When Things Go Bad with a Client

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It happens.

You consult with a client and you both think you have discovered virtual business nirvana.

From my perspective this would be someone who needs my skills and abilities and who understands how to work virtually. Someone who will not only share their vision with me but will be open to mine.

Then you get to work. You’re so excited and you just know that this will be a wonderful partnership for a long time. You are ready to  roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty and really make a positive difference in your client’s business.

So you dive right in and right off the bat there are some bumps.

That’s ok. It’s to be expected as you get to know your client and their business. You are learning how they do it and they are learning how you do it and it takes time to develop a rhythm.

You get to a point where you say - ok, now the foundation is laid. I have the systems in place and now we’re really going to rock!

Then the client changes direction a bit. Wait, I know I said do this but I see now we need that. And by the way - that’s your management stuff so you don’t get to bill that time to me.

Hmmm…

Um…..

Ok, I’ll let it slide this time. I know we are just getting started here and we have big plans together. It will pay off.

And then it happens again.

And again.

And - well you get the picture.

By now you may have figured out that I’m talking about myself here (yea, nuthin’ gets by you, dear Reader!)

Yep, it’s true. This client was referred by another VA whom I greatly respect. After researching the client I was really excited about what they do and knew I wanted to be a part of it. It is a company that is making a difference not only in the lives of their clients but in the lives of their client’s clients. For me? Well, it just doesn’t get better than that!

And this client wanted me to create and run their Social Media Marketing department. Wow - how cool is that? Getting paid to do something that I’m good at and I love to do. Nope, it just doesn’t get better than that.

But then we started working together. I finally came to the conclusion that I could not work with my client’s “ready, fire, aim” philosophy. Especially if it meant that work I performed in good faith was now wasted and not billable.

So I made the decision to move on.

And it was an amazing experience.

This is the second client I’ve “fired”. The first 0ne had the same scattered, act before thinking, work habits. It was extremely stressful until I let go and decided to move on. Then within a week I landed a fabulous client that I have been working with for two years. I love this client and the work. I feel like the work I do matters not only for my client but for his business, his employees and our clients.

The truth is that if I had stuck it out with my other client, afraid to let go of the work and the income, I would not have had “room” for this other client.

So the minute I decided to let this new client go I experienced the most amazing sense of freedom! I hadn’t realized how stressful the situation had been until I finally said, “enough!”

Now there is room for a new wonderful client.

Already I have some leads and next week I will be attending the Traffic Geyser Summit and there will be some wonderful networking opportunities there. Opportunities I may not have been open to if I had not been willing to let go of this client.

So, the moral of the story is…

Don’t be afraid. Don’t stay in a bad situation because you are afraid you won’t find another client and have the income you need.

Clear out the bad situation for your sake as well as your client’s and make room for the right client and the right work and the right income.

Yes, you can - and you deserve it!

And when you doubt yourself, read this:

I Promise Myself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.

To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of  the future.

To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I meet.

To give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.

~By Christian D. Larson

Now - go get ‘em!

Sandra

Rockin’ on!

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