Calm Photos

Derek Powazek – The Real Story of JPG Magazine

Up till now JPG Magazine has been one of those home-grown, success stories that results when a group of very talented people get together to start a business venture built upon a passion for their craft as well as a passion for their customers, in this case photography and photographers. It is also a great example (up till now) of the power of the internet in building an online community of visual artists who naturally gravitate toward a common goal of sharing their work and their ideas for mutual inspiration, motivation and support.

That’s how JPG Magazine got started, and for a short while stayed true to the original vision of its’ founders. The original editors of JPG Magazine faithfully served their loyal readers and contributors by producing both a print and online magazine that was free from the inherent limitations that naturally arise from being a slave to outside investors, advertisers and the usual “corporate types” who lack the vision and passion of the people who start and build a business from the ground up.

The article linked above, written by one of JPG Magazine’s co-founder and no ex-editor Derek Powazek, is a perfect example of what happens when a good idea with good intentions mixed with great talent crashes head-on with those who simply want to cash-in on short-term profits and control, all at the perilous expense of sacrificing the very goose that laid the golden eggs of creative originality. Eventually the publication will be morphed into something that isn’t any different than typical, predictable and average.

It happens over and over again, in just about every profession and industry, everywhere you look. And the sad the part is that the victims - the original owners who busted their back quarters and invested the sweat equity of their passion and vision - never see it coming until it is too late, primarily because it comes from someone they had placed their trust in, whether it be a business partner, friend or family member, or combination of all three.

That’s what makes this all too typical progression in the time-line of a business so insidious, leaving the victims shocked, traumatized and bewildered beyond belief.

Betrayal cuts a deep wound that never heals.

The one positive outcome of Derek sharing his story is that he has shared his story with the sole intention of helping others see and recognize the warning signs before it’s too late within their own start-up businesses, publications or other endeavors.

His message is clear - watch-out for the business partner/brother/investor who says “I’m going to be CEO, but it’s really no big deal. You’ll still have an equal say and equal ownership.”

Uh, here’s the little caveat to those “slight” changes in titles and organizational structure: it’s all about control, and even if you have the same amount of shares or funds originally invested, the control of the organization will eventually be turned against you so that you are powerless in retaining your shares and value of your original investment.

Toward the end of Derek’s article there are several key suggestions that are well worth noting. The one suggestion that particularly jumped out at me was “when someone says one thing, but acts in a contradictory way, you have a choice between believing their words or believing their deeds. Believe their deeds.” Amem, amen.

It happens over and over again, and the blind pride that aries from the ignorant narcissism of the betrayer actually leaves him or her with a sense that what they’ve done is actual work worthy of the all that cash they carry away in their wallets and bank accounts.

But no amount of money or self-imposed sense of worth will hide them or keep them safe from the truth.

Thank you Derek for sharing your story.