Do Good Anyway
One of the perks that comes with being an online freelancer is that you get to work from anywhere in the world. As long as you can get an internet connection.
So at the end of 2013, my family and I decided to treat ourselves to a getaway at Hua Hin in Thailand.
A highlight of the trip was visiting the famous Cabbages and Condoms Restaurant.
Yes, you read it right.
The operation was conceptualized to promote better understanding and acceptance of planned parenthood.
And in case you’re wondering if it is a child-friendly place to dine, YES it is.
I visited the restaurant with my 6 year old and there was nothing to be embarrassed about aside from explaining what a condom is.
Sigh!
As one walks from the parking lot into the restaurant, there are lots of “wise sayings”, or so to speak, written and nailed on tree stems along the pathway.
One that caught my eye and I immediately related with was entitled “Anyway”.
My thoughts on “Anyway” for freelancers…
While I found these words of wisdom relevant to all spheres of life, I find them especially applicable to my life as a freelancer.
Making a living as a freelancer calls for a high level of sacrifice and commitment.
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
These unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered may be those that butter your bread (clients) ew!!! or those that bail you out when you’re swamped with work (family and/or friends); or even competitors (fellow freelancers).
Forgive them still.
Doing so is like putting coals of fire on their heads.
Honesty and Frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
When clients hire us, they expect nothing short of integrity.
Although honesty and confidentiality are assumed standards to expect from a contractor, clients need guarantees – and that’s what we should offer them.
Handle all sensitive and complex issues of the job with discretion and good judgment.
Don’t bill clients falsely or cheat them.
Being dishonest is never a winning strategy.
On the other hand, dishonest clients come in all forms.
There are those who will request for a test job and use the work without paying for it.
Others will give you an assignment and refuse to pay.
If a client does scam you, and you have tried all legal means to deal with the situation, learn from it and move one (yet remain honest and full of integrity).
In the future, you can save yourself such headaches by asking for upfront payment, or taking on only hourly jobs, or doing your due diligence before accepting an assignment.
People really need help but may attack you if you help them. Help people anyway.
This includes your friends, enemies as well as competitors. Offer help when they ask for it.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Consistently delight your customers by delivering on contracted assignments.
It doesn’t matter how many times you have to keep revising that assignment because the client is not satisfied.
Treat the next client well.
Even if they are difficult and are likely to give you a negative review in spite of meeting the agreed upon deliverable.
Give the world the best you have, and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
Your freelancing world consists mainly of your clients, fellow freelancers, family and friends.
We have to strike a balance among all four while giving the best to each.
Sometimes this is a tough call, especially when children or a spouse is involved or one is overwhelmed by too many clients.
Under such circumstances, our best may not be enough. Hence the need to ask for help.
Don’t be shy to ask for help, either from friends or even fellow freelancers.
Sometimes, there could be need to go the tough path and say “no” to a customer.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies. Succeed anyway.
Not everyone will always be excited with your growth and success.
Succeed anyway.
Learn to weed out the wheat from the chaff without losing sight of what you gotta DO to be successful in your career.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway.
As freelancers, we are constantly building a brand or our freelance rating scores, or our clientele.
Name it.
But while building, others could destroy what we have built in a whim.
Therefore, when developing our business models, we have to think of revenue earning methods that are fully within our control.
Some freelancers rely solely on online freelancing platforms for all their revenue sources.
Others depend solely on content marketing by publishing on websites such as Ezine and Hub Pages.
The danger with such business models is that they make us 100% at the mercy of the site owners.
Any changes they make to their platforms could adversely affect our abilities to earn an income.
For instance, Back in July 2013, UpWork introduced a system that hides job applications of freelancers who are not a good match for a job or who have had a history of dissatisfied clients.
Unfortunately, there has been a glitch in the system such that even highly ranked freelancers who have no history of client disputes, including those invited by job posters, have suffered the wrath of UpWork’s algorithm. Thus losing the opportunity to bid for a job. Many are losing revenue as a result.
One way to make it difficult for others to destroy our empires is by investing in multiple revenue streams.
I personally believe that every online freelancer should invest in my personal website that showcases their work and markets them to potential clients.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
Be kind to everyone. Even when they are not kind to you.
Quoting Mother Teresa:
“You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”
When you understand that there is a higher calling to your life, it is so much more easier to do good, in spite of the negative energy that exists around you.
Go ye therefore and “give the world your best anyway”.
It’s your guarantee for becoming the best freelancer you were destined to be!
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