Dear Freelance Writer: While You Were Partying, I Stole Your Client…
December 4, 2009 by Deb Ng
Filed under Work/Life Balance
Dear Freelance Writer,
A couple of years ago you told all of your clients you were taking time off for the holidays. They couldn’t wait for your return so they looked for another freelance writer and hired me. They weren’t my only clients during this time, either. I landed several clients who needed someone to pick up the slack while their regular writers were decking the halls and going a-wassailing. They needed writers and I needed Christmas money. It was a match made in holiday heaven.
I enjoyed the holidays too though. I woke up earlier in the morning and worked for a few hours before doing my holiday baking or shopping. I stayed up a little later in the evenings too, just so I could get some work done. I visited Santa, decorated the tree and had some nice family visits. I also continued to earn.
It worked the same way when you were on vacation. You turned off your computer and vowed to stay unplugged for two weeks. I went on vacation too, but while my family was sleeping in, I worked. Most of the time though, I enjoyed myself. I swam and hiked. I sipped Mojitos while sitting on a torchlit deck overlooking the Hudson River. I stayed up an hour or two later than everyone else so I could update my blog or handle a client’s project.
This is why you’ll always catch me touching base on Twitter or checking the job boards, even during my down time. I don’t get paid vacation days and clients are fickle. I don’t want the people who I work for or network with to forget me and go with someone else in my absence. This is why I always update my blog, even while on vacation. There are always people who want a good read or continue to look for work. I don’t want to lose them.
I don’t believe we have to give up life to achieve our goals, but I don’t believe we should give up our goals to have a life, either. There’s a reason most businesses don’t close their doors to enjoy the holidays or take a vacation. It’s because their clients still need them.
I hope you have a merry Christmas, freelance writer. Enjoy the time spent with your family and friends. I wish you nothing but success. Please don’t be angry with me or other freelance writers for keeping my business going while you didn’t. We had different goals and different visions.
It’s nothing personal. It’s business.
Sincerely,
Me
Disclaimer: Enough with the hate mail and the comments, people. I’m not really stealing your clients. However, it happens and this post was only meant to illustrate a point. I’m not condoning client theft. However, it’s important to note that sometimes clients need writers and their writers aren’t available. Thus, they have to make the decision to go with someone else. If you’re planning on taking time off, discuss your clients’ needs with them first to avoid this very situation.
Dang.
So so true. The same applies to over the summer. Well said.
Dear Self-Righteous Freelance Writer,
I don’t have to work as hard as you, and I get by just fine. Why? Because I am smart. And you are a hard worker. I’ll take smart any day.
I think I’ll make myself a cocktail now.
Love,
Me
Hmmmm. I’m not sure I agree with this. I don’t ever take a full week off, but I do take days off, and I sort of expect that my clients do, too. As long as I meet their deadline and get my work done I’m not sure why I shouldn’t be able to drop an e-mail or a phone message that says I’ll be out of the office and for how long. I do try to space these days off when I have very little work, but I didn’t touch a computer on Thanksgiving, and I won’t for Christmas either. The former philosophy is what used to have me working 19 hours a day and 7 days a week, and I was not at all happy. My work and attitude suffered. My new philosophy is to set the deadline, let clients know if I’m not going to be available and when they can hear an answer if they ask a question during that time, and to pace myself. Maybe its lazy, but I’m happier!
If there are clients who feel that’s unreasonable even though I’m meeting my deadlines, they’d probably be happier with a different style of writer to begin with–and that’s okay. Not all clients are perfect for all freelance writers, and not all freelance writers are perfect for all clients.
I respect that, Carmen. We’re freelancers
can make our own schedules. I’ve taken time off for holidays and vacations too – well not completely but sometimes mostly.
My point is that while we can be flexible and take time off, many of our clients aren’t taking time off with us. Sometimes they have to go with other freelancers.
I do shorten my load for the holidays though. When I completely take time off, I generally find myself having to catch up on too much.
Happy holidays, Carmen!
I also think it’s important to note that if you do lighten your load, there’s the chance that a freelancer can come in and take your clients. So there’s a lot to consider before making your decision.
I think Deb makes some good points, but like Carmen, sometimes I really just need a break. I managed to work things out so that I didn’t have to do any work during the Thanksgiving holiday half-week, and frankly, that did me a lot of good. It gave me some time to rest and recharge, to mull some things over in my brain, and to come back with renewed energy.
That being said, I probably would never be able to go for a long time without at least checking email and maybe a few other cursory things. The downside of the flexibility of the freelancing life is that you do sort of have to keep moving to bring money in on a regular basis. Sort of like a shark.
Very true, Jennifer. I hate to keep talking about this but at the moment I’m the only one in my family bringing in a regular income, so I can’t take time off this year anyway.
The other part of it is my addiction to blogging. You can’t keep me away.
Yeah, the bills don’t just magically vanish just because it’s the holidays. I met with a friend today to do a little networking, and he nodded in understanding that you really do have to keep moving so you don’t get caught without an income source, in case something bad happens.
I disagree with the premise of this. As long as you meet your clients’ deadlines and keep them in the loop, I don’t see what’s wrong with taking a few days off. I work to live, I don’t live to work. This is one of the reasons I left the corporate world and started freelancing–I didn’t want to be a slave to my job any longer.
Nothing I do is so important that it can’t wait a few days or be passed along to a trusted colleague to complete (with my clients’ permission) while I’m on vacation. It’s essential for both my mental health and my productivity to be able to step away from work once in a while.
Besides, I think my work speaks for itself. If my clients are going to ditch me just because I want to spend a few days with my family at Christmas, then I must be doing something wrong. Traditional employers would not expect me to be on call 27/7, 365 days per year; freelance clients should not either.
You raise valid points, Rebecca. I think outsourcing to a trusted client is a very good suggestion – actually I have suggested that myself in the past. No one is saying freelancers shouldn’t take time off, I just thought it would be a way to illustrate what happens sometimes.
Could’ve made the exact same points without the condescending style. You just lost a couple respect points from me.
I’m sorry I lost your respect, Matt.
I didn’t see this as condescening at all. It’s different from Deb’s usual style but I don’t think the intention was to talk down to anyone.
No Kenneth, that wasn’t my intent and I apologize to anyone who sees it that way.
Ah come on, please don’t throw away a perfectly good opportunity for a laugh!
This is a light-hearted post, written by someone who is 100% on the side of writers. It made me smile, anyway.
Whether you agree with the tone or not, this is absolutely true. No one says you can’t take a day, a week or even a month off. (In fact, you should take time off every now and again to stay fresh.) Just remember that while you are off, not everyone else is. I often pick up clients from someone who’s regular freelancer isn’t answering calls or emails. The clients are mad about that; they just need to get work done. And if they like what I do, I sometimes move a little further up the list. The next time a project is in, I get the first call.
In this economy, I tend to work rain, sleet, or coma. When things are hectic, I work through them and think about how fat my bank account will be at the end of it. When things get slow, I enjoy the lull as I prospect for new work in the mornings and take the afternoons off. My one exception will be this May when the Hubs and I finally take our delayed honeymoon. For a week, I will be out of the country and not doing any work. And I’m just have to be ok with someone else getting some my work during that time. I think that this is one of the few occasions that it’s worth it.
I think the best part of being a freelancer is the ability to have your holidays whenever you want. So, I don’t agree very much with this article. Sometimes, I just want to relax and not to think about my work.
Of course, Ilija. And I’m not denying the flexibility at all. However, clients don’t stop needing stuff when we take time off. Actually, I believe very much freelancers need to take time off, I also feel that sometimes we need to see the other side of the story which is what I tried to do here.
Thanks for your point of view!
All I have to do is say I’m going on vacation and the work comes in…picked up three new clients, all with immediate needs, before going on vacation this year. In other years, I’ve finished articles from Java Jukie in Rapid City, SD (visiting Mt Rushmore), from the northern tip of Lake Michigan, from rural northern Minnesota and from the Wisconsin Dells.
Some of this can be managed by trying to work far ahead, or by working grueling hours prior to taking time off — which is important. My last vacation, I got all the work done before going and let all clients several weeks in advance I would be unavailable.
Subcontractors can also help during these times. But taking too much time off for the holidays can haunt one later, as Deb says.
Actually, Phil, in the past I ‘ve written tips so freelancers can enjoy the holidays without having to worry about losing clients. Really, I think time off is important. The reality is, clients need work and freelancers need work. I like to show what happens to some freelancers when they take time off.
This experiment was not successful at all!
My point, and I thought yours was, too, was though time off is important, during the holidays, some (I’ve seen this in several owner-operated service firms) take too much time off, and business suffers.
Yes, that is my point. There’s so much to catch up on, plus the chance that business will be lost to other freelancers.
As a society, we’re screaming back into feudalism. Fewer and fewer people working for longer and longer hours for less and less money…
And this is improvement?
I’m working 7/12s myself, rebuilding a career from scratch.
Dear Freelance Writer;
While you were busting your butt to get work done for me during the holidays, missing time with your family, just so you could pay your bills with the tiny cheque you’ll get for your freelance work, I, the client, was vacationing down south with my family.
Why? because I figured out how to save money by hiring desperate freelancers who will work for little and who I don’t have to provide benefits, sick days or vacation time to. Nevermind that my website/magazine/whatever solely relies on the content of writers/photographers while I collect revenue from advertisement.
If I were you, freelance writer, I wouldn’t gloat over being exploited.
Love,
The Client
Sorry, I did not like this post at all.
Taking time off is healthy.
Stealing other people’s clients is wrong.
Hi Jeanne,
Sorry I let you down. To be honest, I don’t steal clients but there are people who do. I just like to sometimes present the other side of the story. It’s not always rosy for freelancers, you know?
Thanks for the input!
I read the post, and I read the comments. Here’s my take on it:
Many people in the world don’t celebrate the same holidays I do. Personally, I know it’s frustrating when the U.S. Thanksgiving shuts down my ability to get good help, hire people or buy what I need.
Because my Thanksgiving is in October – and yes, I’m also available for work that day. Like Deb, I schedule my time accordingly to be able to enjoy my holiday, but I feel it’s my responsibility as a business owner to be present as well.
It’s like the local grocery store – when I need food on a Sunday, they’re not closed. When I need something on Christmas, they’re still open. Reduced hours, limited staff, sure.
But they’re there for me. And I remember that.
We freelancers can be extremely egocentric and self-centered sometimes, and we forget our very purpose – to offer services to consumers. Yes, we freelance to have a flexible schedule and more free time, but as business owners, it’s our responsibility to be available and open for the customers who need us.
So, Deb, don’t feel that you’ll be alone while the rest are off tra-la-laing. I’ll be right there with you, and right there for the clients who need me.
Happy holidays, everyone.
Good point…
As well as holidays, timezones are an issue too. I have lost potential clients who went with a US-based writer while I was asleep! I have also picked up US-based clients who are night-owls, while all of my American/Canadian counterparts were snuggled up under the covers. Who cares? There are an infinite number of projects and potential projects out there and being in the right place at the right time is not ‘client-poaching’ – it’s business.
@Imogen – One of the reasons I personally keep hours that begin at 5am and end somewhere around 9pm (yes, I do take time off withing that period every day) is because I can actually tap clients from California to Australia, all within the same day. Clients are always thrilled.
@James – Working smart! What you are doing is a prime example of adjusting your business to catch the best opportunities, and I applaud you for it. I am also savvy enough to know that 5am for me is either drooling-in-my-coffee-time, or just getting home from the dance-floor (again, unfit for public presentation)… So thankyou for the peek into your success, and rest assured there will be no stealing of the idea from me
Dear Ya’ll,
This is a great post and Deb makes a great point. If you work while others are taking off because an invisible man had a child that would eventually become a zombie, then you are going to make more money.
In this, she comments on the lifestyle of the freelance writer, we will succeed by working when others take time off.
Also, lighten up.
Heath
If you have to write 4,000 stories a yr to make ends meet, you can’t take time off!
If you have to write 4,000 stories a yr to make ends meet, you can’t take time off!
If you’re having to write 4,000 stories per year just to make ends meet, I think you’re doing something else wrong, too!
One thing to mull over, though: when I worked full time for some media outlets, I learned taht the end of the year is a tough time for the budget. Often, companies’ fiscal years run January-January, and the freelance budget is just about gone in December. So with some clients, it might not be worth panicking if they’re not doing a lot of hiring or contracting out work the last six weeks of the year or so.
This is very true and many companies don’t want to deal with outsourcing projects to freelancers in the last few weeks of the year anyway.
It’s cute, Deb, and I understand. But give me the family ranch in Nowheresville, Mexico any day. NO INTERNET!!!!
I enjoy family vacations, but I’m so addicted to email and blogs that I haven’t been able to completely unplug. Also, the last time I didn’t check my email for a week I had over 10,000 items to go through. That has nothing to do with freelance writing though. If I didn’t do the blogging thing, I’d probably have an easier time walking away from it all.
This post was the smug nail in the coffin for me: I’ve gotta remove you from my RSS feeds. If you want to rejoice in stealing clients from people who simply want to take vacations and spend time with loved ones, then enjoy your place in hell, you soulless capitalist robot, you.
Dave. Dude. Relax. It was satire. Sheesh.
Oh for goodness sakes, I’m not really out stealing clients. I’m illustrating a point. Lordy.
Wow, I cannot believe the level of vitriol directed at you for this, Deb. Obviously some people take things just a little too literally; and perhaps if they’re so thin-skinned as to take offence to this, the writing game is not for them.
I actually think you make a very good point. It’s something I might look into – down here things are a bit trickier because we combine our summer holidays with Christmas and New Year, so people are often away until the second week in January, but it’s a good point that some may not be. MENTAL NOTE: If you get in when everyone else is waiting to assume that people will be back from the beach, you just might get the pick of the litter.
Well, that was a controversial post! I have to say that I’ve worked through the holidays for the past few years and I hate it. I’m sick of not being able to bake cookies with my kids for Christmas, or take the time to sew their presents or do anything related to the holidays because I have to get so much done. Reduced workload doesn’t work for me because my clients have specific requirements and can’t just tone it down. So, what I’m doing this year is taking a week off (but I’ll still be connected). However, I’ll work extra hard before and after to make sure that all the client work is done. It’s worth a few sleepless nights to be able to actually enjoy Christmas this year instead of feeling lousy and guilty because my kids are playing under the tree while I type.
I took the entire month of December off of work.
I also took 5 vacations throughout 2009, anywhere from 4-9 days in length.
I didn’t lose a single client. In fact, I gained clients.
Taking time off has absolutely nothing to do with losing clients, because there is a GLOBAL pool of potential clients out there to pull from. If people want to go with someone else, they are going to go with someone else, regardless if you are taking a few days off or not. If they are the type of client who can’t understand you needing to take time off, they can get bent.
I’ll echo another comment in this thread. I work to live…I don’t live to work. I work just as hard as I need to in order for my wife and I to live the life we want to live. Basically, we work hard enough to cover 5-6 trips a year throughout Europe, pay for our living expenses, and put some money in the bank on top of everything else. Beyond that…I work part-time hours, and I often take weeks off at a time to just relax and enjoy my European lifestyle.
I don’t miss the 40-hour-a-week-nose-to-the-grindstone life in America. Not in the least!