“For a while, he even makes you believe that his power has become yours. Irresistible power… that makes every desire’s fufilment seem inevitable.”

When I heard this line from Rings of Power, it reminded me of this:

Sometimes, business partners want to make you rely on them in order to gain leverage on you—as if you had no other choice. The dynamic between record labels and recording artists comes to mind. 

It’s important to remember their capabilities—distribution, reputation, etc.—aren’t yours; you’re borrowing them. It would be wise to develop some of your own. Invest in creating another option, and building up leverage for negotiating in the future.

If you don’t borrow in the first place, then they won’t have anything they can take away.