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Creative Start-up, Part 3: Appearances can be Deceiving

Andy Brenits

Principal, Brenits Creative

In-House Business Startup Journal Part 3 After a few weeks on the job I have heard more airing of dirty laundry than I would have expected. But, this is actually par for the course at any new job, as people begin to get comfortable with me being on the scene as a colleague rather than […]
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In-House Business Startup Journal Part 3
After a few weeks on the job I have heard more airing of dirty laundry than I would have expected. But, this is actually par for the course at any new job, as people begin to get comfortable with me being on the scene as a colleague rather than as a boss or organizational leader.
People are telling me more about the deficits of talent, skill, or availability of the creative team than any strengths or examples of good work. And quite often I hear about the faults of the previous manager who held my position, or his boss who seemed completely unsupportive of design and brand.
It’s human nature, I guess, to interject into conversations the behind-the-scenes challenges that preceded my arrival. And it does help to build a little bit of context around the story of your department prior to you being part of it.  But all the negativity is enough to make me wonder if I’ve made the right career move, or if any of this can even be fixed.
So instead of getting mired in how things were, I focus on the task at hand – the reason I’ve been hired into this position – which is to make things better.
Good leaders are usually well aware of the situation that exists in the organization, and they recognize that someone needs to come in and fix it.  And if you ever get as lucky as I am right now, you actually get the support you need to set the ship on the right course.
I will be at the InHOWse Managers Conference this June 21-23 in Boston. Won’t you join me and other in-house leaders to share stories and learn from each other? Early bird deadline extended to April 30. Details here andregister here.
I’ll also be leading the InSource roundtable on Career Paths for the Creative Leader in conjunction with the HOW Design Live! events. Pre-register now to hold your seat. Details to follow.

I’m Andy Brenits, a brand and business growth strategy advisor. I work with business owners and leaders who want clearer thinking around brand, marketing, and growth—before time, money, or momentum are wasted.

My perspective is shaped by nearly 30 years across brand strategy, creative leadership, teaching, and in-house roles inside complex organizations. I write about how strategy actually works in the real world, with a focus on clarity, judgment, and better decision-making over tactics or trends.

These insights are for people responsible for meaningful decisions and long-term outcomes, building thoughtful brands and sustainable businesses one clear move at a time.

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