Balancing Client Demands: Protecting Your Time Off
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Chapter 1: Understanding Client Boundaries
When seeking a break, it’s crucial to be selective about your clients.
Nobody enjoys being interrupted, especially on a Sunday. To clarify, people generally dislike receiving last-minute work requests on their day off.
I once had a client, Joseph, who only called on Sundays. His weekdays were consumed with work, and Saturdays were spent shuttling his kids to activities. Thus, Sundays became my day to deal with his incessant calls—four times each Sunday without exception. After a month, I had to let him go; my Sundays were no longer peaceful.
This experience made me reflect: How can I better manage such clients?
I’ve attempted numerous strategies to set clear expectations with clients in advance. Initially, I didn’t communicate my boundaries well. My very first client overwhelmed me with endless edits and requests, often sending emails on Saturdays with the expectation of quick turnarounds by Sunday.
This taught me a valuable lesson. From that point on, I made it clear to clients that I wouldn’t entertain last-minute requests. This approach worked for a short period until I encountered Joseph.
Reaching him for payments or project updates was nearly impossible. When we did talk, he would dominate the conversation, offloading his needs before disappearing for the remainder of the week.
Then there was Stephanie, who humorously asked if I could deliver work in half the time for half the pay. While I appreciate humor, such exchanges on a supposedly restful Sunday were far from enjoyable.
I Realized It Was Time for Change: I’m Selective About Clients
Yes, I’ve become choosy about whom I work with. A couple of years ago, I realized I didn’t need the high stress that came with my side-hustle in copywriting. My goal is to transform my 9-to-5 into a business I take pride in, but not at the cost of my Sunday serenity. Those days are essential for reading, writing, seeking business opportunities, and exercising.
Having become more discerning, I recognize that I have the power to choose my clients. In my article, "Why I Turned Down 3 Copywriting Clients This Week," I delve into the profiles of clients I prefer to avoid and the principles I apply to qualify or disqualify potential clients.
Principle #1: Differentiate Between Urgent Needs and Dire States
Clients can fall into two categories: those with urgent needs and those in a state of desperation.
Clients with urgent needs typically require our services to support a downstream task. For example, they may need content for their product page ready before launching ad campaigns. While stressful, these situations are usually well-defined, allowing us to see how our work fits into the larger scheme.
On the other hand, clients in dire situations need something delivered immediately, possibly because they’ve missed a deadline or their previous writer abandoned them. They might throw money at you while insisting on urgency, which stems from their precarious position.
I choose to turn down clients in desperate situations, as they often disregard weekends and the effort needed to produce quality work. If you value your time off, it’s essential to spot these clients and avoid them at all costs.
Principle #2: Identify Respectful Clients Versus Those Who Don’t Care
This distinction is crucial. You’ll encounter clients who respect your boundaries and those who will ignore them.
For instance, a calm and knowledgeable client like Logan understands the work's nuances and respects deadlines. Conversely, a client like Rogan may seem relaxed until deadlines approach, at which point they might start demanding more than what was initially agreed upon.
If you wish to safeguard your Sundays, communicate your boundaries clearly to both types of clients. Over time, you’ll notice that Logan respects your schedule, while Rogan becomes increasingly demanding.
Once you differentiate between the two, accelerate your work with Rogan and complete projects quickly. Clients who don’t respect your time don’t deserve it.
Conclusion: Protect Your Downtime
Sundays and vacations exist for a reason. They provide essential downtime for mental health, learning, and personal growth.
Never allow your leisure time to be disrupted by clients who don’t respect your boundaries. Once they breach that trust, they can quickly sour your work environment.
Be strategic in your client selection; having the courage to cut ties is vital. You can only work with appreciative clients if you have the bandwidth to do so.
About the Author:
As a contributor, I share insights from my daily life and business experiences, as these shape our unique viewpoints. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn and Twitter!
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