With all of the “expert” advice coming to creative business owners these days, it becomes easy to forget that there is no spoon. The reference is to a line from the movie, The Matrix. One way to interpret the quote is that reality is an illusion, and once you know that you can shape it as you wish. A little far out philosophically for me and certainly for my blog. I prefer the thought that the world is as it is, but the reality of the world is how you choose to see it.
Seth Godin, in Linchpin, tells the story of Richard Branson being trapped in the Caribbean (before he started Virgin Airlines). The plane he was to fly on was cancelled and there wasn’t another one until the next day. Sir Branson went to the charter desk to ask how much it was to charter a plane. Then he put up a sign: one-way ticket to Virgin Islands ($79), one-time only, limited seats. He sold them all in ten minutes, covered the cost of the flight and booked the charter. He got to the Virgin Islands a half-hour later than scheduled.
All of the blogs, seminars, conferences, workshops, etc. out there are completely worthwhile, provided you take them for what they are – an ability to expand your understanding of your world as it is today and even what it might look like tomorrow. However, it is fools play to confuse the information you receive as THE reality or, worse, an immutable truth for your creative business.
I am not talking here about technical skills, such as maximizing your website/blog for SEO, learning CAD or accounting/bookkeeping basics. The availability of expert information that will make you a more informed artist and businessperson is incredible. You should be forever learning and it has never been easier than today.
What I am talking about are those experts that are telling you how to apply the technical information to your creative business. Just because someone has a background in law, accounting, finance, marketing, communications, web development, or retail doesn’t mean their advice on that topic as it relates to creative business will work for your creative business. Only you can say whether your creative business needs an iron-clad client contract, Quickbooks, a detailed capital structure, a one, two and five year marketing plan, a web site/blog with all of the latest bells and whistles or even to price your work by doubling what it costs you.
No matter how similar (or big) the shoes the person you are listening to has, they are not yours. And, at the end of the day, the only person with the right answer for your creative business is you.
{ 13 comments }
It’s so easy to forget that no one really knows all there is to know about success for another person’s business. Thank you for sharing your insight and reaffirming that fact in my head – I needed that. 🙂
This post comes at a time when I’m feeling simply overwhelmed with the blog/comment tsumani. I suppose we all have our opinions, but I’m so happy to see you expressing out loud what I’ve been thinking recently, to focus on our business and take the rest in stride.
As usual, you write exactly what I need to hear when I need it. Get outta my head! : ) Thank you!
Great post Sean and SO true!
That’s how Virgin Airlines was started? Hooo boy! THAT is thinking outside of the box!
Very well said. As helpful as workshops are, one must always realize that there is no ‘one size fits all.’
LOVE it!! Very Very True!!
Great post Sean. Thanks for the inspiration. – Rudy
Nicely stated, Sean.
There are as many paths to success as there are travelers. From my own experience it has sometimes been difficult to be make my own trail when others are offering perceived shortcuts. Learning to trust my inner voice is one of the most important things I’ve done for my business.
Thanks for this reminder to trust our instincts and remain true to our own journeys.
Great post! Definitely something we should all keep in mind.
Great post and well said. We’re all looking outside of ourselves for answers but you will never find them there. Get inspired and then go within to figure out what is best for you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Great post. I have been kind of blown away by all of the expert circuits that have developed over the last year or so. It’s truly incredible. And they are expensive to boot.
With that said, my rules of thumb are always this..
1. can I learn something that I don’t already know?
2. does the person who is teaching me have solid “I’ve-done-it-before-and it-worked” experience to back it up?
3. would my nerdy but cute husband Tait find it interesting?
If the answer is yes to all three, I’m all over it. Otherwise, I’m out. And when all is said and done, I try to remember that even the smartest of smarty pants are wrong sometimes. Like you said Sean, it’s up to ME to figure out what’s best for my business.
I love Sean’s blogs, they inspire and make me think, and every one clearly shows that he is drawing upon both his experience and from listening to his clients and others.
Great post, and great comment by Abby.. I’d like to highlight her second point…. “does the person who is teaching me have solid “I’ve done it before and it worked” experience”.
I’ll be brief (not my norm!) and make a few quick points on how to select consultants to assist you with thinking about your business.
– Do they have proven experience (per above) relevant to your business needs ?
– Will they listen and advise based upon what you tell them ? It is your business, you don’t need someone who won’t tailor their thinking and advice based upon your unique situation and needs.
– Are they creative in their thinking ? This is important for any business, but particularly for a creative industry business !
– Are they “do-ers” or just talkers ? You want someone who doesn’t just inspire and inform, but also helps you make it happen.. ideas are nothing without execution.