It was more than a little scary to be driving late Sunday night from Manhattan to Philadelphia in a big snowstorm. I’m okay with the snow and driving – I’m not okay with being passed by idiots doing 70-80 when conditions (and warning signs) call for 35 and under. If I die at the hands of clueless jerks who think they’re invincible, I’m coming back to haunt them to their graves. If they live. If not, I’ll hunt them down in the afterlife and chew them out royally.
Before we headed to the city, we checked weather reports (it’s what I do). Despite sunny skies and a near-balmy 40 degrees Sunday morning, a storm was on the way. I had deadlines Monday morning, yet there was a real possibility I’d not get home. The weather on this side of the state seems harder to predict, so it’s always a crap shoot when you get such reports.
Either way, I prepared. I wrote down the contact info for my client. Had I been stranded, she’d have received a call or a text message telling her the situation. In most cases like this, clients will be able to rearrange. Having my backup plan in place, I cruised up the New Jersey Turnpike feeling a little more able to enjoy the stepson’s performance in Manhattan.
But stuff happens, doesn’t it? Power outages, snow storms, traffic jams, and, God forbid, accidents. Are we prepared from a work standpoint? Because we are minus coworkers, there’s no one to pick up the slack and get the project going or completed. We’re it. How badly would a minor inconvenience (or a major one) affect both clients and our careers?
That leads me to my questions. Is taking along contact info enough? Let’s face it – not all projects are able to be put off. Should we have backup writers in place in case of emergency? What’s the fine line between preventative planning and anal behavior? Will missing that deadline ruin our future with that client? If so, should we be anal for the sake of the career? Or should we decide that working with a client who would fire us over an act of God isn’t worth the hassle? But is it that simple?
What do you think?
Depending on the project, and, frankly, it’s importance in the scheme of the universe, not just the client’s universe, I think “back up writers” might be a little overzealous. If it’s life or death — literally — not figuratively, then yes.
When I’m set to go off somewhere a day or so before the deadline, I finish the project before the deadline and either send it off early or take it with me and make sure there’s someplace I can send it from wherever I’ll be.
If deadline day means I have to actually interact with the client in order to meet the deadline — well, snowstorms happen. Illness happens. The deadline set should have a bit of breathing room in it for emergencies.
Yes, we all try to make reasonable accommodations, and, especially if we haven’t established ourselves thoroughly with a client to prove we’re reliable.
But really, most of the time, the universe will not stop if we’re delayed by a day. And, if the client IS cutting things that close, there are other issues that need to be addressed in the relationship, in my opinion.
I think your contingency plan of taking the information “just in case” was perfectly adequate. It’s also your insurance policy — if you hadn’t taken it, you would have been stuck; because you had it with you, you got home.
Everybody won.
LOL! Perfect logic, Devon. My careful planning got me home. :))
I am VERY deadline conscious thanks to my Saturn in Capricorn, and it does make me crazy to even consider missing a deadline. That said, I think it’s time I relax and let the world spin without my worrying if I’m doing my part. 😉
I’m of the opinion there are no true “writing emergencies.” In most cases, the deadlines are arbitrary and the lack of flexibility is in someone’s head somewhere. It’s writing. It’s not surgery or medical care. If we fail to make the deadline, no one will die.
Lori,
I’m in agreement with both you and Devon.
Sure, what we do is important, and clients rely on our professionalism and attention to deadlines. But most (if not all) people understand that sometimes things happen that are out of our control. That’s why force majeure clauses exist.
Glad to hear you made it home safely. Is your stepson an actor?
I’m very deadline-conscious as well, but also very hesitant to turn my work over to somebody else (I guess that’s the flip-side of being anal–I don’t trust somebody else to finish what I started) . . . the only time it’s ever been an issue for me was during Hurricane Ike (never in a million years did I think a category 1 hurricane would hit OHIO) when we were without power for a week and I had a deadline to meet. I ended up going to the library and waiting for two hours to get on one of their computers so I could submit my work on time. I have to assume they would have understood if I hadn’t made it–being a local business they were affected too–and I didn’t get any bonus points for going above and beyond to deliver–but at least I know I did what I could to fulfill my obligation.
I think you were amply responsible by taking the contact info. Unforeseeable setbacks can happen. That’s life. If a client can’t be somewhat understanding of natural disasters, they’re probably more trouble than they’re worth.
Hi Lori.
I had the same experience last New Year’s day driving from Michigan to Chicago. I hunkered down in the middle lane going 45 the whole way–feeling like a granny because some cars were flying by me.
All I could think was, “You fools. You have no idea how stupid you are. I don’t care if you endanger yourself, but I’ve got a dog in here!” Of course, as I drove, I saw many cars spun out in the ditch, which confirmed I was doing the right thing.
I felt better, though, when I noticed that a guy had settled in right behind me for about 100 miles, and he also had a dog in his front seat!
Onto the topic: What we do isn’t life and death. If a client can’t handle a day or two delay because of a factor out of my control, I might as well go back to making big bucks for unreasonable partners at law firms. I’d encounter the same level of grief, but my bank account would be much fatter!