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View Full Version : i give up


cazort
04-20-2004, 11:15 PM
I've had my own business for over a year and I've seen it grow into a success after struggling for months. And I give up. I hate it. I'm miserable.

I just can't handle some of my clients. My biggest client constantly puts me in a bind by not following my advice, and by wanting to spend less on projects than I recommend, thus forcing me to do things that don't fill all their needs.

I hate working alone. When I started I was doing a lot of little projects for home users for $15-$35 an hour. Now I have these big projects for companies for $50 an hour...but I hate it. I hate working alone, I go absolutely insane. One client was so mad at me they wanted their money back. A lot of clients love me and recommend me to others...but then some of those new clients turn out to be headaches. Some clients waste lots of my unbillable time and make me have to be mean and shut them up or give them a hard time.

It's compounded by the fact that I have not been able to form a supportive social life here. I've found it so hard to find the sort of friends who can actually be there for me and provide support, who I can rant to about my business clients--so instead I shoulder the burden all myself until I become crushed.

Today I exploded to my biggest client in an e-mail--basically ending my business. I said I was fed up with them being cheap and that the way they managed their business was unprofessional, that they have consistently been unfair to me and put me in one difficult situation after another, and that I was fed up with dealing with them and they could find someone else to do their stuff. I left off in the middle of two projects so I know they're going to be mad. They had recently contacted me saying they only wanted to spend a max of $900 on a system which would be very very time consuming to develop--meaning I either had to do a shitty job, or do some of it as volunteer work.

So here I am... back to looking for a job. I just need support. I don't know how to get any support. I'm all on my own...I am freaking out...help!!!

kitalyn414
04-21-2004, 12:10 PM
how do you come to a price agreement for your services with your clients? it sounds like you are undervaluing yourself a little bit. otherwise, there wouldn't be such a strain. maybe you need to start quoting your prices much higher. like to the point where you feel like you are ripping these people off. that way, when they negotiate the price down, you will still be comfortable.

AlFa
04-21-2004, 06:19 PM
Cazort!

Don't undervalue yourself! I work in a "make them happy at all costs" type of business myself and I've found that if I don't get too worked up about it then neither do they. Also, if you value your time and your work and are not always at their beck and call, then they will begin to appreciate that relationship more. Think of it like you were dating a gal...the more interested you are in her, chances are the less interested she will become in you. Especially if you are always there for her every whim. At some point you have to be a challenge to them, whether it is a girl or your biggest client. Usually, the clients who make you the most $ are the ones who don't give you a very hard time. So don't worry about losing a client. NOW you have more time to devote to picking up better and bigger clients.

In regards to the whole social life sit. I just hope your week gets better 'cause I've read some of your posts today and it seems like you're having one helluva shitty day. Take the rest of the week off and go on a bender or something. Take some time off, tell your clients to f*#k themselves (nicely though) and spend some quality time on your own needs. It seems like you are struggling because you want to have a successful social life, but are conflicted by your strong work ethic and desire to get ahead. All I know is that without a successful social life, you'll never be happy regardless of how far ahead you are or how much money you make. If you focus on making yourself happy, then that will reflect in all other aspects of your life and those aspects will soon follow suit.

Go out and enjoy yourself and good luck!

teadrinker
04-21-2004, 07:04 PM
you can always rant to us, cazort. we like it. :) Anyway, things might turn out better than you think.