Freelancer Warning: Before You Say Yes to the Project

During a recent gabfest with a graphics Goddess, the subject of an empty creative calendar cropped up. It’s not the first and it won’t be the last time I’ll hear a former solopreneur attribute the retirement of the boss badge to administrative burnout. Let’s face it, one who possesses a surplus of talent doesn’t automatically come equipped with the finesse of driving value and dealing with difficult clients. I mean, what freelancer hasn’t experienced the client who wants what they want when they want it but continuously balks at every turn?!

So, before you say yes to the project, ask yourself these questions to discern whether the project strikes a match:  

1.      Does the project ignite your fire? 

2.      Is the communication pipeline open?

3.      Is your communication style compatible with the client’s?    

4.      Is the client equally vested in the project’s success?

5.      How responsive has the client been to your requests?   

6.      Has the client raised numerous objections during preliminary discussions that you’ve failed to overcome?

7.      Can the work be accomplished within the expected timeframe?

8.      What is the potential for future work and/or referrals?

9.      How well does the project align with your previous experiences or capabilities?

10.   Does the client recognize your value?

11.   Do you have significant resources to execute the project?

12.   Is the budget sufficient?

Though experts disagree, the economy continues to stagger. Other than the 1%, who doesn’t need money to register a plus in the profit column? Should your responses yield more negatives than positives to the questions above, it could very well be that the project under consideration may not be for you. Furthermore, if you’ve made your best attempt to mediate some of the challenges to no avail, bypass this one. Despite the pass on income, no work is ever worth the loss of sanity.