Robin Williams’ sudden and unexpected death earlier this week has already elicited many fine eulogies and words of remembrance. Though tragic and heartbreaking, the event is a gentle reminder of how social media can instantly extract and collate an entire culture’s shared impressions in a way that’s both beautiful and meaningful.
Here at the BuzzPlant office, reflecting on the great comedian’s passing, we’re thinking of six lucid quotes from an imaginative man who grew up immersed in creative, otherworldly ideas and works like C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, which he called his favorite book from childhood.
#1 “No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.”
Call it optimistic. Call it naïve. But Williams adherence to the belief that words and ideas really can change the world resonated throughout his life. Many marketers claim to be committed to the words and ideas behind a client. (Many more won’t even claim that much.) However, the movements that really gain traction are the ones backed by people who truly believe in the cause.
#2 “You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.”
Where’s your risk-taking spirit? Where’s your sense of adventure? Creativity? Marketing isn’t meant to be safe and boring. Take Williams’ advice. Stand on your desk. Carpe diem.
#3 “What’s right is what’s left if you do everything else wrong.”
Many people have heard of Robin Williams’ mistakes: the drugs, divorces, and drinking. But his mistakes aren’t what he’ll be remembered by. Rather, we celebrate and memorialize the things Williams did before and after doing everything wrong. In marketing, as in life, you have to take risks. Sometimes, you’ll push too far and make mistakes. But, for many of us, making the mistakes is the only way to learn the right way to do a job.
#4 “You have this idea that you’d better keep working otherwise people will forget. And that was dangerous.”
Ever feel trapped to marketing your project or company? Feel like it’s a fulltime job – and then some? The fear of letting go drives many people crazy. But you can. Turn it over to someone else. Or, take a break. You might lose some momentum, but some time off won’t send your project into the tank.
#5 “I love kids, but they are a tough audience.”
Talking to many business owners, it seems one of the greatest challenges is knowing how to communicate with teens online. The way they use social media and (don’t use) email can be flummoxing for an ill-equipped marketer. Kids are a tough audience in comedy and communication. You aren’t the first to run up against this problem! I’m a big fan of Danah Boyd’s It’s Complicated, if you want to learn more.
#6 “If you can find comedy that is personal, it will resonate more with the audience.”
Everyone likes a personal message more than a corporate one. Take Coca-Cola’s summer campaign, Share a Coke, as an example. The baseline fact is this: we’re all humans communicating with one another. There’s no such thing as genuine “Corporation to Human” communication. It’s all personal. Deciding how much to share is up to you.
What’s Your Favorite Robin Williams Quote?
Mr. Williams, we’ll miss you. Thanks for the legacy and inspiration. I’d love to hear your favorite Robin Williams quote or story in the comments below.