Let’s take bets, shall we? I received all those calls at the end of last week from clients who needed work done this week. It’s Friday. Despite being out for two days, I returned to see my in box empty. That’s right. Those must-have-it-this-week round of projects have yet to show up. So I’m betting…
Tag: client advice
Your Other Boss
Now and then in your career, you’re going to run into your other boss. I’m not talking God, and I’m not talking your spouse or better half – I’m talking about the client or client’s company that wants control over your words. You’re going to see these people most often just after you interview them…
Squeezing Blood from a Rock
Nothing’s more frustrating than working your fingers off to meet a client deadline only to have to wait and wait…. and wait for payment. I’m sitting here right now with two nonpaying clients, both of which paid on time in the past, but haven’t quite met my deadline. One I’m not too concerned about –…
What’s That Huge Sucking Sound?
Alas, that noise that sounds like a Hoover pulling teeth from a squirrel – that would be this latest project. I sent a note to the Powers That Be on the 13th asking very pointed questions. That was a follow-up to the questions asked on the 11th, and it preceded the very direct question on…
Clients and Other Animals
With a nod to Gerald Durrell Yesterday’s payment issue has yet to resolve itself. Funny how much time clients will attempt to buy with questions and proclamations of “I’ll check into it and get back to you.” What should have been an instant “Ooops. Yes, we’ll take care of it” is starting to stretch into…
Alligator Skin
Last night I was explaining to a non-writing friend how I’ve learned over the years to implant a healthy dose of doubt and more than a little moxie into dealings with new clients. As she gasped and muttered “Oh dear” as I mentioned casually that even new clients are thought of in terms of how…
Is There a Wrong Way to Network?
Seems like a stupid question doesn’t it? But if you think about it, you’ve probably been the victim of someone who’s guilty of bad networking. Let me give you an example: Years ago, a salesperson came to our house trying to sell us meat products. Mind you, she played it up nicely, saying the steaks…
Go Team, Go!
Admit it – you’ve always wanted a writing coach or a life coach. Who better to help you refocus your energies in the right direction? Now’s your chance – coaching guru Lisa Gates is offering two coaching teleclasses: one for writers, and one for everyone else. The teleclasses are scheduled for the following days: Tuesday,…
How to Know You Need a Bigger Shovel
OrSpotting the Bad Job Listings Sometimes, they just make it easy for you. There’s the ad that offers you a whopping $4 an article or the one that will pay you $200 to edit a 50,000-word book. But sometimes the lousy job listings aren’t so easy to spot. Unless, that is, you speak bullsh$t and…
Clients: What to Expect from Your Writer/Editor
Sometimes the problems we have with clients comes from the expectations – what we deilver versus what they think we’ll deliver. Nowhere is this more true than in the actual scope of work we deliver. Recently I had a conversation with a client in which he thought I was performing A function when it was…