The 30% Mindset for Creative Success
Simon Hodgkins
? CMO ? President ? Founder ? Investor ? Editor in Chief ? Podcast Founder & Host
Steve Coogan, the actor and writer, said, “30% of the stuff I write gets made.” On the surface, this might sound discouraging—implying that 70% of his work never sees the light of day. But in reality, this quote carries a deeper truth that resonates beyond the world of film and TV. It speaks to the fundamental nature of creativity, innovation, and success: output matters.
Creativity is a Numbers Game
Whether you're in marketing, content creation, product design, or entrepreneurship, the principle remains the same—your best ideas emerge through volume. If Coogan only wrote things he knew would get made, he’d likely produce far less and miss out on his best work. The reality is that creativity is unpredictable. What resonates, what gets approved, what connects with an audience—these things can’t always be planned.
For every successful marketing campaign, there are countless rejected ideas. For every best-selling book, there are discarded drafts. For every viral social media post, there are dozens that go unnoticed. The key? Keep producing.
Why You Should Embrace the 30% Rule
1. It Takes Iteration to Find the Best Ideas
Creativity isn’t about waiting for a perfect idea—it’s about putting ideas into the world and refining them as you go. The best brands and creatives know that success often comes from iteration, testing, and learning from failures.
2. Failure Is Part of the Process
Too many people fear rejection or imperfection, leading to creative paralysis. The truth is, a high failure rate isn’t a sign you’re doing something wrong—it’s a sign you’re actually doing the work. If 100% of your ideas are getting approved, you might not be pushing the boundaries enough.
3. Quantity Leads to Quality
Some of the greatest creative minds, from Picasso to Maya Angelou to Thomas Edison, produced a staggering amount of work. Not all of it was genius—but by creating more, they increased their chances of producing something exceptional. Your best work comes through the process, not before it.
How to Apply This Mindset
Summary
If one of the most successful writers in entertainment only sees 30% of his work get made, why should the rest of us expect a perfect batting average? Creativity isn’t about guaranteeing success with every attempt—it’s about continuing to create despite uncertainty. The more you produce, the more you learn, and the more breakthroughs you’ll have.
So, keep going. Your 30% is waiting.
Founder | Serial Investor | Remote Talent & Community Executive | Connecting Global Workforces | Remote.com Top 50 Influencer | Chief Well-Being Officer
2 天前Loved this approach ?? If you wait for the right moment, the right circumstances, the right decisions etc. success will hardly come. There’s magic in action. Nike’s slogan has been my motto over the years; Just Do it ??
CMO | Board Member | Advisor | Coach
2 天前Thanks for sharing. I find that waiting for "perfect" slows momentum and creativity can be a numbers game. That whole concept of the 30% rule is a great reminder that iteration beats hesitation every time. The question is how do you balance between pushing out more work vs. refining what’s already in progress?
I turn time-strapped founders into extraordinary CEOs by installing a Growth OS that boosts revenue by 30% and frees up 10+ hours weekly in 90 days. | 7x Entrepreneur | Business Coach
2 天前Simon Hodgkins this is such a refreshing take on creativity too many people get stuck waiting for the perfect idea instead of just putting in the reps the 30% rule is a reminder that volume isn’t just about quantity; it’s about giving yourself enough shots on goal to create something truly exceptional makes me think: if failure is a necessary part of success, then maybe we should celebrate the 70% just as much as the wins.
Should have Played Quidditch for England
2 天前There is a story that the writer Jimmy McGovern tells about when he was writing for the soap opera, Brookside. He wanted a swear word in it, so he wrote it in the script 7 times. At the editorial meeting, he was beaten to remove the word 6 times. But he got the one he wanted left in the script.
Chief Marketing and Communications Officer and Member of the Executive Board at Serrala | MD Spain | B2B Tech, SaaS, Fintech | Women in STEM Advocate ??
3 天前Yes!! this is so true, not every thought and idea sees the spotlight, but those are the things that shape the ones that do. Here's to unseen work that makes the published work possible ?