"I know it's hard to work for me. And that's on purpose. I'm trying to weed out those ones that aren't on the same path as the rest of us." -Missi Blue

Running a tattoo shop taught me one of the hardest lessons of my career: you can't be everyone's friend and still be an effective leader. For years, I desperately wanted to be the "cool boss" – the one everyone loved, the complete opposite of those shop owners I'd seen get demonized by their staff. I bent over backwards to be agreeable, let things slide, and made financial decisions based on emotions rather than business sense. The result? I nearly lost control of my own business and found myself in situations that compromised everything I'd worked to build. Today I'm sharing the raw truth about what it really takes to lead a creative team, why having high standards isn't mean, and how I learned to stop people-pleasing my way into business problems.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why trying to be the "cool boss" can actually harm your business and the people you're trying to protect

• How people-pleasing tendencies can lead to financial mistakes and blurred professional boundaries

• The importance of establishing clear non-negotiables and minimum requirements from day one

• Why you can't expect to be seen as both a friend and a boss, and how to navigate that dynamic

• How to recognize when you're letting others pull your business off track and what to do about it

• The difference between being flexible with your plans and compromising your core values

• Why having high expectations and pushing for growth actually creates better work environments

• How to use your values as a North Star for making difficult business decisions

Links:

boundbyart.com

bluebirdtattoos.com

instagram.com/tattoosbymissiblue

instagram.com/boundbyartproject

instagram.com/bluebirdtattoostudio