Once my client who is a wedding photographer, said to me this, 'My clients usually become my friends. It's our way of doing business.' I nodded, agreed with what he said. I love to befriend with my clients, usually a nice and friendly client like him, whose presence only can brighten the day. Who doesn't want to be liked by anyone? Beside that, pasrt of me doesn't like conflict. Being in conflict with anyone is a thing I usually avoid at any cost.
The agreeable nodding girl is me, about 3 years ago, before starting my own business. Three years in running this business, I learnt a totally different rules from the friendship rules. You can't be simply too close, to nice, too care, or even too helpful to your client. While in friendship it's great to give more, it will backfire you when applied to business. Because sooner or later, there some clients who assume your good will as a weakness. And they will happily exploit it!
I have these two clients whom I lost my respect and sympathy totally. The first one, a woman, has a very bad attitude and disorganized project planning that it's almost impossible to communicate as civilized human with her. She always insist others to understand her, to follow her deadline, and to sympathize with her problems but lack the ability and good will to work as a team in handle the matters. At the beginning of our project, I naively helpful to her, being a good listener to her problem, and always available (even till midnight!), to help her catch the tight deadline caused by her bad management. But all of them didn't make her respect us. It just made her think us were easily exploited. She spared a convenient time for other team members (who disdained her, even scolded her) and only spare a very tight time for us to catch up the deadline. And she scolded us when we said we need more time. That's why we learnt our first lesson. Sometimes it's better not being nice to your client.
The second one is a spoil whining girl trapped in the body of 50 something man. Actually he's a successful businessman. He complimented us for being proactive and punctual. We tried our best to help him with all we've got. We even help him correct his spelling that's not our responsibility. But at one point he got stressed out because we kept remind him up about the deadline. Suddenly he becomes so sensitive on matters that only cared by woman who gets PMS. He said we pushed him too much. He's also accused us for things that's not our responsibility, said that because we didn't help him, he must works hard to finish the materials. Our biggest regret is we give him a way too cheap design fee (our friend who introduce us asked a favour to give him the good price). So the second lesson is it's better not being generous to client. It's better to give as little as possible first, so you have a back up resources later to give, IF necessary.
Lately I also promises to myself to separate my work to my life. The works kept coming but my life can't be turned back. In these latest 3 months I worked like crazy and unconsciously neglected my husband, my family, my friend, even myself. I felt my life is become all works and never plays. I even forget what has happened in the last 3 months because my life was so routine, that everyday all looks the same. What if I was to die tomorrow? I must regret for I've done nothing meaningful enough to memorize.
So, these are just little steps to achieve the bigger goal, keeping the balance in my life. But I hope in a long time, it will help me a lot to maintain my sanity. Here's my new rules on working:
1. My working time is 9.00-6.00. Phone and sms before and after won't be replied.
2. Saturday and Sunday are holiday. Time for me, family, and friend. No phone and sms from client will be replied.
3. Being too nice and too helpful to clients is stupid. Giving as little as possible. So it's easier to give them favour later.
4. Sometimes being a little bit dumb and numb is good.
5. To ask a fair price and downpayment before working.
