Relationships are everywhere you look.

The Memo from the Desk

Relationships are everywhere you look.

In nature, we call it symbiosis, the interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association.

This isn't Biology 101, but I do want to briefly go over the types of symbiosis (trust me, this will make sense later).

• Mutualism: both organisms benefit from the relationship
• Commensalism: one organism benefits while the other neither benefits nor is harmed
• Parasitism:One organism benefits while the other is harmed.

These relationships are not solely in nature, they extend to our personal and professional lives as well.

Think about your relationships with your clients, which type of symbiosis is it?

Are you both mutually benefiting from the engagement? Where the client is receiving value and you are being paid your worth? Or maybe it's something else — from either side of the relationship.

The more we view the work we do (whether that's with companies, larger agencies or some other organization) as a relationship, the better off we'll be.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• The client is not your adversary: There's been a lot of advice given about how to do Jedi mind tricks on the client when they push back or have concessions. Honestly, I think we're setting ourselves up for failure when we go into the relationship expecting a fight. This isn't a boxing match, it's a mutually benefitting relationship where value is traded on both sides. Are there clients out there that want to pay you less than you're worth? Probably. But looking at every client through that lens can damage the relationship.
• Ego is the enemy:People work with people they like. Regardless of how many rewards or accolades we've received from our work, it's important to not let it get to our heads in client communication. Keep things humble and conversational with your clients. Connect with them on a human level, you'll be surprised how easy it'll become to work with them.
• Over communicate:While we've gone through our design process dozens — if not hundreds of times, keep in mind that this might be very new to the client. Try to over-communicate as much as possible. Most problems in the client relationship stem from assumptions and a lack of communication. Hop on a call and walk through things with your client, I assure you they'll be grateful and keep that in mind in the future. If we're no longer looking at our clients as adversaries, like I mentioned earlier, then this will be much easier to do.

Relationships can be hard, it takes transparency and an emotional intelligence of both parties; but I believe the sooner we view our work life through this lens the sooner we'll enjoy working with our clients.

Remember, they're human too. Unless you're working with lizard-people…that's a totally different issue.

So next time you meet with your client, remember you biology 101 lessons and keep it symbiotic.

Until next time.

Zach Ebert,

Maker Division Community Manager

Survival of the friendliest

On the Bookshelf

Survival of the Friendliest by Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods argues that human evolutionary success is due to our unique ability for "friendliness," rather than brute strength or aggression, which allowed us to outcompete other human species. Let's not let that trait die now, apply it to your clients.

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Natasha Sánchez is an illustrator and graphic designer based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and a 3-year member of Maker Division Accelerator. Her recent win is one that creative entrepreneurs dream about: a book cover commission that came through a referral from a respected illustrator and store owner in Puerto Rico — someone Natasha had never even met.

The author trusted her completely. Zero revisions. 100% her creative vision. The book is expected to reach nearly 1 million of the author's followers, and Natasha walked away paid in full, with a contract that protected both parties and a portfolio piece she's proud to put on her deck and website.

What made it possible? Three years of showing up to coaching calls, learning from Ben and Stephanie, and slowly reshaping the way she thinks about herself as a business owner. Lessons about upfront payments, sending artwork only after full payment, and maintaining standards in contracts — things that sound simple but aren't easy for solo creatives — had quietly built the foundation for this moment.

"Listening to these coaching calls over the past three years has truly changed the way I do business and has helped me respect myself as a solo creative entrepreneur."

Her first illustrated book cover. $2,500. Zero revisions. And the beginning of a whole new chapter in the editorial space. 🌸

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"My first book cover — 100% my creation, zero revisions, and the author trusted my work completely. Three years of coaching calls changed the way I do business and helped me respect myself as a solo creative entrepreneur."