The rain continues to fall.
Like a cow pissing on a flat rock.
Lovely image that, don’t you think?
You can thank my grandfather for that one.
I love similes. They are like a secret lover on a lonely night.
I just did another one. Isn’t this fun?
That was all very random. Now on to the regularly scheduled program.
I dropped two customers last week from my freelance writing business. One was consistently slow in paying. The other wanted me to set up a newsletter app for her, learn how to work that app, and then write the newsletter for her. I explained I’m a writer, not a downloader, and I thanked her for her business.
It’s all about making choices when you are in business for yourself. I don’t want the hassle of chasing down money owed to me, and I don’t want the headaches associated with learning new applications. So I eliminated them both from my life.
Pretty simple, really!
I was talking to another gentleman last week about my rates. He thought my rates were too high. I told him to have a good life. My time is worth more than he believes it is, so our business relationship lasted all of five minutes.
Pretty simple, really!
Someone else wanted me to read ten of his articles and give him feedback/advice. I told him no. I’m too busy to do that for free. He was offended. Too bad! Good friends I will probably do that for; people who only know me as a name on the internet no, not a chance.
Pretty simple,really!
I don’t know where I’m going with this, but I thought I would share.
Have a great week!
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Bill, I am so with you and I have over the years now picked and chosen my battles with clients such as this. And yes there were times were the ends didn’t justify the means and had to cut a client loose, as well. So most definitely get this also. Thanks for sharing and glad to know it isn’t just me. Have a wonderful Tuesday now 🙂
No, Janine, it’s not just you. These are decisions which have to be made for our health and well-being. There are only so many hours in a day, and I’d rather spend them with reliable customers who appreciate what I do.
Funny – my brother talked on this very theme last night when he called. A potential client tried to talk him down on his usual fees. My brother told him the same thing, “have a nice life, I know what I am worth” We get older, we get wiser.
We do for sure, Mike! I pick and choose carefully my clients. My time is much too valuable to waste it.
Can you send that rain our way?
Why don’t you stop writing for a while, learn some weather making magic and do this for me for free, will you? I’m kidding, of course. But that’s how some of your would-be clients sound like. Funny, really. And you have every right and reason to say no. Your time is yours and you should spend it on projects worth your time and effort.
That being said, I should learn this for myself as well. When you start out, it is so hard to say no to any project, even when you work for “less than free” – a phrase I picked up in Mexico. Thanks for the reminder to pick and choose.
Have a great week, and hope your rain comes our way on its own accord, and gives you a break.
Emese, believe me, if it were in my power, it would be raining on your right this moment. Our backyard is a swamp. Everything is a mess. I hate letting the dogs outside because I have to clean them up when I let them back in. 🙂
Less than free…I like that. Thank you!
It is good that you value your own time! Life is short! Let’s make the most of it!
Indeed, Donna! I don’t have time to waste.
You are basicaly saying that you cannot encourage fools and nonsense. We, your friends, already know this. Good on ya!
Some people are not only unreasonable but illogical. Not to worry Bro. Peace.
Peace Manatita and no, I cannot encourage or suffer fools. Never have, never will.
Sometimes saying no to others means saying yes to yourself. Thanks, Bill!
yes indeed my friend. We all need to say yes to ourselves more often. thank you for that
Similes and boundaries. One enhances language and the other makes living life possible. Both are important! lol.
Your first simile had me cracking up and I nearly spit my tea out on my laptop. Good one!
As for your boundaries, I like them! Why? Because as I piece together a living from working as a marketer at the school around 25 hours per week, I’m looking for other ways to increase my income. I am working on two friends’ sites and doing some marketing for them. I find it really fun, actually. And I’ll sacrifice more income to work on my own brand and spreading good things into the world. So, I’m good! lol. But I enjoy the challenge of putting different gigs together. This is what I needed to be doing since I became an adult. And, incidentally, I tried to do that back then, too…when I was 21-22, I was a ski instructor three days a week and an interim substitute teacher for four days…I did it again when I worked at a bookstore and painted murals for a restaurant and tutored kiddos…it is the BEST way to be. Even now, in my own brand, I write haikus, make coloring books, I’m starting to create a lot of videos, write content and market all that. Life is certainly never dull. 🙂
Sending dry hugs your way, Big Bro.
Thanks LIl Sis! I love your approach to life. Seriously! throw caution to the wind and just try it. What’s the worst that can happen? And all the experiences make you a rich human with many textures. Keep on doing what you’re doing, my friend. I find you fascinating.
hugs from rainy Olympia
Bill, great advice! Showing respect for yourself and encouraging us to do the same. There’s a whole whack of people out there who think writers and creative types should do it for the joy of creation but we eat, drink and pay the bank man just like everyone else.
Have a wonderful day and enjoy the rain! Tomorrow is GroundHog Day and I’m pretty sure any little rodent would shriek in horror at the 4 feet of snow still on the ground here.
Thank you Sharilee! The rains continue here. Four feet of snow? I would shriek in horror!
Bill
A few days ago our company put our wages into the account late, it wasn’t their fault, the Bank screwed up.
But guess what, the company told the Bank, “next time YOU can pay the late payment fees our employees got for not paying their bills on time!”
I don’t really know if the company said that, but the drivers sure wanted to!!
Dad always used to tell me people who did that were the “wannabe wealthy!”
Writing has value, and should be rewarded, regardless of how good a friend they are.
That’s my view.
Thanks for sharing that, Lawrence, and I completely agree.
You’re well ahead of the game, Bill. Most people never realize their true worth and consistently sell themselves short.
That simile about the secret lover on a lonely night sounds a little creepy to me. I got a mental image of a stalker watching you from afar with binoculars.
I know, right? LOL Zulma, I’m pretty sure I don’t have a stalker watching me….ughh…now I’m creeped out. Thanks a lot!
No thanks needed. All part of the service. 😀
I know exactly where you are going with this, Bill. It’s simply about learning to say “no” to requests that do not interest you, and “no” to timewasters. Some people don’t have enough to do so expect them to entertain you, or do their jobs for them, so that they still don’t have enough to do. When my son and I walk the dog, we go out of the way to avoid certain people who don’t seem to be able to read simple body language i.e. “I’ve got work to do, just because you haven’t and you’re talking at me while pursuing me down the road when I’m already walking away, and talking about stuff that’s really boring”. PEOPLE! I’m quite happy to stop to help a person in need, but, but, but … Now I’m rambling.
I love the cow pissing on a flat rock simile. The cow is visiting over the Pond today. She probably flew over the supermoon last night — the one that only she could see!
Have a wonderful weekend, my dear friend, away from timewasters and doing what you love best 🙂
Sarah, I love your rambling. Perhaps I should be more patient and understanding of people….nah, let’s not go there! They need to quit wasting my time, period! lol Say hi to the cow for me. I’m digging dirt on this misty Saturday. At least I’ll be under cover while digging.
It’s good that you have the confidence in yourself and your worth to be able to let go of people and business that does you no favours Bill. Too often writers don’t know their own worth!
Life is too short, Andrea. I have far too-much to do with my time to waste it with customers who do not value my time. Thank you for the visit.
You sound like a professional writer.
Well thank you Martie! That’s the nicest thing you could say to me.