Look Underneath

No creative business is immune to the shadow of its owners.  You might think yourself fair-minded, kind, even gracious to clients, employees and vendors alike, but underneath, as shameful as it is to admit, there are likely some less than savory motivation behind why you do what you do.  Perhaps, there is an element of entitlement to take what is yours, an expectation of a little diva treatment or a sly enjoyment of “getting over”.  Dirty little secrets seldom admitted and very real.  This is the underbelly none of us wants to pay attention to and from which is borne undisclosed commissions, kickbacks, price gouging, even outright fraud.  It is also the place from which we throw, knowingly or not, our clients, employees and vendors under the proverbial bus.

I am certainly no angel and have been guilty of all I write about.  It sucks to have to admit that my motivations are less than honorable despite my desperate attempts to hold on to the “good” reason for doing what I did (and I am sure will do).  Humiliation and authentic shame is a horrific experience.  However, learning to forgive myself (over and over again) is just so freeing, accepting my humanity even more so.  We can all do better and we are all works in progress.

The problem with not looking at the underbelly is that it perpetuates a mistaken belief that you are not an actor in your own drama.  For example, you believe yourself to be fair, value-driven and completely client oriented, yet your business is predicated on mark-ups you do not share with your clients.  You argue to yourself, “I do not have to tell my clients what I make.  If I can mark-up so and so five times instead of three, then I should.  If the client is willing, even happy, to pay the price, who am I to argue?”  Or if you provide a service, your rate is whatever you think you can get.  Hey, if the client does not argue, why not?  Like it or not, you have a business that is about getting over.  So is it any wonder why clients negotiate your prices?  Make you defend what you make?  Force you to compromise yourself into a situation that belies your and your creative business’ essence?

It is on you to look at yourself and make your creative business in your own image.  If you cannot look a client straight in the face and describe how it is you make your money, then you deserve their distrust.

Employees and vendors too are a reflection of your shadow.  You should demand excellence and hope they exceed the highest bar you set.  However, if you are unwilling to stand up for a vendor when it counts – in the face of a client unwilling to pay their fees, terrible treatment, etc. – what does it say about you?  Same goes for those of you with employees.  How deeply invested are you in their failure?  Do you give them all the tools they need to succeed?  Time, information from you, resources?  You may be frustrated by an employee’s inconsistency, desire to support you, even incompetency, but if you do not own your role, then you can only hope to fix the symptom not the disease.

If the underbelly of your creative business belies fundamental truths you believe in, it is just a matter of time before you implode.  Better to ask yourself what it is you most believe in.  Look for where you and your creative business are not walking that walk.  Then change it.