Starting a business will reveal true friendships
Dear Cafecito,
What have I learned in my own creative, entrepreneurial journey? I anticipated support from my friends and colleagues I spent a lot of time with, but their actions proved otherwise. Strangers will become your BIGGEST fans and unwavering supporters. It’s disheartening whenever people expect me to give them freebies, free services, or major discounts because we all know it costs money to make money.
In the early stages of my entrepreneurial journey, I enthusiastically mentioned to my friends and colleagues I used to work with that I was selling my designs online in the form of stickers. I am genuinely grateful for those of you who supported my work by purchasing stickers for your laptops and tumblers. I heart you very much. However, I felt very confused when certain women, with whom I shared meals and social outings, would deliberately change the subject or completely disregard my words.
This puzzling behavior left me feeling emotionally conflicted, as I struggled to understand their lack of acknowledgement towards something so personal of mine. Ultimately, I decided to distance myself from this type of energy and focus on the people who genuinely appreciated and supported my creative journey.
Another thing that I have learned is that some people who you were once close to WILL COPY you! While some may argue that imitation is a form of flattery, I question its validity if those replicating your work profit from copying you. It’s disheartening to witness creators on social media express their frustration over others copying their content word for word. Verbatim. This is definitely a situation that resonates deeply with me.
I actually know someone whose logo bears a striking resemblance to one of our sticker designs. While I cannot reveal names, I’m referring to our hand-drawn, illustrated purple butterfly sticker. Is this a mere coincidence?
In my personal experience, I’ve noticed a significant change in how people interact with me based on the information I disclose regarding my background and profession as opposed to when I simply mention that I design and sell stickers online. The response and social interactions are different.
Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation?
Have you experienced a similar situation where expressing your creativity and showcasing your craft posed a challenge for you? I’d love to hear your perspective on this topic. Share in the comments!
Thank you for stopping by!
Sincerely,
Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com
Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.