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Yesterday was one of my busiest days yet. I got two interviews down for two of the six articles I’m writing this week. It was not the day to crawl out of bed feeling like I hadn’t slept in weeks. Too much hurricane prep and stress for nothing. Being up until midnight mopping up leaks and dashing to the basement with each tornado warning (we were at Tor Con 6, Paula) was just too much.
But I got the interviews done, another scheduled, and I’m writing like a fiend today. Plus the large project client came back with apologies for delays and promises of something moving soon. Not too much of a concern – I have a huge chunk of the project already finished (wasn’t waiting for them), and I’ve informed them I’ll be stepping away for a vacation soon.
And Anne and I are still working hard on our big project.
I have no idea where the energy to do all this is coming from, but I’d better find some.
It’s going to take some time management, but also a little people management to get this all done. In my opinion, you can’t be a freelancer if you’re not management material. Why? Because….
You need to make difficult decisions. You may have to decide for the clients their best course of action. In fact, that’s part of the job most days. They may not like it, either. In that case…
You need to be a negotiator. Not everyone will be on board with your ideas or direction. Sometimes they won’t even be on board with your pay rate. You need skills that allow you to secure the cooperation of those involved.
You need to get tough. Unpaid invoices, scattered clients, or clients who pitch fits all need someone who has the ability to be assertive and firm when necessary.
You need to be able to fire someone. To say “It’s not working out” is a tough thing to those used to just writing and keeping some semblance of peace. But clients don’t work out all the time, and you have to know you’re able to end the relationship as amicably as possible.
What makes you management material?
Yeah, I'm about to have the "it isn't working out" conversation, and I dread it. But it must be done, because these two and a half weeks of hell — there isn't enough money to make them worth it.
I needed to write 15,000 words during this time. So far, I've manged 500. Not acceptable, on any level.
Devon, that sounds like micromanagement to the extreme! How do they expect the work to be completed if they're not letting you alone long enough to do it?
Good instincts. That makes managing and juggling projects easier. Well, good instincts coupled with experience, and the knowledge that something will always try to derail your plans.
Kind of like with Irene. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
Leave it to a hurricane to inspire your greatness, Paula. 🙂
Devon – hugs!
In addition to your great list Lori I'd add "I'm willing to be wrong."
Amazing how that frees me up.
Anne, that's a fantastic one!
Hmmm. My personal philosophy is that humans are inherently unmanageable. (They *can* be herded, of course, like in The Planet of the Apes movies.)
Cynicism aside, your points here are accurate WRT the things you need to do to get things done. I suppose I think of it in terms of being persuasive rather than managerial, if that's not too precious a linguistic line to draw 🙂
Good insight, Jake. I would suspect you're right about humans being unmanageable. Frankly, it's our reactions to those behaviors we're managing, I suspect.
Not to precious at all. I live with a scientist – he'd appreciate your precision, as do I. 🙂