Every company in media has a “kid in the corner.”
The new person, or the tiny team parked in a spare room. The group with a strange name that nobody understands yet. They get a quick mention at the end of a meeting. “Oh, and this is Sara. She is looking into that new thing. Help her if you can.”
I have watched this story play out for more than two decades.
At first, nobody pays attention. The kid sends calendar invites that get ignored. They ask for five minutes and get ninety seconds. People say, “We are fine the way we are. Why change what works?”
A short story you might know
Years ago a young specialist was dropped into a meeting I was in. Someone mumbled that he was “exploring HD.” People nodded and moved on. He kept showing up. He kept asking questions. Then the conversation in the market changed. Costs dropped. Clients started asking.
The question came from upstairs: “Do we have anyone on this?”
We did. He was ready. He had a one pager with costs, timelines, and a small trial. In a week he went from invisible to indispensable.
Swap “HD” with “IP,” “cloud,” or “AI,” and you have seen this too.
Include in this group the people from “digital”, the YouTubers, or the content creators. All of them have been ignored and underestimated.
Here is the point. Being the kid in the corner is not about age. It is a season that can happen to any of us when we push a new idea. Many of you have been there. Some of you are there today.
This edition is not to convert you into that kid. It is to help the rest of us see them, remember when it was us, and make room for them to do useful work.
Three reminders for the rest of us
1) Remember when it was you
Think of the eye rolls you felt. The small wins that kept you going. The person who gave you ten minutes and changed your path. Hold that memory when the new person walks in.
2) Make space for early work
Give a clear question and a time box. Ask for the smallest test that helps today. Offer one veteran as a guide. Praise the behavior even when the result is mixed.
3) Share the credit and protect the person
Move blockers. Redirect sarcasm. Celebrate honest learning. Make sure the win has their name on it.
How to help without slowing the show
Invite them to the preproduction call. Give them one defined topic and ten minutes.
Pair them with a trusted veteran for one segment or one workflow.
Ask for a one page update: problem, small test, before and after, next step that costs almost nothing.
Give a tiny budget and a clear boundary. Stop if it hurts live.
Make a warm intro to one decision maker who can clear the next obstacle.
Debrief with kindness. Keep notes, not drama.
What to say
If you are a peer: “Sit with me and explain me exactly what is what you are working and how it can help me and the rest of the team.
if you are a skeptical veteran: “Teach me the before and after; if it saves five minutes per job, I will back a small test.”
If you are a manager: “Your goal is one small win we can repeat. You have a big chance and a tiny budget. Come back with before and after.”
If you used to be that kid
Send a thank you to the person who gave you a seat. Share one page from your old pilot with someone who needs it now. Tell the story in your next team meeting. Nostalgia is not a luxury. It is a tool that keeps the door open for the next person.
A simple reminder
Innovation is not one giant leap. It is small useful steps. If someone walks in with a new idea, treat them well. If you were that kid once, pass the favor on. Either way, you win. Either way, the work gets better.
What version of this story have you lived? Hit reply and tell me. The best ideas will help the whole community.
A big thank you to Leka Peres, who became a Founding Member of this newsletter last weekend.
Leka is a Brazilian professional with global experience in broadcasting and storytelling with an impressive record working in action sports and entertainment.
Looking forward to learning more from her.
Thanks for reading and for your support.
If you found anything interesting here, share it with a friend that might benefit from it.
Oscar S.