As much as possible, I think it’s a good idea to get a feel for how things work in the real world. Especially for me, being someone who turns to books on any pretext it is easy to think you may know something because you read it.

I thought I knew that the values that you have as a business owner definitely impact the way you run your business and the culture that ensues. It doesn’t have to be deliberate but it has an effect. What I didn’t know, which you only can from experience, is that just because you may have strong values/a strong culture it does not mean that your clients will be the same. Infact, your most lucrative relationships maybe with the complete opposite of you!

This is one of the best things I learnt from our first guest speaker Oliver Legitt of I.E Design Consultancy. I like that he has cultivated an environment where the relationships around him are important. I imagine that working for him is a lovely and rewarding, warm and fuzzy kinda experience BUT, he is was quick to explain that he runs a business and people get fired and hired. Tough decisions have to be made. He also pointed out that NOT hiring your clone is a great way to progress, you need someone to challenge you afterall. I had never thought of things in this light before, as naturally you would think someone who thinks like you would always understand what needs to get done but in a business environment, especially a creative one a different perspective is invaluable. I won’t be forgetting this piece of information in a hurry!

While I.E’s culture was a more deliberate effort, the one at The Phoenix Partners (marketing) was not. Rachel Hargrave, its Director, commented on how she only realised that there was a culture (and that it was not for everyone) after someone had to leave because they could not keep up with the pace. Her approach to business is different to Oliver’s in that they are very focused on meeting the bottom line, as that is the point of a business. She pointed out that she was very good at what she does and that in the end is what singles you out.

Interestingly enough, just because the approaches of the two businesses may be different there were a few similarities. For example, Rachel also had to think about whether or not they should take on certain clients for example if the fees was too low, especially now during the recession because once the recession lifts then re-negotiations have to take place, meaning your recession as a business can last longer.

Both put emphasis on following your own instincts and doing what was best for the client. Very tasty food for thought…

One Response to “the business of running your own show”

1. nika1985 says:

   Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 1:57pm

   I completely agree with you, Tendai. Even if the approaches of these two organisations vary, there are some similarities in terms of ‘customizing’ the internal structure of the company to clients demands. I’m not saying here that the price of services needs to be dramatically decreased but at least – negotiated and matching both parties’ resources.