Comments on: Things That Make Us Stronger https://wordsonpageblog.com/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html a freelance writing resource. Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:23:27 +0000 hourly 1 By: Lori https://wordsonpageblog.com/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html#comment-8997 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:23:27 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html/#comment-8997 EP, exactly that. You learn by doing better. You learn by finding ways to avoid the burns next time. It's how strong contracts are built and how professional writers are born. 🙂

]]> By: Lori https://wordsonpageblog.com/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html#comment-8996 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:22:31 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html/#comment-8996 LOL! Wendy, I'd love to be a fly on the wall when you receive one of those "offers." I think we could learn oodles from your reaction. 🙂

]]> By: Wendy https://wordsonpageblog.com/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html#comment-8993 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:52:27 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html/#comment-8993 Jumping through hoops of fire is more like it. Sometimes, anyway. You risk your business or professionalism for a client all for the chance to get a couple of coins dropped in your palm. Wow, 75 cents? I'm on my way, now!

]]> By: Lori https://wordsonpageblog.com/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html#comment-8990 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:23:25 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html/#comment-8990 Ah, but I think you might be able to write off one of those margaritas as research…..

]]> By: Jake P https://wordsonpageblog.com/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html#comment-8989 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:10:57 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html/#comment-8989 Vacation was great, thanks. Three days of liver-punishing in Wisconsin for my MIL's 85th b-day, followed by 8 days of kid-free, work-free sailing in the Florida Keys…so, no complaints. Generated a couple of good story pitch ideas along the way, so it served a business purpose even though I didn't *technically* do any work while I was there 🙂

And thanks for the tweet on my tale of (almost) woe.

]]> By: Lori https://wordsonpageblog.com/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html#comment-8987 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:34:24 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html/#comment-8987 Ronda, I'd remember that number, too. I remember exactly what was owed me by the jerk who used three different excuses and threatened a countersuit to avoid paying me.

You're so right – your instincts do kick in. At first, we ignore them (stupid!), but isn't being burned the best lesson in trusting the gut? You never doubt it again.

Paula, not the convoluted math people! Oh, they're the toughest because they're so convinced that they can fix their payment issues with algorithms. I'm not a math genius, but even I know that a simple calculator should be the method by which I figure out my invoice amounts. If it takes anything more, someone's trying to shaft me.

Wade, good point. The need for money does often dismiss that instinct. Crazy, because that's exactly when we need to heed the warning signals.

Nicky, you're smart. Praise and repeat work doesn't pay the electric bill – good for you for saying goodbye to that client!

How was the vaca, Jake? Missed you around these parts! I think I agree with you on the projects-gone-right point. They maybe lull us into a false sense of security. 🙂

Thanks for the link, too. Great post!

]]> By: EP https://wordsonpageblog.com/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html#comment-8986 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:30:13 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html/#comment-8986 I think your point about taking on bad projects is right on the money. Learning by doing? Sure. But you learn all the better (and remember it better) when it's learning by doing it wrong. Taking on those bad projects, in other words. Once burn, twice shy.

]]> By: Jake P https://wordsonpageblog.com/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html#comment-8985 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:19:12 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html/#comment-8985 LW, just back from vacation, and it appears my pre-departure circumstance was exactly the same as yours. Phone started ringing with projects the week before I left…so I cranked it up to 11 and got everything done. Psychologically, I needed a blank slate before I set foot on a plane.

To your overarching point here: I could actually argue that projects-gone-right haven't taught me a darn thing except to reinforce good business sense. (Like Winston Smith concludes in 1984, the best books "tell us what we already know.") I'm always stunned when FLers claim they've never been stiffed–can't imagine how lucky or smart you'd need to be to pull that off. And I shared a recent ugly project-creep tale at Freelance-Zone a couple weeks back.

Anyway, here's to a productive, drama-free August!

]]> By: Nicky https://wordsonpageblog.com/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html#comment-8984 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:10:54 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html/#comment-8984 Ugh, hearing everyone's stories of horrendous financial loss is heart-wrenching. The longer I go on, the more I question the integrity of others. I think we are all guilty of holding others to the same high standards that we operate on. Sadly not everyone has good values, morals or integrity. I'm currently also breaking ties with clients who can't get enough of my work, but don't want to pay any more! I'm happy to have completed their projects at medium rates, they've added to my portfolio. Now it's time to move forward with the high payers. Anything else just isn't working smart!

]]> By: Wade Finnegan https://wordsonpageblog.com/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html#comment-8983 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:28:42 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2011/08/things-that-make-us-stronger.html/#comment-8983 Not having many clients yet I don't have the hard knocks stories. However, I like what Ronda said, you must listen to your gut. Some where deep down you know something is a miss. The need for money often makes you dismiss this feeling, but it is there.

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