Predatory Behavior, Issue #41

A while back a fellow solo professional had shared a story with me.?

She was ecstatic about landing a big networking opportunity to collaborate with someone she had always admired. They had a great conversation where they shared ideas, and about the possibility of working together in the future.

Not too long after she saw her ideas out in the world. No credit. No acknowledgement.

Sounds like a story you can relate to??Welcome to the entrepreneurial jungle.

In today’s newsletter, we’ll find out that not everyone is here to play fair.

There are predators and they come in different forms. As solo professionals and entrepreneurs, there are many opportunities available to us,?but not all of them are good.

I, myself, have been the victim of a lot of predatory behavior. Especially when I was just starting out.?That’s when we’re usually the most vulnerable.?

I was invited to numerous?“collaborations”?that seemed exciting, but all it did was drain my energy without giving me any real results. These are the people who just enjoy sucking your time, as I learned later on.

Then there were those who were trying to convince me that exposure is more important than being paid,?pushing me to work for free “for the experience.”?(unfortunately, this is a very common one).

Let’s not forget those who flatter you, pick your brain, then offer a cheaper version of your service. All of a sudden, your ideas are now theirs. This is what happened to my fellow solo professional.?She fell prey to a smooth talker.

The more I talked to people, the more I was able to recognize these behaviors, and eventually start to protect myself. Now I can usually tell from the first five minutes of a conversation if someone is exhibiting predatory behavior.

And don’t get me wrong,?even the most seasoned professionals are still exposed to predatory behavior?because the business world will always have its predators. It just got easier once I started recognizing the signs that could make me fall prey.?

It's definitely wild out here in the entrepreneurial jungle but that doesn’t mean that we should get all paranoid. We just need to pay attention.?(sometimes having a little street smart helps)

The Bottom Line:

Not every deal is a good deal. Especially when you hear something like “this deal is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”??Sometimes we just need to learn to say no and walk away.

Shamayne Brown is a virtual assistant and the founder of Camp Virtual Assistance. She works with solo professionals and small business owners who are ready to invest in their business and need the support that she offers as they continue to grow and scale.

She specializes in helping them with all the admin work in their businesses like blog updates, email newsletters and calendar management. View a complete list of her services here.