This Instead of That
"Self-employed" is a misnomer. I often hear "it must be nice to work for yourself" when I explain what I do to someone. Only the wealthy work for themselves. Foresight's clients are our bosses. Working with philanthropy, as we often do, involves unique challenges. No other sector enjoys as much lack of accountability. While market forces, client demands, and legal requirements guide most other entities, only two guardrails frame a foundation's behavior: give away at least 5% of the assets each year and file an annual IRS Form 990 form. With very few exceptions, I've enjoyed the staff members with whom I've worked at foundations; smart, well-intentioned folks trying to do good like the rest of us in the social impact space. The often fear-based culture in which they work—sometimes subtle, other times more explicit—however, can frustrate everyone involved and create a palpable and pervasive tension that goes unacknowledged, as if normal. It often seems to be generated by a fear of doing something wrong and subsequently embarrassing and upsetting the higher-ups who hold power from an intentional, well-enforced distance. My chosen livelihood is dependent on meeting and exceeding a client's expectations. I work hard at balancing this with addressing a higher good. Most times, this stays in alignment; other times, however, pivots and compromises occur, and a project drifts from its initial ends. Asserting a moral compass can be challenging for a worker-for-hire, particularly when the client contact has their own, closer relationship with an organization's power structures. What becomes at stake isn't the good we're trying to create together, but self-preservation, if only so we might try again, try better, another day.
