My Brainchild Got Sabotaged: How to Delegate the Process, Yet Seal the Finish (Crazy story time)

I am in my jammies, my hair is all over the place and I am just wondering how I even want to cut this fish for us today.

There is no other place to go for than the head because, like this article, that is where all my brain-children are born.

Today I will be telling you the story of one of my brain-babies—The one that got sabotaged!

I am 1000% sure that this story is going to be so important for you as a visionary.

This is going to go two ways.

One—This could be a reminder of when you got played and fumbled your brain-baby.

Orrrrr,

Two—This will help you dodge a bullet.

No matter how this starts for you, just get in my TEA boo!

Crazy story time

So this started late last year—November 2023

I am fresh out of college and I want to start exploring my other creative sides, you feel me.

I got so interested in Ad Campaigns that were beautifully executed and I thought to myself—”I want to try this too.”

I have been interested in branding for such a long time and I finally wanted to try my hand in the film visual aspect.

I had thought about it for a month plus. From September ending it had been cooking in my head till we finally shot it in November ending. When I do things, I am so keen on details and I want everything to be well thought out.

I can be very spontaneous, but I took my time to really sit with this. I made some creative designs to represent who I was trying to become as a creative director, I wanted to make a portfolio, I checked through a lot of Ad Campaigns, consistently checking which was a better fit for me—Art Director or Creative Director.

Sidenote: Although these roles can overlap in one person, I have an analogy.

Think of a Creative Director as Cupid who must shoot straight into the heart of the audience by ensuring the execution and management of the creative project aligns with its intended vision.

While the Art Director is the hands-on craftsperson who ensures that the arrow is finely fashioned so that it actually appeals and sinks into the heart of the audience.

Back to my crazy story

I reached out to a brand I wanted to work with, called the models and sorted the location.

I shared the thought with a friend whose creative vision I respect and we started getting into the storyboarding—I actually hand-drew the scenes in my head fam.

Moving on,

I contacted another friend that was really close to me and I shared what I was cooking.

This person is a cinematographer, I respected their work and I was open to their thoughts because I did not know how to handle a camera, and I truly wanted to shoot with one then edit the video myself.

As a person I like to just do things by myself honestly, but when this person shared their interest in also hopping in to flex their creative muscles, I was truly glad and I felt it would be a good opportunity for me to further learn how to delegate.

Little did I know.

Due to effective planning we were able to wrap up the shoot in about two hours—A monkey stole one of the sunglasses but returned it—more like dropped it from a tree—but we forgave it and did not press charges.

It was a good day, I was happy, we were all super chill.

Okay, but where is the TEA?!

Right here friend.

November ended, then came December and I’m already asking my friend when the video is going to drop. The person was busy with a lot of school work, so I am like “No Presshh” I planned to release it in January anyway.

Cool, cool cool. It is the New Year, Yayyyy!

Now tell me why I be calling and texting this person and they be using 5 business days to respond?

I will text, then 3 days later I will send another text as a reminder that I texted you 4 days ago. I am not even playing, this person would be online posting and even viewing my status.

What gives?!

Sometimes they would respond, say they are really sorry and that the video will be out soon.

Gosh, I was so patient.

This happened 3 MORE TIMES! :)

Mind you I have people to be accountable to because they will also want to see what they were a part of.

We got to FEBRUARY and I am just done.

I am like—”Okay, it seems you are too caught up. Give me the files and I will edit my baby myself”—right.

This person could not produce video files o!—(You can’t hear me but I am doing a silent yet troubling Nigerian Aunty laugh right now.)

Silly me did not even have a backup of my own brain-child!

I had no choice but to call the person’s close friend that I knew to narrate my plight. Then I carried myself to the group to be transparent about what was happening.

Till today, that production has not seen the light of day.

I wish I could tell you that I got closure as to why someone I was really close to would sabotage something I really cared about, but I can’t.

I have instead accepted it as what it was and learned my lesson.

End of crazy story time.

That was a long one.

The lessons are literally glaring at us, but I am going to unpack some details for you.

1. Avoid over-delegating critical decisions

It’s great that you want to share your thoughts and get along with your merry team but never forget that you are the Captain.

When it comes to steering that ship, you are front and center.

If you do not remain focused, it does not bode well for the journey ahead, that is even if you can get there.

2. Stop assuming people care as much as you do

“But I wouldn’t do that to anybody…”—they would.

We need to stop thinking on people’s behalf about what they can and cannot do based on our own perception of them.

It is rare to find people who will cherish your vision as much as you do.

Help yourself by staying focused and not making your vision a potential prey.

3. Do not put all your eggs in one basket

It was not wise of me to leave the very essence of my project in the hands of someone else.

Even if they do not intend to hurt you, mistakes can happen.

Also, do not think that you will be unable to complete your work without someone being in the picture. We have to learn to be creatively independent.

4. Use your voice

As a visionary, it is so important to be able to speak up for your ideas.

During the shoot, an idea was pitched to me about how the video should end and I welcomed the idea. Note that doing so would change the interpretation in my head.

It is good to listen and welcome other people’s thoughts, yet you must be very sensitive to powerplay.

As you welcome thoughts, remember that you retain autonomy on whether you implement it or not.

And if you are on another person’s field, remember to respect their leadership.

5. Do not be na?ve about your team

When you call people together, apart from how great their work is, look out for their work ethic.

“A chain is only as strong as its weakest link” Thomas Reid Intellectual Powers of Man (1786)

I cannot stress how sensitive a creative vision is.

It is so so sensitive that if your team is not all in, you will produce a half-baked project.

At least a half-baked project can still be seen, in some cases—like mine—you will get no cake at all.

Our teatime today sure came with cookies.

Above all, I hope this helps you navigate your future projects and teams better.

So tell me, did this bring back memories or will it help you dodge a bullet?

Dear Insidher

Your ideas deserve to see the light, but they won’t if your creative process lacks grit!

Building a brand and birthing a creative vision needs a lot of elbow grease, so I’m offering you a 1:1 Brand Clarity Session— specially designed to help you untangle clustered thoughts, and bring focus to your brand vision so you can lead better.

If you're ready to own your vision and lead your team to victory, tap here and you shall be whisked away!

Thank you for reading and relishing my gist!

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Love,

Your brandfairy.