July Retrospective: Back in July 2014, I wrote a daily series exploring the realities of navigating the creative economy. Twelve years later, looking back at these entries (and my original awful hand-drawn illustrations!), I’m struck by how the core truths of a creative career remain completely timeless. Each day this month, I’m opening up the archive to share these foundational lessons—with a few modern reflections layered in.
If you’re a new creative graduate looking to find your footing in the creative economy, a Gen X looking to pivot into a creative business, a side-hustler or someone who just wants to up their creative business game, there’s something for you in this series. Just don’t judge my drawings 😉
Ask for the sale
This morning I went to my local cafe to do some writing. I ordered my coffee and they said:
Would you like anything to eat with that?
Today, I said, no thank you.
Last time I was here they said:
Could I tempt you with a sausage and egg bap with that?
And I was tempted and said yes! Even though I’d already had breakfast. If they hadn’t asked, there is no way I would have ordered that bap.
But they asked for the sale, and phrased it in a way that made me salivate, and I responded.
There’s nothing wrong with asking people to buy your goods and services. It’s how you do it that makes the difference.
There are good sales people and bad.
Good sales people:
-are polite
-ask in a confident way
-don’t get put out if the answer is no
-present the option in an appealing way
-make one strong, confident offer
Bad sales people:
-are rude
-ask in a pushy way
-react negatively if you say no
-ask for the sale in a weak ineffectual way or are unclear about what they are offering
-confuse you with multiple offers (‘you don’t want a bap, how about a muffin? No? Would you like a salad?)
Be a good salesperson.
Present one interesting, compelling offer that you think the customer may be interested in.
Phrase the question in a direct, clear way.
Don’t be desperate. Your desperation will make you hang on their response. You need to be confident enough to present the option of purchasing and then be okay with them saying no.
Accept that they may not be ready to buy. But maybe they want your freebie (while I didn’t order anything to eat today at my cafe, I did help myself to a sample piece of chocolate muffin on the counter – it was very nice and I might order one another time. So their freebie worked to introduce me to another of their products).
Even if they aren’t ready to purchase, they might be ready to be on your mailing list or to follow your blog (or take your postcard or like you on Facebook. The options are endless). Just because they say no to a purchase offer doesn’t mean they can’t become part of your tribe and move further along that know, like & trust continuum.
Action: practice asking for the sale. Get together with a friend and practice asking in a confident, clear way for the sale. Make your offer sound mouth watering (without making you feel cheap or salesy – remember “could I tempt you with an egg and sausage bap” – it works).
Longevity in a creative career isn’t accidental—it’s built on strategy.
While the landscape shifts, the core principles of thriving as a creative freelancer haven’t changed. For deeper, modern frameworks on building a sustainable creative practice:
- Read the Book: Looking for a step-by-step field guide to building a resilient career in the creative economy? Pick up my recent book The Thriving Creative: Successful Freelancing in the Creative Economy available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and from my publisher Routledge.
- Stay Connected: Join my community and to receive the complete 31-day hand-drawn playbook as a single PDF at the end of the month. Sign up below.
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