Comments on: Am I a Freelance Pushover?

By: Kristie

Kristie — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 19:34:28 +0000

It’s definitely hard to strike a balance between pleasing customers and standing up for yourself. Especially when you are having cash flow problems, or people need things done now, but can’t manage to send along, copy, content, images, etc that they know you need to get the job done. No, you can’t email it at midnight and expect to have your finished project turned out by 8am….!

By: Who Said That? Friday, August 17th 2007 | Create Business Growth Offers...

Who Said That? Friday, August 17th 2007 | Create Business Growth Offers... — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:04:10 +0000

[…] Just about everyone who starts their own business begins by being too wimpy with their customers. This is a frustrating and unprofitable time in any business that everyone should be inclined to get over as quickly as possible. Are you showing some of the signs Kristen Fischer points out in her post, “Am I a Freelance Pushover?” […]

By: Craig Mason

Craig Mason — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 09:34:30 +0000

Tell them that whilst you are away, any emergency work will be 500% of your normal rate

By: kristen

kristen — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:23:31 +0000

I would just leave an automated message telling them when you’ll be back. I think if you give them enough notice, they should get the picture! Plus if you need to, leave an emergency # but let them know when you’ll resume working.

By: xto

xto — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 07:46:02 +0000

I am still learning this, even after years of working FL. The part that is most difficult is my desire to work “miracles”.

Can I ask for an article? I need to go on vacation (4-5 weeks near the end of the year) and have not really figured out how to create a functioning “service net” to catch any client emergences. Skype and email will help but I need suggestions on how to keep my clients calm and yet escape.

By: kristen

kristen — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:06:58 +0000

You guys each had such great insights! I like to write about these nuances of freelancing. There are ways to stay balanced and I agree, you teach people how to treat you. Sometimes it’s hard when it’s the hand that feeds you. But you know what? There are always other hands!!!

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 21:15:12 +0000

I just had to post on this article today. I’ve been in the exact position that Kristen describes and it’s not much fun saying no. What I really dislike is when a client expects you to hold a time slot in your schedule for your project and the work never materializes or they are late in sending it to you.

By: Marek S

Marek S — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:35:56 +0000

oh dear.. dont worry.. at least it wasn’t an emergency.. funny enough.. i asked for one day off from my company.. in which i am the development project manager.. on the weekend i was moving house, and the whole move feel apart when the removalists didnt turn up on time.. the cleaners just didnt turn up.. so the place wasnt ready to be given back to the owner for inspection and on sunday night, my cars window was smashed some personal effeects stolen.. so i called up and said blahblah what happened.. and i need a day off.. and i was met with a .. “im not happy..im not happy” … what the???

By: Matthew Stibbe (Bad

Matthew Stibbe (Bad — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 17:20:13 +0000

It’s very hard to say no; especially if you / my self-image as a freelancer is that we are there to pull rabbits out of a hat for our client and over-deliver all the time.

However, people really do seem to understand if you say no and - this is the important bit - give a valid reason.

Once, I was really overwhelmed with deadlines AND with client meeting requests. So I told them that I wasn’t travelling to any meetings for two weeks and that I could do brief phone conferences and that I would answer emails promptly. The purpose was to get on with the work they had asked me to do (rather than reporting on it or project managing it in meetings). They were completely happy about this. It really helped with the work too.

By: Jean

Jean — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 16:34:31 +0000

Wow! So much work and regularly scheduled too. No wonder you feel like an employee. When I’m really pressed for time but don’t want to disappoint a client (who may look elsewhere) I share the wealth and subcontract assignments. I direct, supervise and edit the pieces so my client still gets what they are buying… my skills.