#RealTalk on Business Ethics

With upcoming collaborations shifting from just cute outfits and accessories to posts requiring me to review products and services, I decided it’s time for a little dive into my business ethics (I promise this will be more fun than that unit on ethics in your business class!)

Let’s get something straight. My blog IS my business. It’s legally a businesses, I’m not just saying that. This is my full-time, every single day into every single night job. I cherish the fact that I’m able to do what I love. I’m able to use my degree in PR while being able to write. I love spilling my soul on the internet. Beyond that, I can do this job from anywhere in the world, provided I have an internet connection. I’ve said countless times how blessed I am to have the flexibility that I do. My family is so grateful that I’m able to be home more and I’m personally so glad that I’m contributing to the care of my grandpa’s severe Alzheimer’s. But this all did not happen overnight! I have worked my butt off to get here. I feel like women are always dismissive of their success, feeling the need to explain it, to have an excuse for it: “I got lucky” or “Everything just fell into place”. No. You succeed because you work really freaking hard and don’t take no for an answer.

After graduation, I worked my day job from 7:30-4:30, got home around 5:30 and after a quick break to shower and eat dinner, I went instantly to work on my blog. Eat, sleep, blog, repeat. I frequently spent lunch breaks writing blog posts or having calls with a brand. I would stay in to save money to file my blog as a business and to pay for business taxes. I’ve cut corners time and time again because turns out, owning a business ain’t cheap! I am not alone in this – many of you fellow hustlers are probably reading this and nodding your heads. When you are passionate about something, you’ll sacrifice nearly ANYTHING for it. Minus one thing.

That little major thing is called business ethics. Business ethics (along with how I was raised) require me to conduct ethically in any situation that arises in my business.

Examples include: Informing you that the dress I posted to my Instagram story runs small so you should size up, notifying you when the shoes I’m wearing are gifted from a brand (even though I know everyone hates #ad and #spon), and telling you a makeup product I was sent to review sucks if it does indeed suck.

Here is my promise to you: I will ALWAYS give you my 100% unfiltered and honest opinion. I will ALWAYS disclose when an Instagram, social media post or blog post is sponsored but I will still be completely unbiased with my reviews. I will ALWAYS do background research on the brands with which I partner. I will NEVER take on a collaboration that I think goes against my beliefs or my morals. I will NEVER falsely advertise something to you.

I need this to be YOUR promise to me: If you ever feel that I’ve broken any of my promises above, call me out on it.

An old friend did just that on a recent post of mine advertising a dental service – I had forgotten to include how important it is to consult with your dentist prior to making any decisions, and I’m grateful she reminded me to do so.

You put an awful lot of trust in me, and that is not something I take lightly. I would never want to mislead you or disappoint you.

This special cyber relationship you and I have is a lot of me talking. I would love for this to be a two-way street. Tell me what blog posts you want to see. Be honest about which ones you hated. Critique my awkwardness on YouTube (although I’m only on there because you told me I should be!). This business only exists because of you – have I thanked you for that properly? Thank you for letting my have my dream job – and I promise to only do my best for you.

I love each and every one of you, from the bottom of my heart.

xoxo Cait