Trick-or-treating, traditionally strolling through one’s neighborhood in costume and ringing doorbells to demand treats, has been an annual event for centuries, tracing back to those mischievous ancient relatives of mine, the Celts. Living 2,000 years ago, they believed that the dead returned to earth on Halloween, also known as Samhain. It was at these festivities that the Celts gathered to light a bonfire, offer sacrifices, and pay homage to their dead. Their costumes were made of animal skins to drive away phantom visitors, with later renditions simply dressing like ghosts and demons. At that time, they performed antics in exchange for food and drink, the antecedent to trick-or-treating. As time, influences, and culture changed, the celebration was expanded to include Guy Fawkes Night – a celebration of the execution of Fawkes for his Catholic led conspiracy to blow up England’s parliament. Protestors are treated with more leniency today!
Today, the tradition rolls on, with over $3.1 billion spent on candy and all ages demanding treats while minimizing the tricks. Let’s not forget to thank all the farmers whose fields of fresh pumpkins also decorate our doorsteps and test our carving skills.
But let’s consider this holiday as a metaphor for today’s businesses.
Creating and launching an ethical company has many tricks, often unknown until they are discovered in small print on a vital distributor contract, or when varying tariffs blow your cost predictability out the window, or when your trusted team member unexpectedly leaves. And now, thanks to AI, one of the most challenging tricks of business is determining what is real and what can be trusted.
But Halloween also offers a bit of magic: the opportunity to be whatever one wants, without limitations, to live a new role, if only for one night. It is a time play again, often an attitude we unnecessarily leave behind as we age. During Halloween, we decorate with ghosts and nocturnal creatures, creating moments of fear that awaken our souls, knowing it will be brief and temporal. It is the fear that often inspires new solutions.
So let us share the Christie & Co Halloween brew to identify and add a few tricks for success:
- Fear is a sensation and a choice that can be alleviated by confronting and experiencing, and used to find new ideas.
- If it sounds too good to be true, likely it isn’t.
- Read the small print and ask questions until it is clear and defined.
- Authentic Intelligence is more valuable than anything artificial. Value your own thought.
- Allow playtime for creative interchange. Costumes add smiles.
- Remember to treat those with whom you work. A kind word is better than candy!
And your treats…endless success and the freedom to play.
Come trick or treat with us. Our sugar-free “candy” is our professional, expert, substantiated thoughts that help you accomplish your goals.
Gillian