Lord von Schmitt: When to stop being a business and start being an artist

What do you get when you combine recycled afghans, short shorts, and a lot of psychedelic drugs?

Lord von Schmitt, king of rainbow-colored, crocheted garments including underwear, full bodysuits, and parasols.

Schuyler Ellers recently appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank in a failed attempt to secure an investment from the self-made millionaires and one billionaire (sharks) that make up the panel (tank).

You must watch his pitch before finishing this article:

Whoa. That’s a lot of crochet (or not enough, depending on the garment).

Businesses sell, artists create

The words we use to describe ourselves play a huge role in decision-making. A self-proclaimed artist is bound to make different choices than a self-proclaimed salesperson.

Schuyler was never going to receive an investment from the sharks. Not because his products aren’t awesome, but because his products aren’t products, they’re works of art. He’s not an entrepreneur, he’s an artist.

Entrepreneurs build businesses bigger than themselves. Artists build businesses that are themselves.

I could never sell my business. You would stop reading my blog if you found out someone else was writing it. My clients would stop booking my Remote Connections virtual workshop if it wasn’t me delivering it. There are plenty of generic blogs and communication workshops to choose from.

I’m inseparable from my work, and that makes me an artist.

One by one the sharks gently encouraged Ellers to reconsider how he views himself and his work. Instead of acting like a fringe clothing company, why not own the fact that his customers are buying a wearable work of art? A Schuyler Ellers original.

Lord von Schmitt.

Art is worth whatever we’re willing to pay

When you own your art, something amazing happens to your ability to make a living. Remember last year when an artist duct taped a banana to a wall and sold it for $100,000… three times?!

His customers weren’t buying the banana, or the duct tape. They were buying the story, and the look on their friends’ faces when they told it.

It appears Schuyler took the sharks’ advice and is now commanding anywhere from $800 to $2500 for a single crocheted Lord von Schmitt original. You and I both know a piece of crocheted underwear from recycled afghans isn’t actually worth $800.

But a wearable work of art with a story to tell your friends?

Well, that’s up to you. I wouldn’t buy it. Of course, I’m not his audience. Then again when I was 23 and super broke, I spent nearly $300 on this 1-to-1 screen replica of the Chameleon Arch pocket watch from Doctor Who.

It’s one of my favorite display pieces when in the company of fellow Whovians and all-around nerds. I love telling the story, and seeing their jaws hit the floor is worth every penny I couldn’t afford on food that year.

Thinking like an artist

Consider the work you do, whether you’re self-employed or working for a large corporation. Is there an aspect of your work that is truly immeasurable?

What X factor do you bring to your job that your company couldn’t replace by bringing in someone else with an identical resume?

Lean into those aspects of your work and suddenly you’ll find your value within the organization increases dramatically, as your boss, colleagues, employees, clients, and customers look to you for that special something they can’t get from anyone else.

It’s the best job security you could ask for in an unpredictable world.

You don’t need to sell rainbow-colored crochet underwear or duct tape a banana to a wall to incorporate an artists’ mindset into your work.

It’s time to stand out. It’s time to be you.