I've been mulling on this question since learning that one of my favourite contracts won't be renewed in 08 due to budget constraints at the client's end. I've realized that this particular client was valuable to me on a variety of levels beyond "just" the financial and that realization caused me to map out all the various ways in which a client offers me value. Taking into account a few, several or all of these values should help make clear to me which of my clients I should be nurturing, which I should be managing more stringently (in order to get more of my preferred values from them) and which I should be letting go. I offer my list of values here for your consideration, use and refinement... // amanda
What do you earn with this client – hourly, weekly, monthly, annually? (financial value) What percentage of your regular income does this client represent? (relative financial value)
How much time does it take to earn that income? (time value)How does the income/time ratio compare to that of other clients in your stable [time invested vs. money received]? (ratio value) How hard must you work to achieve the standards required for this client? (effort value) How satisfying is this work for you? How interesting is the subject matter? How challenging are the writing/editing assignments? (professional value) How enjoyable is this client to deal with? Do you consistently want to exceed the expectations of this client or do you do the minimum required to be professional and not more? (relationship value) How much respect does this client have for you as a professional contributor to their success? (ego value) How likely is it that more work will come your way from this client? How easily? How regularly? (internal growth value) Does this client take the initiative to refer you to others outside their organization or company? (external growth value) How much fun is it to have this client in your stable? Do you look forward to doing this work? (enjoyment value)
Amanda Le Rougetel Clear Thinking ink alerougetel@xxxxxxx On 5-Dec-07, at 2:57 PM, Sarah Broadfoot wrote:
Three things came to mind when I read this person's story:1 - Government, shmovernment. Government clients are not the be-all and end-all of the freelance world.2 - If you allow people to treat you like crap, they will. (Simply payingyour bill should NOT be a pro - it should be an absolute given.)3 - You might be surprised at how many other, much more reasonable clients would be willing to pay your top rate if you asked for it. Shoot for themoon and by gosh you just might get there. Good luck! -----Original Message-----From: mea-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:mea-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On BehalfOf Cheri Frazer Sent: November 30, 2007 5:48 PM To: mea@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [mea] FW: dropping a client Hi, everyone: After our meeting this week about freelance issues I thought you might enjoy discussing the issues in the message below. I've posted it here with permission from the author (this was posted on the EAC listserv originally).Most of us who have done freelance editing have at some point dealt witha stinker client. How would *you* handle the situation below? Cheri(The author of the message would like me to share the replies; if you'dprefer your reply to be private, please say so in your message (I will remove all names and contact info anyway). Thanks!) -----Original Message----- Am I nuts to think about dropping the client that pays me my highest rate? It's almost time to renew our contract, and I am just not sure I want to. PROS - Always pay the bill (though somewhat slowly) - Accepts my highest rate - Supplies work each year, though it varies in amount CONS- Constantly shifts the date the document might be ready but expects tosend it as soon as it arrives - Isn't clear when relaying the editorial requirements - Changes the style every time a new document comes out and seems to think I will use my ESP to figure this out - Never sends changes to the style guide made in-house- Makes me feel like an idiot when telling me I missed these new changeswhile editing - Asks for ridiculously quick turnaround times- Sends me a document and tells me half of it will be replaced with newtext while I am editing (!) - Generally irritates the heck of meHere's the thing, though, the client is a government ministry. It feels wrong, somehow, not to want a government contact. But I am not sure that the agitation I feel is worth even my top rate. I think I'd rather earna little less per hour and work on projects I enjoy. I used to put upwith it because I really liked the one person I usually worked with, but she's been promoted and isn't the freelancers' contact anymore. I don'tseem to get along with the person I now work, and I feel as if she really doesn't like me. She didn't choose me; she inherited me. I could make up some of the income with other clients. Financially, it wouldn't hurt too much to cut this one loose--but what if that isn'talways the case? We've all seen publishing houses close, and most of myother clients are publishers. The ministry isn't going anywhere.What would you do? Keep the client, smile when you cash the cheque, and spend some of the money on a meditation class? Or drop the client, loweryour blood pressure, and go back to enjoying your work? Do you pick money or quality of worklife? No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.14/1172 - Release Date: 05/12/20078:41 AM
