Even though I told myself I would never get into another client situation where I felt like I was being taken advantage of, I got myself into another client situation where I felt like I was being taken advantage of.
I have no one to blame but myself. I got bad vibes in the beginning and I didn’t listen to them. It was a potential client who wanted a logo, then didn’t want the logo, then wanted the logo, then didn’t want the logo. Then disappeared. Then came back. Then said, “I want to hire you.” Then disappeared. Then wanted a lower price. Then agreed to my price. Then asked for the contract. Then sat on it for 8 months. Then came back.
Did I really think this was going to have a happy ending?
Well, it didn’t. I’m out quite a bit of income after putting in a herculean effort.
I don’t like to give up, but looking back I can see that nothing I did was going to do cut the grade because the grade could never be cut.
The saddest part? I created something really lovely because that’s my M.O. I put my heart and soul and wild spirit into the design and I’m proud of it. But its loveliness could not be accepted.
Finally, I said to myself, “I can’t do this anymore. It’s not healthy for me.”
And I cut my losses.
Keeping your boundaries strong will be one of your biggest challenges as a business owner. I’m cognizant of it and still I found myself with a hole in my boundary. There’s the tendency to
a) give away too much for free.
b) give someone a deal because they say they don’t make a lot of money.
c) give yourself a nervous breakdown because you believe you have to make every client happy.
c) give away your self-respect.
We’ve been told to protect our business reputations so much that we end up making ourselves crazy trying to please someone to keep them from complaining about us.
Sometimes you need to just let go and not worry what an unsatisfied client thinks. For whatever reason, you need to divorce your client and take custody of your sanity.
I’m going to make it a priority to listen to my gut. Am I getting a good feeling with this potential client or an I getting a crazy feeling?
Walk away if the feeling is not a good one. That way you’ll be available for the good clients looking for someone just like you.
Thanks for sharing that story, Giulietta – it’s one most of us have experienced if we’ve been in business for any length of time.
Mine was with an arrogant bastard of a lawyer (one friend told me that was redundant) who demanded the world but would not be pleased by anyone or anything. Fortunately, he annoyed me so much I ended the gig before I got too far into it.
Lesson learned.
Hi Jean!
Great to see you at The Fearless Tales. I agree with you that most of us have experienced something similar. Lesson learned and in this case learned again. I wish we were taught to trust our guts. Do we teach children than in school? It’s an little tapped into sense, maybe the 7th or 8th one? Say, who declared there are only 5 senses?
Thanks!
G.
Great story, and one any small biz owner needs to read as often as necessary to stay on track!
Hi Erica,
I appreciate you adding your thoughts. As you mention, it’s easy to get off track when you let your boundaries flap around in the wind. thanks! G.
Thanks for this post. You write very well. It’s very smooth and an absolute pleasure to read.
Some clients are very invested in having problems with things — including the work we do for them. One solution that has saved me from enduring this situation is to set a time limit on the contract.
Right now my contracts are in effect for one year. If the project is not going well, I can walk away after one year. If the client wants to rehire me after that time — and why would they? — they will then need to repay the design development fee. Instead the client will move on.
Recently my one-year rule came in very handy. ‘Nuff said.
Hi Dan,
Thanks for stopping by! I agree with you that some clients just want to have problems with the designs, which really boils down to a problem with themselves. It’s a really personal experience trying to get to your own core and the more undefined your core, the harder it can be to find a logo that feels right. Are they emotionally ready to find the heart of their brand? (hmmm. maybe I should write a book about that?) I love your idea to put a time limit on the contract. Will implement that immediately.
The One Year Rule – sounds like a great title for a book, a blog post, a something! thanks, G.