What’s so great about a rubber eraser? They can “wash” away mistakes and clean the slate for new possibilities. They can change your SAT answer from A to C. And they provide the peace of mind in knowing that you can have a “do over” if needed. Erasers have the power to remove uncertainty on the canvas of your creative thinking! This is a powerful role because fear of mistakes can kill the flow of creative thinking.

A rubber eraser gives us a second chance to make things right and empowers us to barrel forward with a unique idea. There’s an added level of confidence when we know that we can make adjustments along the way or start over completely.

The history of the eraser dates back to the 1700’s when Joseph Priestly found that a vegetable gum could remove pencil marks. Then marketing strategies stepped in, and Edward Nairne promoted the vegetable gum as a rubber eraser. Charles Goodyear made erasers even more common with his discovery of vulcanization, a method that would make rubber a more durable material. Then, in 1858, Hyman Lipman patented the famous pencil and eraser duo that we know and love today.

As a human being, I’ve come to rely on its forgiving grace. As a creative person, it helps me push through the rough spots to turn a “good” idea into a “great” idea. So get those ideas on paper with confidence that a misspelled word or an overextending mark can be erased without a trace.

We live in a modern world where the every-man has a chance to taste the proverbial piece of pie. With shows like Shark Tank or America’s Next Top Model, people bare all in front of the nation to prove they have what it takes to be the next big thing. Now, Jewelry Television (JTV) is offering an opportunity for jewelry designers to land their big break.

We’re excited to announce that Andrea Truan as joined Fletcher as Creative Director. She brings more than 20 years of art and design experience to the agency, and will grow and lead a full-service creative group.

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Who doesn’t love a good First Friday event? Join us downtown this Friday, March 6 to help raise funds for “Team Mandy” as Mandy Bradshaw participates in Star 102.1’s Dancing with the Knoxville Stars East Tennessee Children’s Hospital fundraiser.

Lists are a hot tactic in the world of content marketing, so as a PR pro, I thought I’d take this opportunity to put a best practice into action. As a “senior practitioner” (I hate calling myself that), my most memorable career lessons have happened during moments of failure. I’ve taken my lumps and observed others taking theirs.

Here are five hard won lessons that may help you on your personal journey to success at work (and play):

5) Embrace other people’s strengths. No one is good at everything. Know what you’re good at and where you’re deficient, and surround yourself with people who complement your abilities.

4) Be your own worst critic. If you aren’t, you can bet someone else is. Pay attention to your own work and search for ways to become better. The counterbalance – don’t take yourself too seriously.

3) Avoid burnout. We spend a huge portion of our lives at work, and there is more to life than burning the midnight oil all the time. Enjoy what you do and the people you work with. If you never feel a sense of accomplishment, it may be time to look for another job or career.

2) Be a change agent. Marketing communications is fast-paced and always changing. Don’t be afraid to mix things up and try new ideas. Be daring with your next headline. You never know where it may lead you!

1) Remain relevant. It’s my responsibility to provide value to my clients and my employer. Embrace lifelong learning and consciously look for ways to stay relevant.

We’re excited to welcome veteran Atlanta businesswoman, Melissa Trifiro, to the Fletcher team! Melissa joined Fletcher to head our new Atlanta office. She joins us from Mace North America, where she was tasked with opening their first office in North America and brought on Porsche as their first major client.

I love what Beads of Courage (BOC) does for seriously ill children and their families. They've brought beauty, color and creativity into difficult and challenging medical circumstances. Every single bead represents a pivotal step in a child's treatment journey. As a child collects beads over time, a string of visual hope becomes a colorful lifeline of encouragement. As I've become more familiar with BOC's mission, I've grown more inspired and incentivized to get involved. And this month presents the perfect time, with some great opportunities.

Jewelry Television (JTV) is the presenting sponsor for an entire month-long focus to support BOC. They have set up a page on their website for people to make donations of $5 and up. And on September 20, their Knoxville headquarters will be one of 14 national sites hosting National Bead Challenge Day. Each bead-making site will be vying to raise the most donations for BOC and the countless young children who cherish their hand-made beads. The event is free to the public and will be attended by some local BOC children. Activities go from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and include bead-making demonstrations, glass bead and jewelry shopping, and giveaways of Courage Clips and door prizes.

I can relate to the power of the beads. When my father was battling cancer, a friend gave him a cross charm to hold when he would go for chemo and radiation. That little charm also accompanied my father into two operating rooms and went with him into areas of the hospital where our family could not go. It kept him company. It brought him comfort. It gave him something tangible to hold on to. It represented the prayers, concern and love of his family and friends during critical moments of his treatment.

Through JTV's partnership with BOC, you and I can help offer that same kind of strength and compassion to brave young children who are facing health challenges. My friend over at Jewelry Television, Jade McCampbell, has written a lovely blog with more details about JTV's month-long campaign with BOC throughout September. Come and be part of this powerful (and colorful) movement of hope!