Being low financially and not expecting money from anywhere at all is a very dark place to be honestly, and you should fight against it even before it happens!
Something happened recently that made me rethink how people see value… and it might change how you run your brand too.
I went to a big supermarket to get towels.
Clean environment. Organized shelves. Everything looked premium.
I saw one I liked… but it was ₦30,000.
No room for negotiation.
No asking for discount.
The price was the price.
I stood there thinking, “Do I really want to spend this much on a towel?”
I needed two… and honestly, I had other priorities.
So I left.
Then I remembered a smaller store I had bought from before. I decided to check there.
Same category.
Still good quality.
Same packaging
The seller told me his price
This time… I negotiated.
I walked away with TWO towels not even up to the price of one from the other store.
And that’s when it hit me.
The difference wasn’t just the product.
It was the perception.
The supermarket positioned itself as:
👉 Fixed value
👉 Premium experience
👉 Non-negotiable pricing
The smaller store positioned itself as:
👉 Flexible
👉 Open to bargaining
👉 Easy to price down
Same market.
Different outcomes.
Now here’s the uncomfortable truth…
This is exactly what many creatives are doing to themselves.
You say you’re good…
But your brand says:
“I’m available for negotiation.”
“I can adjust for you.”
“Let’s just make it work.”
And most of us learned this the hard way.
So clients respond accordingly.
They price you down.
They test your worth.
They treat your skill like something to bargain.
Not because they’re bad people…
But because that’s the position you created.
On the other hand…
When your brand communicates:
“I know my value.”
“I deliver results.”
“This is premium work.”
Something shifts.
Less arguments.
More respect.
Better clients.
Because people don’t just pay for what you do…
They pay for how you present what you do.
Read that again.
If people can easily negotiate your price,
It’s not always about money…
It’s about positioning.
And positioning…
can either elevate you,
or quietly betray you.
Let's see what happens if we don't give up 🥂🎉
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#thedesignchef
@BarackObama Well said. Moments like this remind us how fragile safety can be, even in the most secure spaces. Grateful for the swift response and the courage of the agents who step into danger so others don’t have to. Wishing the injured agent a full recovery.
Hello 21, you are here already
That young Mandy who started depressed and in 0 is sending greetings, He said he is proud of you.
Grateful to God for not just my life but for the many I have impacted
Happy Birthday Mandy 🎉
If you can see this, say a word of prayer for Mandy
Last week, I had the privilege of speaking as a panelist at the Business Growth Summit, where we explored a powerful topic:
“From Mentee to Leader: How Active Participation and Community Drive Business Success.”
On that stage, I didn’t just speak theory, I shared my real journey.
The process of starting as someone who was learning, observing, asking questions… and gradually evolving into someone others now look up to for guidance, direction, and clarity.
And one thing became very clear:
Growth doesn’t happen in isolation.
It happens when you show up, when you stay involved, and when you plug into the right community.
Beyond the conversation, I connected with some truly amazing minds, people building, growing, and pushing boundaries in their own spaces.
It was more than just a panel.
It was a reminder that your environment can either accelerate you or limit you.
If you’re still sitting on the sidelines, watching others grow…
this is your sign to step in, participate, and position yourself for more.
Because the journey from mentee to leader doesn’t happen by chance,
it happens by decision. 🚀
Anyaka Prince David shot and edited 📷🖼️
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#thedesignchef
This is one of those truths people don’t like to admit, but it matters.
Not everything needs an announcement.
Not everything needs validation.
Sometimes the real power move is building quietly until the results speak so loud they can’t be ignored.
Curious though… do you think silence builds more impact, or does visibility still win in the long run?
𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 & 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁
Yes, You Can!
Let’s be honest, this one hurts more than clients ghosting you. 💔
You just posted your design work. Looking clean, fresh, and fire.🔥
Then boom, a DM from your cousin or neighbor:
“Omo this one mad ooo. Abeg just run am for me.”
“You know, say we be padi na, help your guy.”
“Do it first, I go send you something.”
Suddenly, you're in a mental chokehold. You’re torn between wanting to look professional and not wanting to look wicked.
But here’s what I’ve learned (the hard way):
If you don’t set boundaries, they will set them for you, and it won’t favor you.
Sadly, They’re Not Asking Their Tailor for Free Clothes
Your friends and family:
Buy iPhones without begging Apple
Pay makeup artists without blinking
Fuel their cars without calling the petrol attendant “my guy”
But the moment it comes to your design business, the guilt-trip kicks in.
And it sounds like love… but it's really entitlement.
👊 So What Do You Do?
You set the tone early, with love, clarity, and confidence.
✅ Be respectful, but firm.
💬 “Because you’re family, I’ll give you a discount, not free work. This is my business, and I want to treat you professionally.”
✅ Offer a 'Friend Package'
Something like:
“Flyer is usually ₦30,000, but for you, I can do it for ₦25,000 (one-time). Let me know if that works.”
✅ Collect payment upfront.
Even if it’s ₦20,000, let money change hands. It makes the project real.
✅ Be ready to say “No” (with love).
If it doesn’t work for your schedule, if you’re overwhelmed, if the vibe feels wrong, you are allowed to say no.
“I’d love to help, but I’m fully booked right now. Maybe next time.”
🧠 You Have a Brand, Not a Charity
This is not pride, it’s discipline.
This is not wickedness, it’s wisdom.
You can love your people and still charge them.
You can help sometimes, but it should be your choice, not their demand.
They’ll adjust. And the serious ones?
They’ll respect you even more.
💬 Tag a designer who needs to hear this.
And if you’ve ever been guilted into working for free, tell us how you handled it 👇
Let’s help each other grow with sense.
🖼️ Roy Clintson
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#thedesignchef