The Curse of the Unlucky Freelancer: How not to Find Success Working at Home
Written by Cedric Solidon on November 4th, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Howdy? The Halloween’s over and I hope all you guys had a great time. As for myself, I was contacted by spirits during the holiday and gave me the power to read other people’s minds. Want me to prove it? Alright, let’s get started.
I can see that you are an unlucky freelancer, looking to win some big projects and earn a lot of money. But unfortunately, you notice that some things are not working for you. You do not win the projects you bid on, your clients never call you back and you’re far from attaining your financial goals.
Let me tell you why.
1. You have not crafted your proposal well. All you did was send potential clients cookie-cutter proposals that they have seen a lot of times already. That’s because you believe that your proposal for a lifestyle website will work for a site that focuses on heavy industries. Doing this shows that you haven’t studied your client’s needs well. So you fail to win the contract.
2. You nag and nag and nag your clients. No, not only your significant other or your mother-in-law knows how to nag. Apparently, you do a good job at it as well. You spend every hour of everyday asking your client when he or she will pay you even if your client already said that it will arrive at the end of the month. Keep on doing that and you’re sure not to hear from that client again.
3. You don’t give them updates. The frequency of updates depends on your set-up with your clients. But if you only give updates as often as the sun rises from the west – which is never – then you’re sure to have one unhappy client waiting for you at the end of the project.
4. You fail to live up to your promises. It’s great to impress your clients so that you can win a contract. But if you keep on doing this even if you know you can’t deliver, well good luck. That’s all I can say to you.
5. You undercharge. It’s nice to be modest. People like people who are modest. But if you’re charging too little simply because you think it’s what your competition charges, then you’re on the wrong track, my friend. As Jenn Mattern always says, you are selling your services in the wrong market.
Oh, wait. I can feel myself being drained of my mind-reading powers. But before it goes away, let me share with you a piece of advice the spirits told me. You should reverse the freelancer’s bad habits I listed to reverse the curse of the unlucky freelancer.
I know you’ve been possessed by the Halloween spirits too. So can you share other things that make for an unlucky freelancer? What do you think should they do to reverse the curse?
Image courtesy of sundstrom at sxc.hu
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