Ron Lindeboom
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COW Coins
Forum Replies Created
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Personally, I am a bit more testosterone-fueled and think that an article that addressed the guy’s advice to his listeners, as compared to his own use of scripted, well-lit and edited videos to promote himself, would be well served.
;o)
Best regards,
Ron Lindeboom
Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual.
Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
РAntoine de Saint Exup̩ryFirst they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
– Gandhi -
[Christopher Wright] “The fact is that we are in challenging economic times and I think it is just over simplistic and a disservice to say that grazers should only accept “dream clients” in their business plan. The power of positive thinking is great, until you have to pay the bills.”
I couldn’t agree more. What befuddles me is the number of people who will just complain about it, read nothing new and explorational in business circles (such as great books like Philip Kotler’s “Chaotics”, e.g.), and wait for the “recession” to go away.
It ISN’T a recession and it ISN’T going to go away.
How’s THAT for eschewing “positive thinking” Christopher??? ;o)
I get out and MAKE things happen. Always have. I do not wait for much.
This is a business and I treat it as such. I subject my creative side to my business side.
I do NOT believe that talent counts for much of squat and that I see far too many talented people who wait for people to wake up to how brilliant they are and beat down their door to work with them. Hogwash. It’s a strategy for fools and losers. Talented losers, but losers none the less.
The only visualizing and positive thinking I do is the bumper sticker that I love which says: VISUALIZE WHIRLED PEAS.
Other than that, I am not much of a new ager.
Ron Lindeboom
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[Christopher Wright] “That being said, I think it is both naive and foolish to think that just because you decide that you won’t suffer “bad or difficult clients” that other clients will magically appear at your doorstep (studio).”
No one said that great clients magically show up at your doorstep, Christopher.
What we DID say is that we STOPPED WASTING TIME working with grinders. In doing so, not only did the desperation level dissipate, but the confidence level rose greatly when we stepped out of the self-flagellation machine that grinders usually bring along with them, for your use — free!
You are free to feel the necessity of maintaining your need for them, if you wish.
Like Tim Wilson, Walter, me and some others have said here a number of times over the years: (to use your metaphor, Christoper) when we gave up the circle jerk with the idiots, the warm dreams on cold nights stopped, too. But you are free to see the need for it all.
If that is your reality, who am I to argue?
I don’t buy it and because I don’t, I don’t act from that mind-set and therefore, I do not create that reality for myself.
You are free to yours.
And no, it wasn’t always like this. I have fought through many a time where I was flat broke, not a dime to my name, desperate as hell, and I learned my lessons the hard way, thank you — and nobody’s belief that it can’t be done is going to stop me.
And you can believe whatsoever you wish.
Ron Lindeboom
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[walter biscardi] “I spoke at length about my dream client in the latest article I wrote for the Cow. In fact I have multiple “dream” clients now. They started showing up when I started saying “no” to the grinders. It’s simple really. Have fun while you’re in the shop and respect us and what we do for you. Break one of those rules and you’re done working with us. Can’t say I have a problem with any of our clients. Life’s too short to work with anyone but “dream” clients.”
Like you, Walter, we *used* to be kept on edge by people who were not fun to work with, but we no longer tolerate it. When you won’t put up with it, you attract the kind of client that doesn’t want to put up with it either.
As long as people make excuses for grinders who want you to work for nothing and people who make your life a living hell, that is exactly what you will have. When you quit accepting it, the answer is simple: you won’t have any of it, anymore.
Best regards,
Ron Lindeboom
Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual.
Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
РAntoine de Saint Exup̩ry -
[Rich Rubasch] “So, how about a business model that has the high-end top level experienced editors and designers at a higher rate, and a wing with young lower paid trainees who crank out the “on-demand” type videos for a much lower rate.”
As a grandpa, this reminds me of a story that the legendary Charles McConathy (founder of ProMax) told me years ago. It’s a really good story, so go grab some milk and cookies kids and gather round…
Once upon a time when Charles McConathy and I were talking about what had destroyed Media 100 — who the geezers here will remember once had more sales and a stronger market than did either Avid, Autodesk, or FCP — Charles began to recite a story about growing up on a sheep ranch in Texas.
“You know, when I was a kid, Ron,” said Charles, looking off in the distance as he recalled those long-gone days, “the ranch hands would all run off to town to the local brothels. But there was trouble because one was $20 and the other was $100.”
He began to recall how that Media 100 destroyed themselves by “acting just like the $100 cathouse that wanted to compete against the upstart $20 cathouse that had opened up. The trouble is, by having $20 hookers in the joint, pretty soon everyone was a $20 hooker.” Charles went into detail on how it happened but with children present, I’ll leave it to your artistic imaginations.
He then correlated that in his opinion, just like the $100 cathouse, “Media 100 dropped the price on their crown jewels, which was their hardware card and the great picture it gave, to less than $2,000 including Adobe Premiere which they included, and which sold for about $500 at the time. When you deduct the $500, they admitted their card was worth $1500.”
But they were selling their then-rather-featureless software along with their card for about $20,000 at the time. People freaked. “$18,500 for this software!$#@!?,” they cried out incredulously and repeatedly.
In the end, Media 100’s “$100 callgirl” had become about as valuable as Charles’ recollection of $20 hookers.
There’s a story in there somewhere.
I am sure you will all figure it out.
;o)
God bless you, Charles. I miss you.
Best regards,
Ron Lindeboom
Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual.
Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
РAntoine de Saint Exup̩ry -
Hi Stephen and Paolo,
You do not have to be an expert, nor do you have to be a slave to the forum, to host here at Creative COW. Sure, we like to build a team that eventually includes some experts but often, the people that are enthusiastic draw others who are enthusiastic. When they do, the community interacts and questions get answered and ideas get exchanged. That is what is important.
To be honest, we prefer that the forums NOT become the domain of one person that is enslaved to the forum answering all the questions. That is unhealthy for the slave and also for the forum, because it becomes one person’s viewpoint and ideas.
We like to say that if you are spending more than 15 minutes a day or two, you are spending too much time at it.
If you would like to host, please send me a head-and-shoulders picture so that we can add you to the team. My email is ron@creativecow.net
Best to you both,
Ron Lindeboom
creativecow.net -
And what part of this changed for that “client”? They are likely as big a grinder today as they were before.
The companies that I know that are “cost obsessed,” always were. The ones that I know that were “quality conscious,” may be more cautious than before, but they are not The New Grinders.
Sure, there are exceptions to this, but for the most part, the psychology of the various respective buyers and their place in the market “hierarchical strata” has not changed — at least in my experience. The people that ground on others before, still are; while the ones who were respectful and aware of their image and professionalism, still are.
Yes, there is a greater caution and less “free floating monies” in the market, but human psychology isn’t all that different today than we were years ago.
What is hurting — at least for some — is that there are now people like your friend that will work for nothing. When I began doing this a couple of decades ago, nobody worked for free. When pros that can create “$200,000 productions” will work for free, that opens a whole new can of worms.
Best regards,
Ron Lindeboom
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[Mark Suszko] “If you put ketchup on it, I’m afraid all deals are off.”
Ketchup is for kids — oh, and for prime rib and lobster.
Just kidding, Nick. ;o)
Nah, hot dogs should be mustard, chopped onions, sauerkraut (sometimes), sweet pickle relish (other times), maybe jalapenos (hey, this is California, after all), — but I always go for the cheap yellow mustard. I have never liked the brown stuff.
I know…sacrilege. Blame it on my Mom, she got me strung out on French’s at an early age and it is a habit that has carried over a lifetime.
They asked me about this when I tried to move to Chicago and they forbade me to move there — something about a city ordinance or something, they said.
Ron Lindeboom
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[Mark Suszko] “I do know I don’t want to eat hot dogs every night, even those really good Chicago ones. But that’s all these kids can afford, working for Demand Media.”
Yeah, and they can only afford those really cheap chicken hot dogs in this case…and they are an insult to cheap yellow mustard.
😉
Ron Lindeboom