7 Signs You Need to Break Up with That Client

March 26, 2010

Getting out of a bad relationship is good for you but it’s not always easy and this applies to client relationships for freelance writers as well. Just like breakups can be painful and agonizing (but necessary); the same can be said for client relationships. I broke up with a client recently (actually they broke up with me but I was on the verge of doing the dumping) and it was something I expected but that didn’t make it any less painful of a breakup. In fact, the split isn’t totally resolved yet.

Lori Widmer wrote a timely post today that struck a chord with me because just like her, I’ve been planning for the obvious and preparing to fill the gap because I’ve seen the writing on the wall and frankly, I wanted it to end but dreaded doing the dumping. In the end, it was the equivalent of being dumped on a Post-It for me and it messed with my productivity for the whole week (add to that a sick child as we’ve had a case of the sickies running through the house for the past few weeks and you’ve got one mucked up freelance writing work schedule). But I’ll get over it. Probably pretty fast. No post-breakup pints of ice cream necessary here!

Do You Need to Break Up with a Client?

Not all relationships are destined to work out. Not every client will be your “soul mate” in terms of a perfect ongoing working relationship. Thankfully you’re a freelancer so you’re free to end relationships if they aren’t working out. No lengthy and messy divorce is necessary!

Here are some signs that you need to break up — — even if it’s painful to do so:

(Some of these applied to this situation for me and others have applied to previous relationship breakups)

  1. Sickness outweighs health. Do you love less and less about the client’s project(s) as time goes on? Do you dread it like you used to dread Sunday nights before you became a writer because they made you think about Monday morning back in cubicleland? That’s a sign you shouldn’t ignore.

  2. Are you having to forsake all others? Does the money not justify the hassles when you break down the time and headaches vs. the income? Is this project impacting your ability to do other things?

  3. Do you have a problem with the integrity or lack thereof of the project or people working on the project? Are there games and is there back-stabbing going on? Never do something you can’t feel good about (and don’t ignore your instinct) and if you can’t trust someone, don’t do business with them.

  4. Are there lies and excuses about money and is someone trying to get to you drop your pricing after the relationship and terms have been established? Get your money from the next invoice and then don’t walk…run… before they ask you to do something else.

  5. Are you treated like an employee (like plankton on the corporate food chain) but not paid like an employee?

  6. Are people playing ‘the blame game’ and blaming the writer for their lack of research, a poor business model, or running a business with guesswork and getting indignant when things don’t come together?

  7. Is it just not fun any more? When the love is dead, why prolong the inevitable?

Freelancing is often tough and unpredictable but the good thing about it is that at times a door closing means a better one opens. Every time I end a bad relationship, it all works out and so far I have always been better off after the fact — — even if it takes time to heal. I haven’t had many bad breakups but every one that has happened has taught me something. The relief of knowing that I won’t have to dread the very next Monday morning can be reward enough. Feel free to share some of your breakup stories and lessons learned… if they’re not still too raw and painful ;)