Welcome, Vickie! Just keep repeating that as your mantra – you'll do fine. When someone first challenges your price, how you respond is the defining moment.

Great advice as always Lori!

Paula, that's true. If we didn't laugh, we'd all be bald from yanking out our hair. 🙂

With the variety of clients we all deal with every month, we need to be able to see the humor in some ridiculous situations (like Lori's resume example). I don't mean to laugh at those clients – just allow yourself to laugh at the situation after you're done dealing with it.

Perhaps it was growing up with a cartoonist for a dad, but "Never trust someone without a sense of humor" has always been one of my rules.

Even though n°6, never underestimate your own value, is important, I find it extremely difficult to do at the start of my career. It's harder even to set prices to begin with!

Good one. I'm a huge proponent of trusting your gut.

Great one, Wendy! Arguing with a client is like confirming their suspicions that cutting ties with you was the right way to go.

Another thought – Never ignore your gut – if something is raising the red flag, figure out what it is and do something about it because it is practically guaranteed it will come back to bite you.

The only thing I can think to add is to Never argue with clients or potential clients. State your rate or availability and leave it at that. If they call you names, let it roll off you. It's not worth getting upset over and you could avoid problems in the future.