At the moment I bought that decision.
The one providing me a tough freelance job that I do know I’m good at, however that I don’t notably take pleasure in.
I’m not going to be extra particular, as a result of it’s not truthful on the consumer. It’s a writing job that may be executed badly in a day or so. However executed effectively, it truly takes far longer than anybody realises.
It additionally has workplace politics baked into the temporary, usually placing me able the place I’m making an attempt to please a number of individuals, all with very completely different agendas, views and wishes. I normally end with everybody pretty joyful, but it surely’s a difficult balancing act. As I say, I’m good at it.
Most freelancers have one thing like this: a job that’s deceptively exhausting to do effectively, or that they merely don’t like doing.
And most of us then comply with the identical prepare of thought: I gained’t take pleasure in one little bit of this. However I would like the cash. And if I flip it down, they may not come again to me with different issues I will take pleasure in.
So how can we value for it?
My buddy Anna is a DJ. She has an nearly uncanny potential to learn a dancefloor, to play simply the precise factor to get a celebration began, then maintain the vitality going.
Typically, she is requested to play weddings. Now, weddings aren’t a lot enjoyable for her. They usually contain lengthy drives to the venue, adopted by hours of labor in a room the place she is aware of nearly nobody besides presumably the bride or groom. Who type of produce other issues occurring that day.
She sees little or no of her kids that weekend. She will’t drink: partly as a result of she’s driving, but additionally as a result of bathroom breaks are fairly tough. Then there are the competing requests from 4 generations of visitors, usually together with aged relations who need her to “flip that racket down so I can hear myself assume”.
In conditions like this, there are three inquiries to ask your self.
Do I really want the cash?
If you happen to don’t, simply say no. Make it a coverage that you just simply don’t do this type of venture, ever. Easy.
Everybody must be aiming to get to some extent of their enterprise the place they’ll flip away work and/or purchasers they don’t take pleasure in.
However in case you’re not there but, the subsequent query is that this:
What would make this job simpler, or extra enjoyable?
For Anna, it was taking an assistant to weddings. Somebody who might drive, so she might have a drink or two, and get within the celebration temper. Somebody to assist carry and arrange her gear. However extra importantly, somebody to maintain her firm, cowl her throughout bathroom breaks, and assist appeal and placate visitors with particular requests and conflicting calls for.
“I all the time get to a giant occasion like this early, to ensure all the things is prepared when the celebration wants to begin,” she says. “However that may imply plenty of hanging round alone. It could change all the things simply to have somebody to speak to, and to assist me out.”
For you, it is likely to be one thing completely different.
With the writing job, I ask that every one the departments concerned give me a transparent temporary of what they need and wish upfront. As an alternative of ready till I’ve written it, then asking for therefore many conflicting tweaks and modifications that the piece turns right into a hackneyed mess.
That is extra work upfront, particularly for me. However normally implies that everyone seems to be happier with the outcome, and feels they’ve a stake in it.
After that, it’s all about how a lot to cost. So your closing query:
What wouldn’t it take for me to do that with a smile?
After occupied with it for some time, Anna determined to ask for 5 occasions her normal payment for weddings. This additional ‘smile cash’ would allow her to take her kids out someplace particular, to make up for lacking many of the weekend with them.
She might additionally pay an assistant, and nonetheless earn sufficient to do the job with real pleasure. As a result of who needs a glum entertainer at their marriage ceremony?
A number of weeks after we mentioned this, Anna bought a request to play at one other marriage ceremony. She named her new payment, and the joyful couple stated they couldn’t presumably afford it.
She referred to as me, distressed. “I’m going to lose the job!” she stated.
“Possibly,” I replied. “However that’s OK.”
Being instructed you’re too costly might be uncomfortable.
Elevating your costs is tough. However you possibly can’t get entangled in a race to the underside. There’ll all the time be somebody cheaper than you, irrespective of how low your value.
And the numbers are fairly clear. You are able to do 5 jobs, resentfully, for (say) £200 every. Or you are able to do only one, with a giant smile in your face, for £1000. Lots of people will wish to pay much less, and that’s positive.
They aren’t your prospects.
Not but, anyway.
However some individuals will see the worth in what you’re providing.
They love your work. They love your perspective. They need what you do, they usually assume you’re value it.
It was months earlier than Anna booked one other marriage ceremony. The couple paid her new payment fortunately. They have been followers, and actually needed her there on their special occasion. They’d met in a membership the place she’d been taking part in, and had been regulars at her gigs ever since.
“It was an excellent evening,” Anna stated later. “It was my form of crowd. Despite the fact that it was a fairly a protracted method to journey, I loved it. Particularly as I wasn’t driving!”
Get comfy turning individuals down.
It by no means feels good to lose a job. Particularly in case you’re nervous about paying your payments that month.
However in the long term, what would you somewhat have: one or two jobs a yr, that may be a bit traumatic and tough, however that pay you sufficient to make that problem really feel worthwhile? Or 5-10 of those self same jobs, incomes you about the identical cash in complete?
The maths on that is frequent sense. However the feelings are tougher, particularly whenever you’re turning down cash you possibly can use.
And let’s be clear. That is solely going to work in case you are placing nice work on the market, and have some proof that you just’re good at what you do.
So how do you value a tough freelance job?
Let’s return to that writing job I don’t take pleasure in. I cost a payment that’s to this point over the standard value that the individual on the different finish of the cellphone usually gasps once I say it.
Normally, it means I don’t get the venture. And I’m positive with that. I actually have a record of gifted, youthful writers I can suggest, who will probably be glad of the work.
However often, I do get it – as a result of the individuals concerned need me to do it.
They don’t complain concerning the greater value. Actually, they respect my enter extra due to it. I get thank-you notes afterwards, generally even flowers. I do it a few occasions a yr, at most.
And I do it with a giant, real smile on my face.
How To Cost What You’re Price
I’m working a one-hour on-line workshop with me on understanding your worth, speaking that clearly – and elevating your costs gracefully. It’s on March 25 at 7.30pm (UK time). A recording will probably be accessible afterwards..
Your funding? £29. Click on under to search out out extra – or to e-book your house.
