As an artist, and in other roles too, there are different types of people that you will encounter. They may prove to be anywhere from extremely favorable to extremely unfavorable to you. Here are only a few (more might be added in the future). Not necessarily in descending order from best to worst, but grouped by how recommendable they are or not to be invested in. And under this category, as brands.
Recommendable
• The Solution
What you’ve been striving for or struggling with, the mission or task that you’ve been on, that you are better not doing on your own, they take over and solve it for you. And no, it is not a ‘they tried’ or ‘they had the intention to’. It is an undeniable solution to your problem. Problem solved, literally. You can sigh in relief now. And spread the word in solidarity. Definitely worth it.
• The Complement
What you’re working or have worked on can go side-by-side with what they’re working or have worked on. You could do without them, but you’re bigger and/or better with them. Your ‘much’ is ‘muchier’. And bringing them along is like introducing a missing piece and revealing more of the picture. It may be a luxury, but of the fine kind.
• The Small/Local
They’re often assumed to be unserious, but it can be quite the opposite. In certain cases, you will find the most devoted and dedicated people, giving their all to offer the best quality they can, intensely invested in their craft. They just haven’t, for one or another reason, scaled up. And having your own criteria to figure out which is which, and to dismiss vanity metrics or even peer pressure, speaks highly of you. Plus, it shows support.
• The Public Service
Especially after becoming and while being abundant, looking for those who genuinely help others and helping them will not only help you sleep better - it will also help make the world around you better. Which, whether that directly or indirectly positively affects you too or not, can bring you profound fulfillment and set an example for others to go along with.
Tolerable/Manageable
• The Trending
It is an opportunity, and maybe a quite worthwhile one at that, but it could be one to quickly evaporate. Being too eager to jump into whatever is trending can keep you from considering whether or not something is truly meant or at least suitable for you. And over-relying on chasing trends can leave you without solid ground to stand on, as well as have you looking frivolous. If there’s more to it, great. But if not, eh.
• The Irrelevant
If there is room to spare, you could fit it in. However, it’ll come across as desperate or undiscerning on your part. And for those keeping up with you and what you do, it could be a tedious or even annoying ‘added ad’ they’d rather skip over. Why are they being put through this if it has nothing to do with you? Some may even view it as a lack of respect and consideration for their attention. You would have to keep its display to a minimum.
Not Recommendable
• The Public Disservice
This is what net negative means. By little or by much. The bad outweighs the good. Usually in the form of waste and/or harm. They leave a trail of destruction that they don’t make up for. You can repeat “the end justifies the means” all you want, but it is not applicable here as far as reality is concerned. It may go overlooked for a while, unbeknownst to most, but it is likely to eventually come out and be what they’re identified for. Enabling them further makes you a part of the issue.
• The High Cost/Low Value
We know that value can be subjective as well as abstract (or seen in the potential), so it can be missed. But this is not the case here. Here we’re talking about how, no matter where you look at or from, there is very low or no value at all, especially when contrasted with the cost. It screams tacky wannabe. The sort of mentality that goes ‘this is expensive, so it’ll give me status’ while having no taste. Alternatively, it is the lazy thinking that has you assuming that high cost = high value. Worse if you’re aware and promote it regardless, then it’s just scammy.
• The Fraudalent
They talk a big game to compensate for the lack. Or what faults they may be attempting to hide. It is because of this that the “too good to be true” saying came into rotation, casting doubt and skepticism onto everything that sounded promising, including what is legitimate. They will see you as just another fool to fool. And once they’re exposed, the embarrassment of associating with them will probably not be easy to handle and dispel.
• The Guinea-Pigger
They do not care, at all. You, and mostly everyone, are just a number. How much can they push it? How much can they get away with? How much can they profit and save? And how much can people buy and fall for it? It isn’t about innovation or testing, though those may occur. It is about having no humanity and no remorse as they position themselves. No guilt and perhaps not even shame. It can get twisted beyond belief. Horror clowns.
Alternatively, as a brand, do you see yourself among the Not Recommendable or the Tolerable/Manageable and don’t like it? Start/keep working on your improvement.
