The Iced VoVo Hot Cross Bun Experiment: A case for bold new career moves

The bloody madness of hot cross buns hitting shelves long before Easter is predictable but still crazy. This year, though, it wasn’t just the timing that nudged. It was the new recipes sneaking in among the standard. And this year I took on the Iced VoVo hot cross bun experiment. 

I love bold, unexpected pairings whether in food, drinks, design, or people. They often lead to fabulous surprises. I’ll always give something a go. 

And I’ve never followed what’s ‘popular’ just because it sells. People flock to the familiar, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best. More often than not  it falls well short of good, let alone terrific.

The supermarket surprise 

In his entertaining newsletter The Night Watchman, advertising copywriter Glenn Peters recently shared his shocking supermarket discovery: Iced VoVo hot cross buns.

He shared the pic below writing:  ‘Chocolate, strawberry jam and shame, the holy trinity baked inside a bun.  Look inside. Pink stuff, white chocolate and hope.  I’m embarrassed to admit it, but THEY WERE LOVELY.

 

I told Glenn it was sacrilegious to stick an iconic Arnott’s bikkie recipe in an Easter bun. We laughed and he challenged me to try one.

For weeks I walked past the bun aisle thinking  No way, José!  But at the same time  I felt pretty guilty as I wasn’t  following my own rule of  trying out new things.

After all Iced VoVo’s are a national treasure.  And don’t forget that on 24 November 2007, then Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made mention of Iced VoVo’s in his election victory speech, jokingly urging his team to have a ‘strong cup of tea with an Iced VoVo before getting to work’.

Then this weekend I finally tried them  (Okay, they were on sale so less risk, more reward.) And by gee, Glenn was right… they were wonderful. I was cross (ha, pun intended) that I waited so long!

Here’s the proof . And yes  I ripped the pack open mid-shop because I was starving after skipping breakfast.

Why we resist the new

It got me thinking, how often do we reject new opportunities out of fear or habit? Maybe we should call these Iced VoVo Moments?

In organisations, we constantly hear the trope: ‘We’ve always done it this way’ and hiring managers  reject promising candidates who don’t fit the standard mould.  And mid career and executive job seekers who limit their own success by avoiding bold and new strategies. .

The link between food & life/career risk aversion

I also wondered,  do people who resist trying new foods also avoid other life and career risks?

In my research I learnt about Food neophobia.   Food neophobia is the  reluctance to try unfamiliar foods. Research shows people with high food neophobia (there are scales from minimal to severe) tend to avoid risks in other areas of life, too.

The same pattern appears in job searches and careers, ie:

• Sticking  to safe, familiar roles even when feeling unfulfilled.
• Avoiding  industries or job functions that are too unfamiliar.
• Resist new training that feels daunting.
• Avoiding promotion opportunities

The reward of the new & different

When I finally chomped on those  Iced VoVo buns, I actually enjoyed them  more than the standard Easter buns I’ve eaten for years. Who would have thought?

The same applies to career change and job searches. People who take more strategic risks land more interviews, more opportunities, , higher financial rewards and greater satisfaction.

Your Iced VoVo challenge

What’s one Iced VoVo Moment you can try in your job search?

• Apply for a job outside your usual networks.
• Reach out to someone new on LinkedIn.
• Experiment with a different job search strategy.
• Refresh your LinkedIn profile.
• Be more proactive rather than reactive.

Because success often comes from trying something that feels weird at first but turns out to be pretty damn great.

And for those not in job search mode what’s one thing you’ve been holding back on? Maybe it’s time to give it a go.

Happy munching and searching.