Welcome to Dumpsville, Population: You

“Well, I’m not one to gossip but…” goes the inevitable prelude before a colleague or creative industry pal dives headlong into divulging some hilariously salacious tidbit of who’s dumped who, why – the official reason and the REAL one - how, in what position.  It’s not that the creative industry is more partial to gossip than, say, IT consultants, but we definitely do have a flair for the melodrama, especially where the end of the affair is concerned.  

While such tittle-tattle can be fun at the time – like eating one too many Krispy Kremes – it invariably leaves you feeling flat, listless and a bit sick.  We’ve all been on both sides of the break-up and know just how demotivating and generally rubbish it can be, for everyone involved, to be the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons.  

As founder of international reputation management consultants FinchFactor, I’ve been party to the good, the bad and the ugly of the creative industry for 20 years and have always kept in mind those wise words, “If you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” That’s why, on this, the day of love, peace and bear hugs, I am advocating the industry to take a leaf out of the book of ‘ubermodel’ Kate Moss.

La Moss seems to have as much, if not more, scandal in her life than most of us.  She’s dated the great and good of the fashion and music worlds, she’s been caught doing naughty, illegal things, she’s not a girl who you can imagine gets very many early nights.  And yet, instead of being tabloid fodder, her personal life manages to stay just that – personal.  

While a less gracious ‘celebrity’, such as Jordan, enjoys nothing more than airing her dirty knickers in public, Moss keeps a dignified silence and surprise, surprise, so do her conquests.  Yes, we would all like to know more but, without the oxygen of conversation, the fire quickly burns out and we move on to other, more instantly gratifying, gossip.

So next time you are in the situation of being the dumper, or the dumpee, just think: “What would Kate Moss do?”, knock back a double vodka tonic and keep your mouth shut.