Month: September 2006

Need another example of why using stock images isn’t a good choice for your client? Why it would be better to shoot a custom image?

How’s this (thanks to Åsk at AdLand).

I mentioned in an earlier post about how violating copyright is a criminal offense which can result in jail time. I also mentioned how I thought we’d see more copyright violators going to jail. Well, it is happening.

Good.

Don’t forget to remind bloggers and others who use your work AND the work of others without permission about this. It’s theft, plain and simple.

It’s called “intellectual property” for a reason. It’s property. You wouldn’t let someone rent out a corner of your home’s lot to someone else, would you? No, you’d call the cops. Do the same for your other property.

Just like any right–if you don’t protect it now, it may not be there for you in the future.

Lots of people ask me if I’d be interested in being their rep. Thing is, I don’t rep anymore. In my world-view you can’t do both, at the same time, ethically. I don’t mean to slam other consultants who do (and it doesn’t make them “bad” if they do–it’s a personal choice), but for me, I just can’t help feeling that I’d be playing both sides of the fence.

See, a consultant gets to know waaaay to much intimate detail about most of her clients and that can cause conflict of interest. Imagine if, say, one of the consultant/rep’s repping clients and one of her consulting clients both get asked to estimate for a project. It would be in her own best financial interest for her repping client to get the project and she could use her knowledge of the consulting client to help make that happen.

While that scenario would be relatively rare, for me, I can’t sleep soundly with even just the possibility of that happening–not in my business. So, I don’t play both sides like that.

We all have to make ethical choices like that every day. Will you shoot for some less-than-honorable company like, say, Halliburton? If you don’t do it someone will, so why shouldn’t you get the money? My answer to that is that you can’t control what others do with their businesses, only what you choose to do with your own. Sometimes doing the “right” thing (whatever you decide for yourself is “right”) may mean making less money (in the short term) but the payoff of knowing in your heart you did is worth it.

Many of you fine readers have expressed an interest in seeing me in person–both in individual consultations and giving presentations to creative groups. Well, if you’re that interested, why not let your local creative professional group know, and send them my contact info. Right now I am trying to set up my 2007 “tour” so it’s the perfect time to have your group contact me about speaking in your ‘burg.

(Hey, no fair complaining about this post being promotional! The title warned you!)

I love giving presentations–it gives me the chance to help smaller groups of people and to get specific on topics important to each group. The Q&A session is always lively and informative and I’m happy to report that I get loads of “thank you” emails whenever I present. Also, when I speak in a city, I book time for individual meetings. It’s such a pleasure to see my clients in person (a relatively rare thing in this business) and a lot of information can get exchanged in these brief (hour or two) encounters. I’m still in touch with several people whom I met at these events, and work with more than a few of them to this day.

So, if you’re interested in having me come to you, now is the time to get involved. And stay tuned to this blog for dates as they get booked!

(We now return you to the less promotional portion of this blog…)