Ever Turn down a job?
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I have, too, after this client kept changing the color of a wall for an entire day. Never heard of her again.
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Yes, I too turn down work. The headaches during the project or risk of not getting paid are not worth it.
I try to live by Warren Buffett's comment that the secret to his success is his ability to say no (and pass on what someone is trying to sell as the investment opportunity of a lifetime).
Glenn -
Hi Glenn
Sad truth is that as long as one work for someone else you are at the will of the one who writes your pay check.
Plan A:
Make a portfolio of your best and original work.
Then interview in offices that reflect your portfolio.
Plan B;
Open your own office and hustle everyone you know on earth.
If you are truly a "Form Giver" the market place will see this ability.
If it is possible become a licensed Architect.
Hang in and pursue your dream in any case.
Good luckdtr Architect
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Even with your own office, you do have bosses... your clients. Now they write your checks.
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I looked at your website and you are immensely talented.
You may need to prioritize you clients. Keep the enjoyable clients and the highly profitable clients. Dump the miserable A-holes and the ones that cost you money. Use the time that is freed up to market yourself to better clientele. Basically it is a skimming or distillation strategy. And you never turn anyone away you, just tell them you are booked for the next two months. A bad client can break you more surely than no clients.
Good luck and take two Valium.
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I have surrounded myself with burning bridges hey ho at least my pride is intact.
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Yes, I have.
Look into the eyes of the new prospect you are sitting into front of; they are often there on your time to hopefully convince you they are the dream client. Soon enough you'll learn if they are real or not.
If there is any doubt they are not totally interested in being there, cut it short. Take your design brief and load it. If they're interested after that they will respect what you do and they'll pay for they're initial doubt. If they don't you haven't lost anything.
I don't have a problem with saying this; time wasted on tyre-kickers is time I am not spending with my kids...... rice goes a long way.
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Tyre-Kickers... love that concept.
I have just started turning down jobs for an obnoxious client who would impose her timeline on my job, and pay me a fraction of what was due.
I am still living in shock (also because I am convinced that she will eventually look for me again in the future) and I am trying to figure out other ways of revenue...
Just my 2 cents
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The classic rejection scenario i have seen most of is:
client "Hi someone gave me your number maybe you could help me ?" (6pm)
me "Yes of course no problem"
client "I'm going to email you the dwg so you can make the model it's a big factory i'm a designer"
me "Yeah sure i'll take a look"
client "okay i'll pop around to see you tomorrow morning to pick up the renders, there is not a lot of money in this particular job i'll sort you out something extra next time, hello, hello are you there ?" -
@chedda said:
"there is not a lot of money in this particular job"
I get this sort of comment, even from long-time associates. May be true, but you have to weigh the situation.
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