideas voted off the table and onto the Island. I can see them — waiting desperately to be discovered. To find their place in an ad, brochure, commercial, website. To finally be recognized for the bright spots of inspiration they are.

That paradise is lost out there — if only I could find it. I’d make sure every one of those sweet little moments found a good home with a creative soul to love and nurture it.

Rudolph? Hermey? Yukon Cornelius? Anyone up for a new search-and-rescue?

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An idea whose time has come was waiting there all along.
~ Carrie Latet

Christine Hollinger (aka WordPlay) helps all kinds of people in all kinds of businesses and non-profits explain what they do. You can visit Chris online, on LinkedIn, and on Twitter (as WordPlayatWork).