People like us do things like thisis one of Seth Godin’s mantras. But what happens when the people you seek to serve live lives that you cannot begin to comprehend? How then are you to relate your art, your vision to what they seek? How can it be possible for you to meet them at their level? Even more important, how do you communicate that you can? Certainly, you cannot drive the same car as they do, wear the same clothes, even eat at the same restaurants.
Such is the challenge of power and ultra luxury. The answer, of course, is that is has nothing to do with the external and everything to do with emotional connection and a singular purpose to what you, your art and your creative business are all about. Of course, the image you wish to portray is for you to decide and that is vitally important. You may not be able to afford what your clients can, but if organization is your thing, having a messy workspace or car is not going to get it done.
Which leads me to the largest point. You are not getting hired to be your clients’ friend, you are their to be their guide. Friends accept you as you are, warts and all. Clients do not. Clients expect that you have vision, a monomaniacal manner that manifests in your ability to create great art for them. You are there to fill an emotional void and, in so doing, transform their lives. The object of transformation transcends artifice and finds itself squarely in the essence of humanity. Most creative business is the happy business — to create joy for clients so that their lives are ever uplifted by the work.
If you allow yourself to go to the responsibility of creating joy, to transform, you will understand that art transcends its medium always. It will never be about the thing or how many things each of you can acquire given your station in life. It will be about what you are able to accomplish for your client that they could never do on their own. That said, you have to give them the triggers that let them know you are that very person (or firm). If you consider your work to be global but have not traveled or at least immersed yourself in the culture you seek to interpret, that is a non-starter. Such is the power of niche and the prerequisite of radical authenticity. Would you listen to Rick Baylessif he had never been to Mexico?
Own your purpose so that it becomes immediately apparent not that you are capable of producing great art (that is assumed), but as to what lies underneath. People like us do things like this means that you can see the human need to be uplifted and you actually know the who, what, where, how and why of how to do just that for your client with your art and your creative business. It never means to be in service with an overarching desire to supplicate and be invisible. It means to be of service. You know the way and everyone is better off if they follow you. This is true empathy — knowing your gift, who will most appreciate it and setting about doing what it takes to share it with those that care.
