‘Rely on others, depend on yourself’ is a saying from my father, an artist and a very wise man.
This is true with all aspects of life, especially in business.
Come January, Sofydoll Designs will have been in business for two years. That’s a big milestone for me and it’s pretty awesome. No, I’m not making bank but each year things get better…and I’m pleased overall. I’ve had my share of challenges, still do. However, I consider myself fortunate to have had a good upbringing and guidance from people who have taught me to take responsibility for my own actions and not to complain when things don’t go my way. Also, don’t take no for an answer and never burn your bridges. I’m a work in progress, but I’m getting there.
When I first started Sofydoll, I had no idea how things would go. It was a shot in the dark so I tried to do things in a way that made sense for me. I had to learn when to take a step back and when to move forward. I couldn’t haven’t done it without the help from others, but ultimately any success of mine has always depended on me.
I’ll give an example…
Recently, a customer of mine told me about a new product with a distinct concept/theme that was very similar to mine. They wanted me to check it out to see for myself. I wasn’t too shocked as I’ve seen this from some newbies before (I’ve also seen my products given away for free on certain sites) and I know it’s par for the course. Being in the graphic design industry for many years, there isn’t much that’s completely original. Whether intentional or not, we’ve all probably copied someone at some point. Sometimes it’s as simple as just expanding upon another idea.
Top creators get their stuff copied all the time. The design industry itself is huge but the community of sellers on marketplaces is relatively small. This means it’s pretty difficult to miss what other sellers are producing, so you don’t step on anyone’s toes. Don’t get me wrong, no one designer owns the concept of ‘watercolor’ or ‘texture’, but certainly you can try to keep your own product as original as possible.
However, this particular time I was a little surprised as the seller in question turned out to be a top creator. I was confused (and a little flattered) as usually with copycats it works the other way around. In comparison to this seller, I am still a newbie. Now, while I can’t say with any certainty that they intentionally copied my concept/theme, I admit the similarities were uncanny. I didn’t say anything, just kept on going about my business.
I thought about if after though and what concerned me is that top tier sellers like this will go on to get their products highly promoted from online marketplaces…simply because they’re popular. I mention marketplaces because most of us do rely on them to help give us creators some exposure. It does make sense for them to promote popular sellers with big followings, because they make more sales this way. But if anything, shouldn’t top creators be held to higher standards? Also, it leads me to another question…should a seller get promoted based on their popularity alone or should it be given based on the quality and originality of the product?
If it’s the latter, then everyone gets a chance. If it’s the former, this means the more popular sellers will continue to get high exposure and promotions from marketplaces even if the product is…well…unoriginal. This is something most newcomers to the market are going to face, even if they are highly skilled. It’s been this way since I started and even now, two years later, not much has changed. I’m not complaining. My products sell fairly well and sales are growing, which is all the validation I need. Instead I continue to double down on my own efforts to keep creating original products and gain more exposure.
The above story is just one example (there are many) but it can offer clarity on how we can we can distinguish between accepting help from others in business – while also taking matters into our own hands, by ultimately depending on ourselves to move forward and progress.
So what do we do? Try the following:
- Work hard to improve our skills and gain more confidence
- Be honest about our strengths and weaknesses
- Offer a quality, original product that people want/need
- Promote ourselves whether by advertising, social media, etc.
- Connect with customers any given chance
- Speak up when we believe there is an opportunity on a specific marketplace
- Come from a place of knowing our own worth and what we have to offer
- Don’t take no for an answer (be nice but determined)
- Don’t burn our bridges (it can come back to bite us in the ass)
- Never give up
If you focus on the above and are consistent…you’ll find your following will not only grow but your sales will too. Sure, you’ll still need help and it’s ok to rely on that – but in the end, depend on yourself to get the job done.
Remember, you’re worth it…so go ahead and make the effort.
Until next time…
