"Feeling like I'm money making Mitch, in the store like I'm broke baby
Forgetting all that I got on, ain't my ropes crazy?
I'm in this bitch looking like I sell dope baby
To these women, I sell hope baby" -Skyzoo, The Moment That Matter
Recently, I have been struggling with whom to trust when it comes to partnerships and collaborations. I like working alone because I know that if things don't pan out, I have to take full accountability and responsibility for the failure which is okay. I am starting to fall back on jumping into partnerships and collaborations for numerous reasons in which I will get into soon. From the start, I always cringed when we had to do random projects in school with a group of folks who you and I know some wasn't going to pull their weight and some who were in it wholeheartedly. I am the person who is in it to win and get this grade, B.I remember being in groups in graduate school with a good friend, but he was lazy as hell but still received the same grade as the rest of the group with their half-ass attempt on collaborating and bringing half-ass ideas that were already established from the beginning.
As Brown Girl From Boston is steadily building, people are coming out the cut wanting to collaborate and partner with BGFB. I cringe, I contemplate, and I slowly say yes and I am quick to say no as well. First, I have been burnt numerous of times while collaborating with others. I decided to say yes to collaboration and the person and their "brilliant ideas" turn to black. I heard excuses, broken commitments, no call, no show, and the list continues. I tend to be a patient and understanding but when one no call, no show turns into a consist no call and no show or my favorite deal breaker is when they have decided to start and work on other projects and fail to market, promote and abandon the entire project, we have worked on without communicating the "Why." The majority of the time, I can tell when a person's motivation and momentum died off due to them not promoting the project, liking and commenting on your social media marketing, not returning emails or forgetting to return a call or text numerous of times. Well, I am here to shut all that nonsense down and proclaim a new day. I am doing things a lot different this time around.
Here is my #MoneyMakingMonday Tip on Partnerships and Collaborations:
- "Be careful and mindful on collaborations and partnerships in business. If someone is interested in partnering with your business, have lunch with them and see where their mind and business are at. Check their portfolio to see the quality of work and who have they've worked with and possibly do a reference check.
- Make sure both of your businesses are in alignment with one another. Make sure that your business partner is bringing quality, commitment, and consistency to the table. Put everything in writing to protect both of your businesses. Communicate clearly, concisely and regularly versus communicating irregular and irrational." -Drea, Brown Girl From Boston
- Don't try to sell me empty promises, non-commitment, and fill my head up with "Sis, let's make this money" because I am not buying it. Just because you see me over here working, building, healing, and transforming lives doesn't mean you are invited to the party just yet. You have to show up and show out if you truly want to work with me. This goes for family members and so-called friends. I put my heart and soul into my business affairs and have no time for folks trying to make money off my hard word. So, if you want to really make money, make a difference, and transform lives together, let's go to lunch, let's look at one another's portfolio and body of work, provide me some of your previous partnerships' contact information to see about your work ethic, let me tap into my intuition to feel it this is the right fit, let me get to know you before we jump into a partnership. Yes, Boo if you are going into partnership with me, we are getting to know one another well before I make a commitment. Along with that commitment, we are going to sign contracts that will detail our roles in the partnership and what we are committed to bringing to the partnership. No more, my word is bond, you are my sistah-friend and let's get this money. Nah, B! I am protecting my business and protecting my neck.
- Partnerships and collaborations should be an evenly yoked situation. It should help cross-promote brands, build one another up, and compliment one another skills, strengths, and passions. It should be a win-win situation rather than it be a win-lose situation in which one person fulfills their duties while the other person's reap the benefits from the hard-working partner.
So, let's get this money, B, and cheers to Money Making Monday! How do you feel about partnerships and collaborations? Do you jump into partnerships or do you take your time to get the know the person and their business before you say yes or no?
Peace, Love, and FLYness,
Drea
