Crazymakers

Ugh, crazymakers! You probably know exactly who I am talking about. We all have at least one in our life someplace. It could be a parent, a boss, a demanding or dramatic friend…just about anybody, really. My point is that it’s somebody who seems to make you absolutely crazy, each and every single time you deal with them.

So, I have several of these  – some easier to avoid or deal with than others. I have a client who seems to know exactly which buttons to push to make me so incredibly stressed out it’s unreal. Now, I generally really, really like this person. But, it’s almost as though she has a sixth sense about when the worst possible time to start getting demanding and dramatic is.  Now, I’m all about making my clients as happy as they can be, but this one costs me about 5 hours last week. AFTER the project was supposed to be completed and proofed. Part of what makes this so bad? I didn’t even get all the materials they were supposed to provide me until well after their deadline.  Ugh! Then, they want me to drop everything and everybody else to make sure they are taken care of? Double ugh!

In business, though, you are going to have to suck it up and deal with these people, at least part of the time, especially when you are starting off.  Now, one thing I have learned is to charge this type of person by the hour if possible.  Or, if you price per project, make sure you include something extra in the price on the front end. After all, their demands can take up your valuable time and keep you from earning money working with other clients.

That pricing structure may not always work for you.  Or your demanding client.  It may even be worth it to drop that client. Take this into consideration: if you have 10 clients, and one of them takes up 90% of your time, what happens to the other 9? Are they really getting the attention they deserve?  Are you profiting just as much, or possibly even more, with the people that stress you out less and take up much less of your time? And, if one of your 10 clients takes up 90% of your time, by dropping that one,  you could possibly either take on another 9 easy clients (and double your money), or enjoy some free time.

So, what sounds better – double the business and less stress? Or the same business, with a client that drives you to distraction and makes you crazy?

Me, I’m shooting for the extra business and less stress!  And the same applies to my personal life,too.  Don’t get me wrong – I love my friends and do what I can for them. But you have to realize, both in your personal life and in business, you have the right to say “No.” And sometimes you should. As a single parent, especially when you are trying to make some extra cash, the easier things are, the better they are! Seriously, life is hectic enough without trying to take care of everybody else all by myself all the time. So, drop the crazymakers, take care of your kids and your business. And every once in a while, say NO to somebody else so you can take care of yourself, too.