I couldn't sell water in a desert. I have no business acumen. I

Host: The office was unusually quiet, with the only sound being the soft clicking of keyboards and the distant hum of city life filtering through the window. Jack sat at his desk, staring at a project proposal, his mind swirling with ideas. Jeeny sat nearby, casually flipping through a notebook, her focus on the words, but her attention also on the quiet tension in the air. It was the kind of stillness that preceded a realization — one that might not be comfortable, but one that was necessary.

Jeeny: (looking up from her notebook, her voice gentle but curious) “You know, Richard Quest once said, ‘I couldn’t sell water in a desert. I have no business acumen. I can tell you why you have no business acumen, and I can tell you why your project may or may not work, but I have no ability to make money.’”

(She paused, her expression thoughtful.) “Do you think that’s something that people in creative fields struggle with? The idea of having no ‘business acumen,’ even when they’re great at their craft?”

Jack: (laughing softly, his tone a little self-deprecating) “I think I’m definitely one of those people. I can make something look great, I can come up with ideas, but when it comes to making it profitable... well, that’s a different story. I often feel like I’m at the mercy of other people who understand the business side of things, while I just try to focus on the work.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her voice more serious now) “It’s a real struggle. So many people in creative fields have a passion for their craft, but not everyone is equipped with the skills to make it sustainable, to turn it into something profitable. And that’s okay. The problem is, we often feel like we have to wear both hats — be the artist and the businessperson.”

Jack: (sighing, his voice quieter) “It’s frustrating, honestly. It’s like I’m torn between doing what I love and figuring out how to make a living doing it. And there’s this constant pressure to monetize everything, to be able to justify your worth in numbers.”

Jeeny: (gently, her voice reassuring) “I think that’s part of the reality we all face, especially in today’s world. The business side is often what gets the most attention, but it can make people feel like they’re not good enough if they don’t have the skill to make money from what they create.”

Jack: (nodding, his tone reflective) “Yeah, and the more I focus on the business side, the less I feel like I’m doing what I’m meant to do. I get caught up in the logistics, the marketing, the numbers. And it feels like it takes away from the passion, the creativity.”

Jeeny: (smiling softly, her voice gentle but full of understanding) “You don’t have to be good at everything. That’s the key. There’s value in knowing your strengths and accepting that the business side of things may not come naturally to you. You don’t have to do it all yourself.”

Jack: (sighing, a little relieved) “That’s true. It’s hard to accept, though. We live in a world where it feels like you should be able to do everything — from the artistic side to the sales pitch. But maybe it’s okay to not have business acumen and just focus on creating.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her voice steady and supportive) “Exactly. And that’s why there are other people out there who specialize in those things. You can focus on what you’re good at, and when the time comes, you can bring in the right people to help with the business side of things. You don’t have to do it all.”

Host: The room felt quieter now, the tension around Jack’s self-doubt slowly dissipating. The realization was clear: it was okay not to be everything. It was okay to not be good at the business side of things, as long as you knew where your strengths lay and were willing to rely on others to handle what you couldn’t.

Jack sat back in his chair, a small smile tugging at his lips. The idea of letting go of the pressure to be the complete package felt freeing, like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

Jack: (with a small, genuine smile) “I think I get it now. It’s about recognizing what I’m good at and letting others step in where I’m lacking. I don’t need to carry the burden of everything. It’s okay to ask for help and to focus on doing what I do best.”

Jeeny: (smiling warmly) “Exactly. The key is knowing that you don’t have to do it all yourself. You don’t have to be perfect at everything. You just have to focus on your craft and trust that the right people will come in to handle the rest.”

Host: As the evening deepened and the world outside settled into the quiet of night, Jack felt a quiet sense of relief. The pressure to be all things to all people, to be both the creative force and the business mind, was no longer something he needed to carry. He could focus on his strengths, and in that, he found the freedom to truly create.

Jeeny’s words lingered in the air — recognizing your limitations wasn’t a sign of failure. It was a sign of growth, of wisdom. And in that understanding, Jack knew he could move forward, not burdened by the need to be everything, but empowered by the realization that he could trust others to help him build the path to success.

And in that, there was both peace and clarity.