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It’s January 2010, the tail end of the award season and my inbox is still packed with facebook messages containing the usual ‘vote me for best ‘insert title __________’ at the ‘insert title __________’ awards, some of which I voted for and some I didn’t but don’t we all react that way? I am still numb and have stopped seeing the messages long ago let alone actually clicking the links. This inbox cleanup is going to take forever.

By April I have forgotten about award shows, about Kanye West and Taylor Swift blah blah blah and in comes a message that wakes me from my spam induced stupor. A Facebook friend saying “Congrats. You are nominated twice in the same category”. It is one of the most prestigious music awards in the Caribbean, The Marlin awards, and two projects I designed are nominated for best packaging…

Now there are 3 fazes that you go through as a human being in this predicament:
1. PRIDE – I can’t believe this is actually happening to me… Who can I tell… What would I say if I win… etc.
2. DENIAL – It’s great to be nominated… I don’t really want to win anyway… Its too expensive to fly there… etc.
3. PRIDE – I really want to win… how much is a ticket… who’s my competition… starts Googling nominees…

As a self proclaimed social network marketing guru, a strategy begins to form. Now I am certain I can manipulate enough people to take this thing home but then I realise that this ‘thing’ is not even vote based, it’s actually judged by a panel of professionals who are obviously clued up based on the calibre of my competition (yes, yes, I found them on Google – and they’re HOT!). I guess I’ll just have to wait six months… Pride convinces me to stay quiet lest we lose. In that silence something hit me… ‘‘this is not about me anyway”, it is about the client, well at least until this nomination. And it got me thinking about the clients both of whom I have developed a healthy business relationship with over the years. Sherwin Gardner is a talented individual who I have worked with for 10 years and Russell Leonce I have known from childhood and never knew he could write let alone become this awesome artiste.

Anybody who is a professional in any field knows that good work comes out of relationships, Russell’s manager Erica Ashton not just an industry expert but a beautiful spirit whose words always finish with, “you know I trust you Christophe”. It is professional relationship in every way – finance, creative control, communication, trust and respect. When you find a relationship like that in business, YOU HAVE AREADY WON!!! Everything is back in perspective.

It is October, right in the middle of award season and Russell is up for 10 awards for his debut album ‘Culture of Love’ and I want him to win and it is just great to part of an amazing team. I am now wishing all my business relationships are like this and actually now attempt to foster this from the first phone call. It seems obvious now, I actually win every week when I train a relationship properly and give my clients respect instead of thinking that it is all about me and my artistic ability. Every job we do should be approached as if there was the possibility of an award and the client was the recipient.

Every job we do should be approached as if there was the possibility of an award and the client was the recipient.

It is November and Russell Leonce has taken home 3 awards including best packaging after a powerful performance at the lavish award show in the Bahamas. His facebook page is buzzing with appreciation from his faithful fanbase, and I am reading his blog particularly enjoying this line – “Christophe Pierre, you make us look so good, keep it up!”.

It is December and Russell has grabbed a few more international awards and completely sold out of CDs (I have just shipped the remaining copies) and I am working hard on ‘award’ winning projects every week with amazing clients. All is well in the design world. Now if I could just get rid of this competitive streak…