I have been seeing, reading and hearing all too often lately the following three quotes: “No one will care about my business the way I do”; “I cannot afford to hire someone to help me”; and my favorite, “It is just better if I do it myself.” These statements are attributable to many small business owners, not just creative business owners. However, the demands placed on artists to be artists AND businesspeople make the statements that much more debilitating for creative businesses.
The truth is each of these statements is a crutch, often far more an illusion than reality and mostly an excuse to justify the fear of success that exists inside a creative business owner. It is far easier to be overwhelmed by all things mundane than to be raw and exposed for what you most stand for. If you are saying these statements (to yourself or out loud), you are hiding and preventing your business from becoming what it deserves to become.
Why so harsh? Because the corollary to the statements means freedom to do what you are most meant to: create art. I get so frustrated and am deeply pained when I see and hear of artists justifying themselves out of being the best that they can be. So to take each statement in turn:
Your name might be on the door or you might be the one signing the checks, but that does not mean you cannot challenge and incent your employees to believe in your business as passionately as you do. It starts with giving employees responsibility AND authority over what you are asking them to do for you. Dare them to be wrong. You are – a lot. Giving control does not mean turning a blind eye. Quite the opposite, it is about setting expectations and providing all that you can (your time and resources) to ensure their success. Believe in them so that they can believe in you. That said, you have to give them something to believe in. Yes, you need to take a stand and say, “This is what we are all about.”
Affording help? The world today is full of alternative ways to garner the resources you need to best leverage (read: not do) those tasks you do not enjoy. Virtual assistants, part-time bookkeepers, flex-time employees, and fully commissioned sales assistants are all terrific examples of cost-effective services available. Moreover, convincing yourself that you cannot afford help is a great way for you to not have to think about what it would take to make it happen. For instance, if you are scared of hiring someone because of your slow season, what are you doing to smooth your cash flow and get money coming in the door to pay the bills when you are slow? Consulting, developing a retainer business, even starting a membership are all examples of business extensions that would make it possible for you to hire an employee to help you grow your business.
You are a human being. You rock at some things and I dare say suck at others. And even if you do not suck, you might not have the passion to keep doing the task every day. For instance, if your creative business actually produces art for clients (i.e., a florist, baker, restaurant, furniture maker, stationer, etc.), then you probably make some or all of your money on the mark-up of goods. Simple: buy your materials and labor cheaper and sell at the same price and you make more money. I could never be a buyer since I do not get particular joy out of buying the best quality at the lowest price. I would rather just have it right away. Can I do it? Sure. Can I sustain it? No. But I certainly know many people that are tickled if they get the same thing for less. That person is your buyer. You will be excited when the $200 they save you each week turns into $10,000 at the end of the year. See statement number one – find employees that love to do what you are asking them to and then give them the responsibility and authority to make it happen. They will do a better job than you ever could. Oh, and how much more excited would the employee be if they knew they would be getting part of the $10,000 they saved you?
We are all guilty of putting mental roadblocks in place. Ironically, they can give you a sense of control when what they are really doing is making you small. Control is really containment. Art, by definition, is expansive. My hope here is that you allow yourself to move past your roadblocks and let your creative business serve your art.
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Thanks again for the wisdom. We are right in the middle of trying to figure out how to outsource and “let go.”
Love this post Sean! I find that most small business owners – especially those who consider themselves ‘artists’ or ‘designers’ like myself, have a tendency to believe that their business can’t survive without them doing everything themselves… I know that’s how I initially felt during the first year. But I quickly realized that if I wanted to allow my business to grow – which it did, quickly – I had to let go of some of the control (easier said than done!) and start building a team that would help carry Lavish beyond a one-woman show. I totally agree that you have to find employees and team members who love to do what you want them to do – it’s a great way to look at it. Although I love – really *LOVE* what I do, I have no desire to become so indispensable in my business that I can’t ever take time off for fear that it will collapse without me. So now my goal is to create the systems and processes and policies that will allow the business to grow -> creating job descriptions for jobs that I currently do, the P&P’s to support it, with the firm belief that one day soon, I’ll be in a position to fill each job with someone other than me, freeing my time and resources up so that I can move Lavish in the next direction!
Whooops, didn’t mean to write so much BUT – your article today is inspiring and so in-line with what I’m striving for currently! Thanks as always for your keen insight!
thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!
I’m at a point in my business where I want to let go and bring people in to help me flourish and have them do all the things I don’t need to do.
what makes you think i have issues with control? http://twitpic.com/33mtfk
Thanks for this post. What perfect timing for me. I am stuck at the cross-road of… do I become great, or do I just keep doing the same old thing. I hired a part time employee in July and have seen improvements in the day to day office. Now, I would like to hire a person to help me with my creative workload.
Thanks for the strong talking to. I needed that.
Woahhhhh, BEST ONE YET!
“It is far easier to be overwhelmed by all things mundane than to be raw and exposed for what you most stand for.”
How come every time I read your blog I feel like I’m sitting in church? You make me just uncomfortable enough to keep me coming back. And I mean that in a good way. 😉
Thanks Sean.
Seriously, one of your best posts to date! It’s as if you know how overwhelmed I am trying to juggle a million things at once. You’re right though, it’s time to start outsourcing and continue doing what I’m passionate about.
Brilliant, and so needed. Its the old 80-20 rule that I all too often forget about. Thanks!
Absolutely brilliant and on point. I’ve often felt that no one cares about my business as much as I do, but I have had great employees, and one of my many jobs is to motivate them to stay as excited about our company as the minute they first walk in our door, excited to work for us. As I get older I want the business (s) to be self-sustainable, to be able to walk away at times and not have everything fall apart without me. I followed my passion when I started my main
business (Bella) and now it’s about making it work for my life. Owning it and not having it own you. Thanks for the reminder!
Sean, grand post, my friend! Thank you for sharing your pearls of wisdom at your workshop in Denver last week. I enjoyed meeting you. Here is a link to my review of the workshop, a few photos, and lessons learned: http://www.kern-photo.com/index.php/2010/11/workshop-review-sean-lows-business-of-being-creative/
This is so so true! I’ve been a member of PAII and one of the things they talk about is hiring people to clean rooms or do the gardening or whatever you LEAST like to do and spend your time on your business instead- so true…..
I would LOVE to write for a business- tweet, blog- so if someone is out there who needs a motivated, hard-working writer who taught writing for 25+ years, I’m ready to listen to ‘ya!
sean, as always inspiring! i love how you have the power through your writing to make me feel raw, and to be real. to open up and embrace what needs to change, what i actually in reality do suck at! thanks!