We talked last time about your business self-image. We talked about whether you see yourself as a business or as an employee, and why being a business is both preferable and more realistic. Today, I want to look at one part of that issue: how your business self-image affects the way you deal with customers.
When folks first get started freelance writing, they’re often just looking for a job. Look at the success of the Freelance Writing Jobs blog network in the search engines if you don’t believe me.
Now, I don’t object to the idea of freelance writing jobs. But, it’s important how we think about that last word: jobs. According to dictionary.com, there are several definitions of the word “job.” I’d like to focus on two of them:
1. a post of employment; full-time or part-time position.
2. a piece of work, esp. a specific task done as part of the routine of one’s occupation or for an agreed price.
Under the first definition, when someone pays you to write for them, you become an employee. They become a boss. Under the second definition, you’re still the boss. The person that pays you to write for them becomes a client.
So, why does it matter? Well, let’s think about it for a minute. When I worked in cubicle land, the boss was someone to be feared and loathed. He was the guy that would take the credit for your work in order to promote his own agenda, and the guy that would come down hard on you if he didn’t think your work was up to snuff. If you don’t get along with your boss, your job is going to be miserable.
The boss is also the guy that can put an end to your entire livelihood with a single call to the HR department.
In contrast, a client is someone who likes you. They appreciate your work so much that they want to pay you for it. They have high hopes for what your work will do for their business.
Sure, clients can be demanding, just like bosses. But if you don’t like a client, or if you don’t seem to mix well, you can go get another client. In addition, a client is one of many. Just because one client has it in for you doesn’t mean your entire livelihood has to be at stake.
The way you think about clients is different than the way you think about a boss, too. You appreciate a client’s willingness to pay you. You work hard to make sure the client is pleased so that they’ll keep hiring you. If you work hard to please a boss, it’s often because you’re just afraid of her.
So, get out of the mindset that says customers are your bosses. They’re not. They’re clients, and that’s a good thing. If you see them as your boss, you may be hurting yourself in the long run.
I use the word boss only when I am talking about work to friends and family who still don’t “get” what I do.
This is an excellent post. A professional attitude is the key to freelance writing success. And in my line of work (marketing), I don’t even think of myself as a writer. I approach my business as a consultant. It just so happens that my service is delivered through words.
Of course, the job vs. client thing cuts both ways. It’s good for the pros because they stand out among all the non-pros. It’s bad for the pros because this attitude can drive down fees and stain the image of writers everywhere.
What an honest and thought provoking review of the contractor-client relationship! This is something that a lot of freelance writers struggle with, particularly those that have left brick and mortar jobs to pursue work from home careers. As a freelancer it’s important to keep things in perspective and learn to maintain balance between clients’ needs and those of the business in order to succeed. Thanks so much for offering such sound advice!
.-= Tess´s last blog ..Do You Know How to Negotiate Your Writing Rates? =-.