Issue 020: Stop Letting One Bad Experience Define an Entire Industry
One bad experience shouldn’t define an entire industry. Let’s talk about discernment, accountability, and the role we play in our own investments.
I was scrolling through Threads today, and I saw two posts back to back:
A woman who spent $15K on a website, didn’t like the outcome, and now believes hiring a designer is a waste of money.
A post about designers are out here scamming by making entire websites out of images instead of actual text.
Now, are these experiences real? Absolutely. Are there bad designers out there? No doubt. Are there people in every industry who overcharge and underdeliver? 100%.
But here’s my problem:
Too often, we take one bad experience and project it onto an entire industry.
I see this a lot in creative fields—whether it’s graphic design, web development, photography, or branding. Someone has a bad experience and instead of learning from it, they decide the entire profession isn’t worth investing in.
And I see this even more in the Black community.
A person has a bad experience with one Black-owned business and suddenly, “This is why I don’t support Black businesses.” But when Walmart messes up, or Apple sells us a faulty product, do we write off all major corporations? No.
The Real Issue: Lack of Research, Discernment, & Involvement
🚨 Here’s the truth: Some services require your involvement. 🚨
Branding, web design, strategy—these aren’t things you can just throw money at and walk away from. A website isn’t just pretty pictures and colors. It’s about strategy, user experience, SEO, and conversion.
If you’re not actively participating in the process—communicating your goals, reviewing work, and providing feedback—you might end up with something that doesn’t serve you. That’s not always the designer’s fault.
We Have to Be More Thoughtful With Our Investments
If you’re hiring a service provider, consider these questions first:
Have you researched their past work?
Have you checked reviews, testimonials, or case studies?
Do you understand what you’re actually paying for?
Are you ready to be involved in the process?
And if you’re a service provider, you also have a responsibility:
Be clear about your process and expectations.
Educate your clients on why things are done a certain way.
Be open to feedback but also set boundaries.
Know the common misconceptions and be ready to debunk and educate.
Business Is Evolving—So Should Our Mindset
In 2025, the way we do business is shifting constantly. AI is changing industries, consumer behaviors are evolving, and the old blueprints don’t always apply anymore. We’re all figuring it out.
And that’s why constructive criticism is crucial—but it has to be constructive. Dragging a business instead of addressing them directly doesn’t help anyone. It doesn’t allow for growth, and it doesn’t give people a chance to improve.
The Takeaway: More Nuance, Less Generalizing
Yes, some designers scam. Some business owners are unprofessional. Some clients are uninformed. But one bad experience should be a learning experience—not a reason to write off an entire industry.
Do your research. Use discernment. Communicate. And if something doesn’t work out? Adjust and move accordingly.
What do you think? Have you ever had a bad experience that made you rethink an entire industry? Let’s talk about it. ⬇️
Stay blessed, stay creative, and stay aligned!
All is well,
Ashlee
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