Geezy TED Talk: Your Customers Are Watching How You Treat People

In the design world, creativity gets a lot of spotlight — but your reputation is built on something even more fragile: how you treat people. Customers and fellow creators alike pay attention to your actions, not just your designs. And while a beautiful graphic might grab attention, one careless accusation, one block, or one public call-out can undo years of hard work.

The Silent Cost of Blocking and Banning

It’s tempting to hit “block” when you feel threatened or uneasy about another person in the industry. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself what that costs?

Picture this: someone has already spent over $100 with you, and they’re lining up to spend more. They love your vibe, they think you’re community-driven, and they assume you’re someone who embodies “community over competition.” And then — without a single conversation — they’re banned. Not because they copied your designs (they didn’t). Not because they bad-mouthed you (they didn’t). But because they happen to share a love of checkered patterns.

Here’s the hard truth: when you assume instead of asking, you don’t just lose a customer — you lose trust, credibility, and future income.

Community Over Competition Means More Than a Hashtag

So many creators plaster “community over competition” across their pages. It’s inspiring… until the actions don’t match the words. Calling out people in chats, labeling others “weird” for stepping away, or making accusations of copying when styles are clearly different? That’s not community. That’s fear in disguise.

And here’s where it gets messy: those customer chats, those group discussions? Everyone in there is a potential buyer. When they watch a creator bash, accuse, or blacklist someone without evidence, it sends a message: you could be next. No one wants to shop where they don’t feel safe.

Style Isn’t Owned — It’s Expression

Let’s talk about style for a second. One creator once claimed another’s work was “mimicking” theirs because they suddenly noticed mascots and sports designs. But here’s the kicker: sports mascots aren’t new. Some of us have been working with sports themes since long before the digital design world even existed. Inspiration and trends overlap, but that doesn’t mean theft.

The reality is, no one owns an aesthetic. Not checkered, not mascots, not florals, not neon. To assume otherwise not only alienates fellow creators but also makes customers feel like they’re walking on eggshells just for appreciating more than one shop.

Reputation Is a Receipt

Customers don’t just buy designs; they buy the experience of interacting with you. And long after they’ve forgotten the details of a font or a file, they’ll remember how you made them feel.

If you accuse someone wrongly, they won’t just stop buying. They’ll tell others. If you blacklist a potential customer, they’ll close their wallet — not just for now, but forever. That “forever” adds up. One person here, another there, multiplied by word of mouth, equals real lost income.

The design community is smaller than it seems. People talk. And once your reputation gets stained with “unprofessional,” it’s a hard label to scrub away.

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What To Do Instead

We’ve all seen the wrong way. But let’s talk about the better way — the way that builds trust, loyalty, and a reputation that lasts.

1. Communicate First

Before jumping to conclusions, send a message. Ask questions. Clarify. Many situations can be cleared up with a simple conversation. A little communication can save a lot of damage.

2. Assume Innocence, Not Guilt

Two people can love the same pattern, trend, or design style without it being theft. Creativity overlaps. Unless you have concrete proof, don’t assume bad intentions.

3. Keep Customer Spaces Professional

Chats, groups, and customer communities are meant to build excitement, not spread suspicion. If you wouldn’t say something on your business page, don’t say it in a private customer chat. Every member in there is a potential buyer, and unprofessional call-outs only push them away.

4. Focus on What Makes You Unique

Instead of worrying who might “mimic” you, lean into your own strengths. No one can replicate your exact voice, style, or creative journey. When you focus on your originality, competitors stop feeling like threats.

5. Think Long-Term, Not Short-Term

Blocking someone might feel good in the moment, but what about a year from now? That person could’ve been your biggest supporter, your word-of-mouth advertiser, or your repeat buyer. Don’t sacrifice long-term growth for a quick emotional reaction.

 

Protecting Your Peace (When It Is Time to Block)

Let’s be real: there are times when blocking is the right choice. But here’s the difference — you don’t block because someone shares a pattern you like. You block when they cross the line into personal attacks, harassment, or repeated false accusations.

Being falsely accused hurts, and it’s exhausting. In those moments, you have to remember: you don’t owe anyone access to your peace. Protecting your mental health, your boundaries, and your creative energy sometimes requires hitting that block button. And that’s okay.

The key is why you’re blocking. Do it to protect yourself — not to punish a customer. Do it when someone’s actions are toxic, not when they simply overlap with your lane.

Because blocking out of fear costs you business. But blocking to protect your peace? That preserves the one thing no business can replace: your well-being.

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The Big Picture

At the end of the day, your designs may get people in the door, but your actions are what keep them there. Treating people with respect, assuming the best instead of the worst, and communicating before accusing — these are the true foundations of a lasting business.

But never forget: protecting your peace matters too. Block the drama, not the customer. Keep your energy focused on creating, not accusing. Because when it comes down to it, the most valuable thing you design isn’t a graphic, an alpha, or a font.

It’s the way you make people feel — and the peace you choose to keep for yourself.