Would You Change Your Work Under These Circumstances
@arthurchappell (44998)
Preston, England
September 18, 2016 3:49am CST
Imagine that you are an expert in some field, such as architecture, or a creative artist. You have just created and presented designs or a manuscript for your greatest work, a real life-long labour of love. The publishers, or builders love it and offer you £75,000 or more but only on condition that you make substantial changes to the completed design / story that you are not happy with. It is not a negotiable deal, but a take it or leave it offer. You’ll never get such an opportunity again.
What would you do? I would conform and then hate myself for it afterwards – after all my work is not going to get this close to fruition again anyway so I should accept it even if it becomes a travesty of my vision.
Would you make the changes and take the money?
Arthur Chappell
20 people like this
22 responses
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
18 Sep 16
@pgntwo I would do, and the piece is entirely hypothetical of course
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
18 Sep 16
@arthurchappell And the next one might be bigger, better, yield more money and be more what you want it to be... 
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
18 Sep 16
@pgntwo if more opportunities arise - such breaks are rare
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
18 Sep 16
Take the money and run. Thing is, the people in the business (whichever field it is) know better what sells and what makes money or will be popular or valued. So, the chances that you can make it on your own with your work as originally completed are slim. In the end, it's still your work. When you're rich and famous, you can write your own ticket and no one can force changes on you. But you have to get rich and famous first. So, go for it.
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
18 Sep 16
@Jessicalynnt pretty much what I think too
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
18 Sep 16
that's my thought too, can always use that money to do it better next time on your own!
1 person likes this
@moirai (2853)
• Philippines
22 Sep 16
No. I would not make the changes and not take the money.
If it is indeed, something I've worked on for a long time, a labor of love, then every single element must be where it is because it is meant to be there. If the changes they want would have a drastic effect on the whole, then absolutely not. Changes other people would like to make is only acceptable if they are those kinds of changes that won't really matter.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
22 Sep 16
good to know some contributers feel they would stand by their principles @moirai
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@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
29 Apr 18
@arthurchappell
If they want to change the whole idea or make it their own then I would look for someone else to publish it. If they just wanted to make a few changes then I would do it.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
30 Apr 18
@Hannihar looks as though they are not imposing too many changes
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@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
30 Apr 18
@Hannihar it's a hypothetical question - I would take the money - such chances are rare
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
30 Apr 18
@arthurchappell
So what are you going to do?
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
30 Apr 18
I expect I would take the money and hate myself for it later @porwest
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
7 May 18
@porwest I expect I would feel guilty about it in some circumstances
1 person likes this
@porwest (91089)
• United States
3 May 18
@arthurchappell If I have money in the bank I could never hate myself for having it or having found a way to have it. :)
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8767)
• United Kingdom
23 Feb 17
I think it would depend on what exactly the changes were and on how important it was for me to keep to the original. Although, if I still held the copyright to my work, I could sell the buyers what they wanted but still use the version I wanted.
I would be reluctant to change it, though. I wouldn't mind a few changes and I wouldn't mind compromising but there are some things I just wouldn't do, no matter how much money I was offered.
1 person likes this
@kumbarn14 (735)
• Pakistan
22 Sep 16
For your work to be valued by an individual or a team for US$75,000 you are Great. You cant find total happiness in small or big things, there is always the iron fist word "compromise" shows its colors. I will definitely be sad if all hard work is not appreciated as a package but what to do, you should be happy with what you are blessed. Great and a Proud Achiever. Enjoy your hard work with something to remember for life. God Bless you.
@celticeagle (167070)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Sep 16
There could be other such works coming and if you have this foot in you could get the clout to be able to develop them and do it the way you want. Yes,I think that I would, if, I felt I could get this opportunity in the future.
1 person likes this
@WorDazza (15830)
• Manchester, England
19 Sep 16
I suspect i would take the money for the reasons outlined by pretty much everyone else. Sometimes you just have to play ball until you're big enough to use your own ball. Unless of course the changes would present me in a light that goes completely against my principles.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
18 Sep 16
It seems that I'm in the minority, but no, I wouldn't take the money. If they're not happy with my work, then I'd rather spend time looking for someone who is than be forced to make changes for a quick buck.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
18 Sep 16
@Poppylicious good for you as I would probably sell out on my principles
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Sep 16
If I were an architect, sure, why not? Creative artist? Maybe not.
1 person likes this
@RitzzView (3038)
• India
19 Sep 16
My personal priority is following what my beliefs and ideas are. So, if I were in your place maybe I decision went on for going for what makes me happy.
But also matters is the situation. Like are you in need for money right now? Then maybe you should go for what they say. Or try and make a deal with them, try to convince why your storyline would work.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16760)
• China
18 Sep 16
You have to l resign yourself to it for a while,then find a job that is in your element.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
18 Sep 16
I think I would make the change, especially if this is the one and only chance, maybe they are right and it is better with the change,
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
19 Sep 16
I would try to persuade the other with some subtle changes that's acceptable to them and doesn't impact overall design and take $$$
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
18 Sep 16
I'd sell out, need the money too much sadly. Now say I HAD money, and was not lacking for anything, I might not.
