Entrusted cherry picker 🍒

🎨 Illustration by Liv Lee, 🍒 2021. Her Instagram handle is @liv.leeee, and her website is https://www.livlee.com.au/

I was watching a conscious business course called Bridges: Redefining Livelihood yesterday, and Pea (the mentor) said, “I don’t do things for clients. I do what I want and then decide who do I want to receive it.”

I’ve sat with this idea for 24 hrs. now and I feel differently about my own way of working.

I have that vision, drive and ability to execute - however I don’t always enjoy self generating.

One of the greatest joys in my life is when people come to me saying things like:

💞 I’ve got this idea to make an independent film . . .
💞 I have this kayaking business that I still enjoy, but something needs to shift . . .
💞 I know of this island that has an artist studio, but no one except the residing artists visits it . . .

You see, I operate best when someone else has the need and I get to refine the vision. Give purpose to chaos.

I love sifting, sorting, organising and then determining my own path of what I see fit in the world we are building together.

The dream client situations for me are when they have an idea (usually with a side of overwhelm or decision paralysis) — and they invite me in to do my thing.

That involves copious amounts of trust, safety to try and fail, and the freedom to pick the path I can best run with and go for it!

Therefore, my way of working would be “I do things for clients that I enjoy. I do what I want, and then we discover who needs to receive it.”

Article FAQs generated by ChatGPT:
1. How does this “entrusted cherry picker” approach differ from the traditional client–service provider relationship?
This approach flips the traditional model. Instead of the client dictating every step of the project, the “entrusted cherry picker” is brought in because of their unique vision, taste, and ability to refine. The client provides the raw idea or situation, but then grants the freedom for the professional to interpret, shape, and execute it in the way they see fit. This creates a partnership built on trust and shared creation, rather than a purely transactional “deliver what I ask for” relationship.

2. What kinds of clients are most likely to thrive in this working style?
The ideal clients are those who are vision-driven but either stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to bring their ideas into reality. They value collaboration, trust the expertise of others, and are willing to relinquish some control to gain a better outcome. These are often founders, creatives, community leaders, or entrepreneurs who have strong concepts but want someone to refine and amplify them.

3. What are the risks and rewards of working in this way – for both the client and “cherry picker”?
The main risk is misalignment. If the client isn’t comfortable letting go of control, they may resist the creative direction chosen. There’s also the potential for mismatched expectations if the vision shifts in a direction the client didn’t foresee. However, the rewards are significant –> greater innovation, more tailored solutions, and a final product that is often more impactful because it’s shaped by both inspiration and expertise. For the “cherry picker,” it means working in a way that plays to their strengths, sustains their creative energy, and results in deeper client satisfaction.