Losing Your Integrity to Competition
Being a business owner scares me.
Not because of money. Or liability. Or fear of messing up someones blog or website. Those things could be bad; cataclysmic even to my business or my reputation. Those things worry me, but they aren’t the things that I dwell on. Those things that leave me antsy here and there, but they don’t really bother me.
What I worry about is becoming like so many other big business owners or bloggers.
Losing myself to the business.
Forgetting who I am…what I enjoy…why I enjoy it.
More than anything, sometimes I worry about losing my integrity and willingness to help out someone who is just beginning.
When I first started designing, I had one designer in particular who went out of her way to answer my questions, give me advice, and just offer her moral support when I wasn’t sure I could make it in this business. I had a few friends who knew coding and styling who pointed me in the right direction when I was just staring at stylesheet without a clue as to how to edit it.
I’ve had experienced photographers offer insight on setting up shots and tweaking my technical approach here and there. I’ve had friends tell me when images just flat out weren’t any good; providing honest insight and feedback into what I could do better.
I’ve had bloggers message me when they saw a particular word misspelled or sentence that didn’t make sense. I’ve had them add my sites to meme linkups because we live in Alaska and I’m usually too late getting up in the morning (since we’re four hours behind ET) to really gain any traffic from their linkups.
The way I see it you have dozens upon dozens of people out there who are willing to help you out when you are getting on your feet and starting in a new venture. Most people don’t mind because they’ve been there.
But others….
Other people?
Other photographers? Other designers? Other bloggers?
They can be viscous. They can be catty and competitive. Stealing ideas and running with them; passing them off as their own. Saying things…doing things…sending emails or making comments to diminish everything that you’ve worked for. Putting you and your abilities down, comparing your technique to theirs. Your abilities to their own. Your weaknesses to their strong suits.
And I fear ever becoming that.
I don’t want to be like that.
I want to be a designer who isn’t afraid to share what I’ve learned. To share tidbits of information that might help someone who isn’t as comfortable in their know how, figure out where to begin. I want to share what I’ve learned the hard way through three and a half years of owning an SLR Camera, with those who have never moved their camera off the “auto” mode. I want to give feedback to bloggers who are just starting up and don’t know how to grow their readership.
I hate competition. I hate rivaling with people who feel that they have to one up everyone else; that feel that they are the only ones with ideas and abilities and that no one else can say or do or accomplish anything. Because they have already. I hate arrogance and snobbery.
I don’t want to be like that.
I want to be someone that readers and potential business owners can reach out to when they aren’t sure. Someone that they aren’t intimidated by or scared to ask a question to because they still feel like they can connect with me and identify with where I’ve been. I’ve always wanted to contribute. To share what I know. To give back in whatever way that I can.
I never want to be someone who forgets where she started. Forgets that at one point, no matter how long ago that “point” was, I was a beginner. A newbie. A baby in the business who didn’t know where she was going or how she even got to the point that she was at.
I don’t know it all. I don’t have ideas that are any better than anyone else’s. I don’t pretend to be the expert, because I’m not. In fact, if you google “rules” for photography or proper graphic design techniques, I’ve probably broken them all. And I’m 100% positive that at some point I broke a few of the cardinal rules of blogging (colored text and backgrounds, anyone? Hello 2007 Blogger templates….).
I never want to lose sight of my integrity or my willingness to share what I know.
Because if I do, then what’s the point?
Sharing this post with Shell @ Things I Can’t Say for Pour Your Heart Out…a blogger who without a doubt constantly gives back to her readers and the blogging community.
Don’t forget to enter the Diva & 3 Dudes Camera Strap Giveaway! Ends on Monday!
Courtney, you are definitely NOT like that! I am so thankful you are willing to share your knowledge! If I ever get a decent camera I’ll be studying your blog to learn how to use it! I can’t stand it when bloggers and other business owners do that either. I get not divulging everything a person knows but not helping people out? Drives. Me. Batty. Or charging lots of money to do basic stuff? It actually makes me a little angry. I once saw a designer charge $35 to get rid of the blogger navigation bar. 🙁 If someone is willing to pay it then I guess… but… it just seemed a little greedy to me.
So glad you aren’t like that! You seem to be getting more than enough business WITH sharing your secrets! 🙂
Aww, thank you, Mandi! I think there is a balance there between sharing and over-sharing. And as a business owner, I would never just spoon feed someone information that it took me months to learn. I don’t believe in hand outs. But I do believe in remembering what it was like to be a beginner and giving someone a nudge in the right direction and helping them get on their feet. The over-charging for basic things? Yes. I believe in fair trade. I don’t think business owners should just do work for free, because that’s crazy. But charging someone $100 for something that shouldn’t cost more than $20? That kind of thing is what upsets me and dampers the integrity of the work force.
Yeah- I hear ya. I know some who are bitter, mean & spiteful. Then there are others that have become completely too big for their britches & forget that we started out as friends navigating it all together. Those that are the “big bloggers” that don’t give the time of day to those visiting & leaving comments. It’s frustrating- especially when we used to be tight. But I just can’t let it be my focus. I have to just let them be who they have become & focus on where I want to go.
I know what you mean, and I struggle with feeling guilty all the time for not always making it back around to visit blogs. I think there are a lot of people who reach the point where they never answer comments, never respond to Facebook messages or tweets and totally forget that those people tweeting, messaging, etc. are the reason that they are where they are.
I think there will always be people who are unscrupulous in business (and life in general, really.) The key is to follow your heart and your gut, and stick with what makes you comfortable and happy.
The fact that you’re so worried about it? I think that shows you won’t even be tempted to go down those paths 🙂
Thank you, Angela! If I’ve learned nothing else in my life, it’s that going with your gut is probably your best best in every situation! 🙂
I just read Shell’s comment and I feel the same way. I’m all about helping others – and clearly they need help if they’re looking to ME for it! (because I’m clueless and a “small” blogger if ever there was one) – but there have been times when I feel like I’m being pumped constantly for info and tips and introductions to other bloggers. And eventually it’s time to gracefully move on.
Aside from those extreme cases, though, I do want to pay it forward because I’ve been lucky enough to get help in the past.
Oh yes. There are people that will take advantage of you if you aren’t careful. I’ve been there and had trouble with some who think that they can email every time they have a question; and that’s not right either.
Thanks for this post. As a new blogger, sometimes it is hard when you’re starting out so it’s heartening to read posts like yours.
I think that the great things about the blogosphere is all the support that is given.
The only thing that I’ve had to learn is that there are boundaries sometimes. As much as I want to help, sometimes, I simply can’t. Not out of a competitive thing, but b/c someone asks for too much and I have to take care of my family first. Make sense?
I agree that there are definitely boundaries. I don’t think that a business owner/blogger should give away all of their secrets and share every single thing they know. I mean, after all, that kind of thing could put you OUT of business. And I always put my family first and make sure that they are taken care of.
I can’t answer every single comment all the time either, but I do try. It’s the ones who completely disregard everyone around them and never reach out to help or give back in any way that seem to damper the integrity of businesses and blogs.
I can’t see you ever like “that”. Your designs are wonderful, you are helpful and share your knowledge, yep I just can’t see you being “that”.
Thank you, Carolyn!! I really appreciate that! You’re too sweet!
So true. I never want to be like that, and will always share what (little) I know.
I don’t think you could ever be like that, either Robin. 🙂 You are much too generous!
I think that you and Shell are so similar. You are both the best in blogging. You reach out to help people do something they love and to do it better. I don’t think you could ever be the person you don’t want to be. It’s not in you. Your heart is always in the right place.
Thank you, Kristen! I really appreciate that. I love helping other people move forward in doing what they love!
Oh Courtney you are SO not like that!!!
Thank you!! It makes me feel so much better to hear someone say that. 🙂