Freelance Rules to Live By

I starting making a list of freelance rules (lessons) a while ago and now it's big enough to warrant sharing them with friend and community.

Pass work along

When you honestly don't have time, pass the work to a friend... or even a "competitor." You'll be able to focus on the projects in front of you. It's a healthier lifestyle to maintain the quality of what you produce and your client connections rather than bite off more than you can chew.

Take Five

The day (or the moment) you get working materials take just 5 minutes to double check you have EVERYTHING you'll need to finish the task. Do this regardless of the time line. If you do this days before you start you'll be able to hit the ground running. Clients often leave you short on information. Just ask for it. This will also let you know if this client may need little more coaching... and catching that in the first 5 minutes can save your butt.

Ask For Help

You have lots of smart friends, and you have biznik. Asking one of your many connections for some help is totally fun as well as useful. When you collaborate you grow your skills, your network and the trust of your new partner. You might even start a new business by accident.

Stop discounting.

Seriously, work worth it. Your client has chosen you over other options. You have a going rate defined, use it. Often if you feel the desire to discount rates you shouldn't enter a business relationship with that person. Yes, you can still give your mom a break.

Raise your rates over time.

Inflation. Cost of living. Your growing expertise. Need another reason?

Hassle vs. Trust

There is an inverse relationship between project size and hassle. Large projects/jobs/tasks will be smoother. You’ll develop a timeline and milestones, you’ll have the luxury of client trust, your expertise will be valued. In a smaller job your client will be more involved with every step. They may have created a piece of what you’re now working with. Small jobs also often involve emotional investment, as they are a pet project or the first steps into a market or medium.

Perfection vs. Done

For portions of the project that need to be perfect, hold out for brilliance. For portions that don't matter much just get them done well. This is like a judicial test. Isolate the issue at hand... hold it up to the light... ask yourself, or team, which category it falls into: is this worth perfection, is it better to just be done/good/great/go/finished. A friend once told me "shipping is a feature."

Just Say No

"No" is one of the most powerful words in business. Use it carefully and tactfully. Sometimes things just are not a good fit. There's your ethics, project scope, necessary infrastructure and the specialty needed. Of course you can always just help guide them to the next step, for a fee :)

Once you take on a client you need to switch to "yes."

Sorry it's true.