We can't do business together

"We can't do business together. I'm in the business of BIG. You're in the business of COOL."

That stung a bit. I won't lie.

I had just poured my heart out, explaining our vision to this licensing guru yesterday at the brand licensing tradeshow in London.

He was genuinely impressed, loved what we are up to, and then... he dropped that line.

At first, I was taken aback.

But upon reflection, I realized I'd been in his shoes before.

There were so many times when, despite how tempting a collaboration may seem, it just didn’t make sense. It's like mixing oil and water.

So I appreciated his honesty - he saved us both some valuable time.

You see, there's a place and time when "cool" and "big" can come together. But everything has to be just right.

As one of my virtual mentors David Horvath says:

"Too much attention is bad for you. If you are starting a new brand, getting as many eyeballs as possible on your brand is just about the worst thing you can do. You will create an association with the noise."

That really resonated with me. I touched upon this during a recent podcast I guested on (if you speak Slovak or Czech, make sure to tune in).

Imagine this scenario: You’re an emerging creator, perhaps an artist or a brand owner. And you're making waves in your niche.

Suddenly, a big fish from your industry reaches out. They're impressed by your work, your ethos, and want a collaboration.

It's thrilling, right? They seemed so distant, and now they want to work with you??? You thought they didn’t even know you existed!

You dive in, full of excitement. But soon, you realize you're dancing to their tune. Their priorities become yours.

The very essence, the reason they wanted to work with you, begins to fade.

"Too much attention too early can kill you." Yep, quoting myself again.

Should you always decline such opportunities?

No. I'm not advising you to shut your doors.

There are stories when the Davids leveraging the Goliaths came on the top together. These are outliers.

More often, the lesser-known Davids get lost in the giant’s shadow.

Wait, but what if such an opportunity never comes again?

Well, there's a chance it might not. So if you feel this is your shot, take it: dive in, get your hands dirty, network like crazy, and absorb every lesson.

Just be cautious: this shouldn't be your magic carpet to the top. Think of it as climbing steps – each one an experience, a realization, a connection. Sure, you might rise higher, but remember to stay grounded.

Because it's your journey and your story. So make sure it remains yours.

Best,

Tino