What do you do if your boss in the Creator Economy abuses their power?

When criticism feels impossible, it probably is. If you are being admonished for something that is common practice or routine, it is unfair. If you are being criticized for something that has been taken out of context (aka not the whole story), then you are being targeted. In these instances, best to be proactive and make the judgement call that things are headed in a bad direction. Waiting around for the situation to get better never works. Toxic situations are like avalanches - it's impossible to reverse it, and if you try, you'll probably get crushed.

A dear friend of mine, Carol, once faced a challenging situation with a power-abusive boss. Despite facing constant criticism and unreasonable demands, she remained calm and professional. Carol meticulously documented all interactions and communicated her concerns clearly, always aiming for resolution. This approach not only protected her but also highlighted her resilience and problem-solving skills, earning her respect from peers. Her experience underscores the importance of professionalism and clear communication in turning difficult situations into opportunities for growth.

As a successful writer on a popular platform, I had connected with many other top creators on the platform, and so when a new CEO took over and decided drive most of us off the platform, we remained connected and found each other on other platforms. This helped us support and promote each other, but more importantly, to discuss creative ways to leverage our writing skills outside of simply writing articles for the open public in the "creator economy."

Facing a similar situation, I once had a boss who often tried to undervalue my contributions, pressuring me to accept lower rates and overlook my contractual terms. I remained steadfast, firmly believing in the quality and uniqueness of my work. I meticulously documented all our interactions, ensuring a clear record of the discussions and my attempts at resolution. When it became evident that the situation wouldn't change, I made the difficult but necessary decision to walk away. This decision opened new doors for me, leading to opportunities where my skills were recognized and also fairly compensated. A powerful lesson in understanding my worth and the importance of standing firm in the face of adversity.

I was a successful writer on a popular platform, when a new CEO took over and decided that much the successful content was not quality enough, despite that tens of thousands of people read and enjoyed it. The short story is that there was simply no overcoming the whims of the new CEO, and so many top writers were driven from the platform by his actions. I finally decided to stop contributing as well (this decision was as much financial as it was personal) and instead focused on using my writing in my primary career, and also for generating educational materials for university level classes. I don't earn as much from writing now, but it has become an integral part of everything I do now, and I bring value to my clients with this skill.