Comments on: Step Up or Stand Down?

By: Freelancedom » Blog Archive » What I Learned About Running a Business from Tabatha Coffey

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:37:14 +0000

[...] being said, the customer isn’t always right. If you have a problem client, drop [...]

By: Freelancedom » Blog Archive » A Gig That’s Worth Your Time

Freelancedom » Blog Archive » A Gig That’s Worth Your Time — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:23:06 +0000

[...] Step Up or Stand Down? Pass it [...]

By: Cognitive Connection July 24 « a.k.a writer

Cognitive Connection July 24 « a.k.a writer — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:02:10 +0000

[...] Freelancedom. Step Up or Stand Down? [...]

By: Steph Auteri

Steph Auteri — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:30:46 +0000

Thanks for all your comments, guys (and welcome new readers)! It’s so frustrating to have to swallow your losses — and your pride — when it comes to problem clients. Especially when you never saw it coming. But Sharon’s right. Once we get going, we can pick and choose the best clients and the best projects, and that’s part of why I love freelancing so much! Fingers crossed that we don’t have to deal with the duds too often.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:17:55 +0000

Part of the beauty of being in your own business is having the freedom to choose the clients you work for. Hopefully they are people who value and respect you. I may give them the benefit of the doubt if they treat me disrespectfully once, but if it happens too many times, it is a sign, and life is too short, too precious to take this kind of abuse!

By: Joe Wallace

Joe Wallace — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:38:53 +0000

I once ate almost $2K on a project for a MAJOR client. AS in, you’d recognize the name instantly and wonder how things got to that point. Unfortunately I was caught between a client and a third party and I actually took the loss because I knew I could stand on principle and get paid, but I’d alienate my third party to the point where we’d never work together again in all likelihood.

In the end, I got much more work from the third party than the 2K, but it was still a bad situation to be placed in and I’ve sworn NEVER AGAIN. Next time, feet go in the fire. Not mine…but hindsight is always 20/20, eh?

PS-first time reader here, GREAT blog.

By: Susan Johnston

Susan Johnston — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:08:17 +0000

I hate to admit this, but I sometimes sit down and take it. I know I need to assert myself and leave if that doesn’t work, but I’m not someone who’s comfortable with confrontation.

Last year I had a client who flat out refused to pay me for work already completed. I tried to assert myself, but it got ugly, so eventually I just backed down and agreed that if he took down the copy I’d written, I wouldn’t take him to small claim’s court. Part of me wishes I’d dragged him to court but another part knows it wasn’t worth my time.