Question: When is it ever acceptable to be nasty to another person?Answer: Never. Another question: When do you have to accept nastiness from a client or a writer?Answer: Never. We’ve all run into one or two people in our lives who just can’t be nice when facing some sort of roadblock or disagreement. When it’s…
Tag: client advice
Adding Value You Didn’t Know Existed
If spending just a few hours researching could net you more value to your clients, and perhaps a little more money, would you do it? Sure you would, especially if there was a little more money involved. You’re a business person. Business people don’t walk away from cash, especially when it could be easier to…
When to be Unreliable
There are a few people from my past who keep showing up occasionally wanting favors. They don’t ask how I am, nor do they care. They want help. Free help. And they want it yesterday. They’re life suckers – they roll into my life and suck up any and all free time, help, money, etc….
Is Time Off a Deal Breaker?
Good news on the work front – a call came in yesterday from what turned out to be a potential client. Honestly, the client identified his company, but having at least 12 calls a day from telemarketers, it wasn’t until I hung up I realized he was calling about work. He’d asked if I had…
When to Let Go
There was a situation recently involving one of my clients and one of their customers. (Facts have been altered to protect those involved, including me.) The customer was considered a difficult sort and the client was scrambling to make her happy. From her first contact with them, she’d laid down the ground rules, which appeared…
Creating Value and Loyalty in a Sucky Market
Now that I’ve pounded it into the freelancing world’s collective brain that we deserve to be paid what we’re worth, maybe I should talk about how to give value and inspire client loyalty when everyone is bargain shopping. You’ve worked hard to build that list of clients. Why not help them increase their own brand…
The Good, The Bad, and the Mediocre
It’s a good thing my ego’s tougher than it was when I started writing. There are days – and clients – that test the very mettle we’re made of. Yesterday was a bit frustrating in that I’ve worked my heart out for one particular client only to have the project returned like a wayward boomerang….
Politics, Power Struggles and Personality Clashes
There are days I’m overjoyed that I no longer have to walk into an office, assess the environment, double check each word I type, triple filter what’s in my head before it passes my lips, and generally watch my back lest someone higher up doesn’t like the way I act, the way I dress, the…
Where’s Your Happy Place?
We were out to dinner the other night, driving back through town and apparently not doing it fast enough. The dude passed us on a double-yellow line at a four-way intersection, doing easily 40 in a 25 mph zone. The police were sitting two lights back directing traffic for the Santa parade in town. Naturally….
Detante is What Kids on the Playground Do
Some days you’re the windshield, some days you’re the fly. Yesterday, I played the part of said fly as the projects around me went from confusing to downright frustrating. One is a long-time regular client and I didn’t get very far in asking for some collaboration so the work process might somehow ease up for…