Have you ever been… bored with your work? So bored that you knew it was time to do something different?
This week on Daily Creative, I had a great chat with Jesse Cole, the high-energy founder of the Savannah Bananas, for a wildly entertaining conversation about turning work on its head—and making “fun” the main event. Jesse shares how he transformed his own boredom with traditional baseball into an international sensation by unapologetically embracing spectacle, creativity, and a relentless pursuit of memorable experiences.
From risky banana suit-wearing to selling out stadiums, our chat revealed the power of being unforgettable, the value of constant innovation, and what changes when you put fans (and joy) first.
Five Insights From the Episode
1. The best creators build things they would love themselves.
Jesse Cole didn’t just stumble into a new model for baseball entertainment—he intentionally set out to make games he would enjoy, borrowing inspiration from Walt Disney and George Lucas. Whether you’re running a business or leading a team, it’s easy to fall into the trap of “what’s always been done.” But building for your own delight is contagious. When you’re genuinely excited about what you’re creating, both your team and your customers can feel it, and that energy is magnetic. Would you be your own biggest fan if you were experiencing your work as a customer?
2. Don’t play by the industry’s rules—borrow brilliance from elsewhere.
Jesse realized that making marginal improvements within baseball would never attract crowds—so he studied showbiz: Disney, Lucasfilm, even the Grateful Dead. He didn’t want to make baseball slightly better; he wanted to make it unforgettable by grafting the best of other industries into his own. True innovation often comes from looking outside your bubble, identifying winning concepts, and remixing them in unexpected places.
Where could you scan outside your field to discover a new approach or spark an idea?
3. Your worst problem might be your greatest opportunity.
Jesse’s first GM role was for a broke, struggling team with only $268 in the bank. Instead of retreating, he viewed the desperate scenario as a giant blank canvas—no reputation to lose, only creativity to gain. From abysmal attendance to wild, zany experiments (like grandma beauty pageants and “Dig to China” nights), he proved that adversity is often the fuel for innovation—if you have the courage to embrace it.
What constraints or setbacks could you treat as your next launchpad for bold experimentation?
4. Obsess over new ideas and never stop experimenting.
The Savannah Bananas thrive on constant invention and iteration, debuting 10-15 new wild moments every night—just like SNL’s relentless pursuit of fresh material. The team spends each week pitching, refining, scripting, and rehearsing, always prioritizing “the next thing” and collecting feedback in real time. This culture keeps things exciting for fans and creators alike—and it’s why people want to come back, just to see what might happen next.
What’s stopping you from trying something totally new in your work this week?
5. Focus on the experience, not just the marketing.
Despite their massive following, the Bananas spend nothing on traditional marketing. Jesse’s team invests in deliverable, sharable moments that make fans eager to spread the word. Everything is about the live experience, from banana-themed antics to genuine fan interactions, and every new idea is tested in front of real people. When your product or event speaks for itself, marketing becomes what you do—not what you say.
How could you let your work’s “show” do the talking instead of relying on promotion alone?
Remember: according to Jesse Cole, “Create something you would never get bored with. If you don’t ever get bored with it, good luck to that fan who comes for the first time—they’ll have to come back just to see what they missed.”
This week, think about what makes your work worth talking about—and how YOU can have more fun in the process. Brave, focused brilliance starts with a willingness to do things differently.
