23 May 08 The Whole Business
It always makes me smile when some folks think that working for yourself must be so wonderful. To a large extent it is, but on the other side of the fence, you have, at least in a small business, the tasks of being the boss, with the responsibilities that it brings, and also the worker, at the same time. Well not at exactly the same time but well, I’m sure you get my drift.
It must be great not having a boss they say. Well yes in a way it is, but in another way, you have as many bosses as you have clients, and the art is letting them all think they are #1, which is, of course, not possible at all times, so you try to become adept at prioritization.
Do I have favorites? You bet I do! Some clients are great to work with, and some are the pits. Thing is, the ones that are the pits still write a check, so you have to tend to them too.Also you never know if your favorite clients will still be here to be clients at all, particularly in the present climate, so it often pays to hold onto some of those pain in the rear ones, that in a more buoyant economic climate you might let go.
Some are willing to pay more than others, and while there is a bottom line, I don’t believe in overcharging either, even if, in some cases you can get away with it. I like to think I’m ethical about my dealings, even if some of those I deal with are not.
Anyway, it’s 9am as I write, and it’s off to do some more of the daily wheeling and dealing out there!
Tags: boss, bottom line, drift, economic climate, extent, pits, side of the fence, small business, smile, some clients suck
