“I can’t change the fact that my paintings don’t sell. But the time will come when people will recognize that they are worth more than the value of the paints used in the picture.” -Vincent van Gogh
Would Van Gogh ever have believed that his work would fetch millions? I know that he never made a penny witnessing and rendering the world in broad strokes of color. He stayed true to his vision continuously even when his grief and sadness lead him to acts of insanity; still he created, he painted. It is difficult to continuously produce the truth that is inside of us when we get no recognition for our efforts. The less courageous person will fold before long.
I often think of my work at Good Clean Love as a long-term work of art. I watch the evolution of the brand images and the words that get whittled down to express the very core and seed of the love that is both the payment and reward for my work. Like Van Gogh, I know that someday, there will be people who recognize that the value of Good Clean Love is far greater than the thousands of bottles of product circulating in the world.
Henry Ford once said, “A business that makes nothing but money is a poor kind of business.” It took me a long time to understand the math of making money on products is as simple as it seems. If I had, I might never have even tried to make an intimacy product company. This is one trait that separates true entrepreneurs from the business elite. It is the purpose, the mission that solves real problems for real people that inspires me to keep coming back.
I would love to figure out the mechanics of the business that can make money. But I refuse to measure the value of what we do strictly on a balance sheet. The intangibles of a business are worthy. In fact it is the intention, values and promise that makes a brand name real and lasting. I might be the only one who knows what Good Clean Love is worth to the world, but like any masterpiece, the truth and lasting beauty of my efforts will be honored.
