I was sitting with an agency friend of mine.
And he contrasted how different clients come up with different colours.
One of their clients is a wonderful, super-rich, happy businesswoman. She has built several businesses, and despite that, remains one of the humblest, kindest, and most secure people they have known.
She says sorry if she is on a call when my friend calls her.
She trusts them completely.
Never micromanages.
Appreciates often.
Shares her PoVs.
Is hands-down on her work.
Whenever my friend says “I am on leave but I will take care of work in advance” she says immediately on listening the word leave: “Superb. No problem. You go…” But then my friend has to tell her that work will be done…
And most importantly, she is secure in who she is as a person.
As a contradiction, there was a client this friend worked with in the past, who:
- Micromanaged every single thing
- Had no opinions but want to be “successful” because they hadd hired my friend!
- Hated ChatGPT because that meant my friend was not doing their work well. (But their staff member sent my friend notes of their PoV that were 100% GPT generated! Okay.
- Never took my friend’s first name
- Does not trust my friend with respect to the points of view they give based on their vast client and agency experience, and suggested “My friend should do as suggested” and drive results. You don’t hire smart people to tell them what to do. You could hire dumb people as well, for that. You hire smart people for them to tell you what to do. Bro, it’s your money at stake!
- Call their own work that my friend did for them as “random gyan” – basically disrespecting the art of their own labour.
Life, I believe (so does my friend), is too short to spend it with people who disbelieve themselves, let alone disbelieving you. No amount of money could ever compensate for the loss of self-confidence that comes with working with people like this.
Spend time figuring out and trying to work with people who trust you, and care for their as well as your growth.