Shoo…I am racing to the end of January. I can’t believe we are almost to the end of January. Time doesn’t stand still for anyone. Often I feel as if I have blinked…. only to open my eyes 25 years later when I now have a husband, two kids and three dogs. How the heck did that happen? Do you ever get that feeling that you are running from one task to the next? Have you forgotten what roses smell like? I know too many questions. I guess my real issue is pondering how to kill the weeds so I can find the roses to smell. (I know but I love metaphors!)
While I don’t mind change, I certainly do not revel in it or search out drama of any kind. A good suspense novel or the occasional date night is my brand of crazy. So how do we find the comfortable middle space where we can roll with the constant change of our fast-paced electronic infused lives but take time to smell those roses?
As I have admitted before, I am a people pleaser. So telling clients and friends, “No, I can’t fit that into my schedule” is more than a difficult phrase to force from my mouth. I am finding those few utterances of “no” bring more time to spend with my family and greater peace for me.
How does this correlate to my little business or anyone’s life in general? Boundaries!!!
I have started a little list of By-laws or Rules to Follow for Business.
1. Family first! Always!
2. I don’t work weekends. If you don’t agree, you are missing it. I might read about business content or scour Pinterest while watching TV but that is the extent. You see I need to focus on my family and be available in a different way that is not always possible during the week. (Disclaimer: I must confess I am not always able to stick to this rule. I am trying to hold to this as a resolution this year. But I am writing this on a Sunday evening.)
3. If a client or person triggers my stomach to hurt, I am out! I always listen to my gut. If their project isn’t intriguing and pleasant from the beginning I can go to defcon 4 quickly. Why am I taking on a client if the experience is going to be horrible and painstaking? Not much can be said for taking on a job for the money but at this time in my life my goals have changed. I am not looking to be rich, just happy! If the experience of working with a horrible, needy client only reaps $$, I am not interested. My time is worth more than a couple bucks.
4. Don’t lower your prices just to make a sale. I find that doing something dirt cheap to get a client, will only work you harder than a normal priced job. I learned this one the hard way a couple of times. The saying “something for nothing” has some validity. This has been hard for me because I don’t feel as if I should be charging prices that reflect my local corporate competitors. I have learned to find a price point that is comfortable as well as commiserate with my experience and stick to it.
5. This one my husband calls- Scope Creepers. As a freelancer in a diverse industry, there are multiple ways to communicate your scope of work for a client’s project. Making sure the client is clear about what you were hired to do to complete their project is extremely important. This seems harsh at first but will ward away unneeded stress in the future. The contract has been signed, deposit made, work has begun. Now the client wants to add another element to the project. Be it little or small, this is still work that was unaccounted for within your bid or contract. Talk to the client to reach an agreement about the additional work, but don’t let this issue go without discussion.
6.While I put my family ahead of work, I am realistic that I have committed to a client who is paying for my service. If I am pressed against a deadline, I alert my family that I need to work an evening or weekend. Like any relationship, there should be a natural give and take.
7. Last but certainly not least, know your physical and intellectual limits. Finding clients and building a portfolio is difficult. However taking on a project that is out of your realm of experience or learning abilities is a huge no-no. I am not saying refuse a job because you don’t have the experience because we need to stretch our skills to broaden our resume. I am saying don’t take on a project that is impossible for you to accomplish within the physical (time), intellectual (ability) and quality that the client and you expect to produce which will only hurt your reputation and dissatisfy a client.
There are many other items that could be added to the list but these are my steadfast rules for personal and business sanity. I can keep coming back each day because I have taken the time to do business on my terms and take time to recharge.