Week 4: If People Can't Place You, It's Hard to Reward You.

Positioning is everything.

This week, I've been wrestling with something that I think many of us in the creative and entrepreneurial space can relate to: positioning. As the wise donyetaylor put it, "Even though I'm not a math person, I do love a good framework that help me break down thoughts that feel too big to explain. And this question has been on my mind recently, so I created a theory to scientifically answer it. It's called the identity exchange rate. And it's based on this idea that your value is measured by your performance combined with your readability and your packaging. ⁓ After doing a few test scenarios, I realized that readability is the most important variable. You can be polished and perform really well, but if people cannot place you, then it's hard to reward you."

This really hit home for me. For over a decade, my identity was closely tied to Creative Nestlings – I was simply "Dillion of Creative Nestlings." But as I've grown and my interests and experiences have broadened across industries – from building tech startups and supporting small businesses to filmmaking, speaking, mentoring, and now embarking on a new venture with CRCO – I'm realizing the challenge of being seen as the multifaceted individual I am. I've also recognized that my internal narrative has sometimes leaned towards the "glass-half-empty," and I'm actively shifting that to embrace and articulate the strengths I bring to the table. Understanding my own value is the first step in effectively positioning it.

This journey has also brought to mind something I've learned from my love of basketball. You can be an incredibly talented player – a Giannis even – but ultimately, success often hinges on the strength of your team. Life, like basketball, is a team sport, and you're only as good as the company you keep. It's become clear to me that I need to be much more intentional about building the right team and surrounding myself with people who truly align with my values and vision.

So, what happens when you feel like a "walking venture studio" with interests spanning the creative and tech worlds, but that label isn't quite sticking? This week, I'm diving into my journey of intentional repositioning. To gain clarity, I'm planning to do a personal SWOT analysis and reach out to peers for honest feedback on the value I bring.

Only by truly understanding my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats can I hope to refine my positioning and, ultimately, become more "readable."

Just dropped a conversation with Iria Marina that goes deep on the real challenges of running a creative business across African borders. From her journey as a Mozambican fashion entrepreneur to her insights on how border closures affect economies on both sides, Iria doesn't hold back.

"If a product costs 3,000 rand, then to ship that product is 4,000 rand" - the logistics struggle is real! Plus her powerful take on leadership: "I can be a leader, but I don't want to be a boss" had me reflecting on my own journey.

Iria's perspective on the South Africa-Mozambique relationship reveals so much about how our economies are intertwined. Whether you're a creative entrepreneur or just interested in African borders, this one's worth your time.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts! 🌍

Opportunity of the Week

DOCUBOX OPEN CALL FOR FILMMAKERS! 🎬🥳

Docubox is looking for filmmakers from several East African countries (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, DRC) for short fiction and documentary films ($8,000 each) and feature-length documentaries ($20,000 each). Feature-length docs should be in production/post-production, while short films must be completed by December 2026. Selected filmmakers will attend a workshop in July 2025.

The deadline to apply is April 30, 2025.

What I'm Reading/Doing This Week: Investing in the Future of Work

I've decided to embrace the spirit of continuous learning and have enrolled in the McKinsey.org Forward program. As I've been reflecting on my journey and exploring my positioning, I realized the value in sharpening essential workplace skills that are relevant across various industries.

Forward is a free, multi-week learning program designed by McKinsey.org to equip individuals at different career stages with practical tools for future success. Whether you're looking to reskill, advance, or simply gain a stronger foundation in key business areas, this program offers a fantastic opportunity. It covers crucial skills that can be applied across diverse roles and sectors, and it's available globally.

I'm excited to delve into the curriculum and see how these insights can further shape my approach and contribute to my growth. If you're also keen on developing future-proof skills, you can check out the program.

Tool of the Week

During my time at Creative Nestlings, we had the pleasure of working with Craft, and it's a tool I continue to appreciate. Craft offers seamless project and business management features designed to simplify complexity, allowing you to focus on what truly matters – your creative work or entrepreneurial endeavors.

What's particularly exciting about Craft is their ongoing investment in building robust financial management tools specifically tailored for creatives, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. Having a platform that integrates project management with financial oversight can be a game-changer for staying organized and ensuring your business is on a solid footing. If you're looking for a tool to streamline your workflow and get a better handle on your finances, I highly recommend checking out Craft.

While I was looking for inspiration and wanted to check out the winners of The Monocle Design Awards 2025, I stumbled upon something interesting: Monocle has completely redesigned their website! It's quite a striking change, and I recommend taking a look if you're a fan of their aesthetic and content. You can find the list of the Design Award winners (which might give you a glimpse of the new design too).