Can I just say how predictable some facets of our profession are? I sat nearly idle the last two months. Luckily the projects I had paid enough, but I spent a ton of time on marketing and personal projects. The second I realize our vacation plans are firming up, in come not one, but three projects.
All appeared in my in box on Friday. All due in four weeks. Sounds do-able, but I’m losing a week, then I’m losing another at the end of the month (a visit to the parents). The visit to the folks may be put off another week – two article deadlines are for that very week. I can get it done, but only if the large project I’ve been working on either gets A) stalled, or B) finished early.
My call with the client on Friday couldn’t happen, so she’ll be rescheduling this week. I have three days to get two articles started, get at least two interviews down, and get a client call in. The third is a profile piece, so that’s usually a one-and-done interview and some background research. Whew. ‘Tis the season. The moment the calendar page flips to August, it gets nuts around here. And I’m loving every minute of it.
I was thinking over the weekend about how much I’ve learned over the years. There have been a lot of good lessons, but honestly? The bad lessons have taught me as much, if not more, about how to run a business effectively.
Isn’t it true for all of us? We’ve been through it all, have the war wounds to prove it, and each lesson learned becomes one more step to becoming a better business person.
I’m not saying we have to subject ourselves to rotten treatment just for the experience and knowledge gained. Avoidance is a better plan. But there have been things that have happened in my career, and in yours, that have made us stronger each time one of us shares that. Here are things we’ve lived through that make us better business owners:
Client conflicts. It’s never pleasant to face an angry or upset client. Yet these are learning experiences. You learn how to handle it, how to triage it (is it a real problem, a small problem, a big problem, or a pseudo-problem designed to avoid payment?), and how to change your processes or clients going forward.
Nonpayment. Have it happen once, you panic. Have it happen twice, you chase it down. Have it happen a third time and you build a collection system and learn to use contracts to protect your time investment. And you learn to aim higher up the food chain – clients who pay too little are often bargain shoppers who will argue the bill.
Taking on bad projects. Nothing teaches you your own personal boundaries better than taking on stuff that you regret – and possibly resent. I myself learned limits the hard way, and it only took a few times to get the idea firmly planted – I can say no any time I like.
Jumping through hoops. Those clients who can’t seem to separate you the contractor from their employees? They’re teaching you to set boundaries, too. For any client who expects you to be video monitored, available almost instantly (one client of mine wanted me available from 6 am to 9 pm seven days a week – guess how that ended), working holiday weekends, or spending your vacation on their projects cements in your mind the idea of you as a business owner, not a business lackey.
Project creep. It’s natural for some clients to assume they can treat you just like an employee, piling on more and more work for one set rate. Have it happen one time and you learn how to ask for a new agreement for each new project parameter shoved in front of you.
What has happened to you that has made you stronger? Can you think of a specific instance where you came out of a lousy situation with a better plan of attack?
I think every newbie has to go through it-the ah-ha moment when you say enough to underpricing your fees and taking on clients that will never pay what you're worth.
But, until you believe in your own worth, you will remain mired in chasing the too small buck.
Well said, Cathy. Spot on. And there's the disconnect – the writers aren't believing in their own worth, so they're practically apologizing for asking for what belongs to them.
My first year in business I lost $2265 (I will ALWAYS remember that number) to a client who did not pay me and then shortly after declared bankruptcy. If I had listened to my gut instincts, I would never have gotten involved with the client to begin with. I had a very bad feeling about them from the beginning. That quickly taught me to two lessons–listen to my inner voice and aim higher when choosing who to work for.
One of my very first freelance assignments taught me never to trust someone who has a convoluted mathematical formula to determine "fair" payment.
I admit I'm not great at math, but I followed his little formula (calculator in hand) and determined I was owed $3,000 for the job I performed. I sent the invoice. He hit the roof, re-calculated the invoice – by changing one parameter – and said he only owed me $1,000.
Excuse me? I followed the formula you gave me, and you decided to re-define one of multipliers to make it fit your budget? I don't think so. We argued back and forth in writing, but he never budged. I finally took the $1,000 and severed ties.
I think I'm going to have to break ties with a current client pretty soon. It will be my first time I've actually severed ties with a client who really likes my work and pays quickly. Sadly, the pay is just too little for the time and effort I put into the job. I'm hoping it will make me stronger the next time I have to end an otherwise happy client relationship because of low pay.
Not having many clients yet I don't have the hard knocks stories. However, I like what Ronda said, you must listen to your gut. Some where deep down you know something is a miss. The need for money often makes you dismiss this feeling, but it is there.
Ugh, hearing everyone's stories of horrendous financial loss is heart-wrenching. The longer I go on, the more I question the integrity of others. I think we are all guilty of holding others to the same high standards that we operate on. Sadly not everyone has good values, morals or integrity. I'm currently also breaking ties with clients who can't get enough of my work, but don't want to pay any more! I'm happy to have completed their projects at medium rates, they've added to my portfolio. Now it's time to move forward with the high payers. Anything else just isn't working smart!
LW, just back from vacation, and it appears my pre-departure circumstance was exactly the same as yours. Phone started ringing with projects the week before I left…so I cranked it up to 11 and got everything done. Psychologically, I needed a blank slate before I set foot on a plane.
To your overarching point here: I could actually argue that projects-gone-right haven't taught me a darn thing except to reinforce good business sense. (Like Winston Smith concludes in 1984, the best books "tell us what we already know.") I'm always stunned when FLers claim they've never been stiffed–can't imagine how lucky or smart you'd need to be to pull that off. And I shared a recent ugly project-creep tale at Freelance-Zone a couple weeks back.
Anyway, here's to a productive, drama-free August!
I think your point about taking on bad projects is right on the money. Learning by doing? Sure. But you learn all the better (and remember it better) when it's learning by doing it wrong. Taking on those bad projects, in other words. Once burn, twice shy.
Ronda, I'd remember that number, too. I remember exactly what was owed me by the jerk who used three different excuses and threatened a countersuit to avoid paying me.
You're so right – your instincts do kick in. At first, we ignore them (stupid!), but isn't being burned the best lesson in trusting the gut? You never doubt it again.
Paula, not the convoluted math people! Oh, they're the toughest because they're so convinced that they can fix their payment issues with algorithms. I'm not a math genius, but even I know that a simple calculator should be the method by which I figure out my invoice amounts. If it takes anything more, someone's trying to shaft me.
Wade, good point. The need for money does often dismiss that instinct. Crazy, because that's exactly when we need to heed the warning signals.
Nicky, you're smart. Praise and repeat work doesn't pay the electric bill – good for you for saying goodbye to that client!
How was the vaca, Jake? Missed you around these parts! I think I agree with you on the projects-gone-right point. They maybe lull us into a false sense of security. 🙂
Thanks for the link, too. Great post!
Vacation was great, thanks. Three days of liver-punishing in Wisconsin for my MIL's 85th b-day, followed by 8 days of kid-free, work-free sailing in the Florida Keys…so, no complaints. Generated a couple of good story pitch ideas along the way, so it served a business purpose even though I didn't *technically* do any work while I was there 🙂
And thanks for the tweet on my tale of (almost) woe.
Ah, but I think you might be able to write off one of those margaritas as research…..
Jumping through hoops of fire is more like it. Sometimes, anyway. You risk your business or professionalism for a client all for the chance to get a couple of coins dropped in your palm. Wow, 75 cents? I'm on my way, now!
LOL! Wendy, I'd love to be a fly on the wall when you receive one of those "offers." I think we could learn oodles from your reaction. 🙂
EP, exactly that. You learn by doing better. You learn by finding ways to avoid the burns next time. It's how strong contracts are built and how professional writers are born. 🙂