Finding any kind of work as a self employed professional is a good thing...until it gets to be too much. When employers want too much, how can demands be met?
There is a common belief that being self employed means being your own boss. In a lot of ways, this is true…but in a lot of other ways, it isn’t. For a self employed professional, the true “boss” is the client or customer. The employer that’s paying for the work is the one that matters. What should self employed professionals do when an employer just wants too much?
Sometimes, the client asks for a little more than the self-employed professional can give. It’s not uncommon for those who are self employed to be asked to travel somewhere, to attend meetings or conferences, or to arrange a face-to-face consultation. When that venue is more than one hundred miles away or a conference is scheduled that will disturb other work projects, it might be little too much to pull off. When an employer asks the self employed professional to be available at a certain time of day or for a specified amount of hours, it might start to cut into other projects and responsibilities. Many employers may not realize they aren’t the only one using a self employed professional’s services, and other employers may not care. But sometimes, they can make demands that are just too difficult to meet.
So, what’s a self employed professional to do when employers just want too much? When the demands of one client or customer put strain on other projects and even personal time, it can have a negative effect on the entire work load. Not only does this cause tension and stress, but it can start to affect self employed finances, too.
When one client’s demands threaten to disrupt another client’s work, self employed professionals are forced to make a decision. Based on time, money, and future gain, choose only those projects that can be adequately handled, and bow out of projects that are going to require too much time, energy, or personal resources. Some clients look more impressive on a resume, or promise more future work even if they aren’t the best paying. Take all factors into consideration before making a final decision.
It’s okay to admit when it can’t all get done, when every project can’t be completed, when one client has to be dropped. Remember, being self employed means making the best decision for the individual – yourself. When employers want too much, draw a line. Don’t get over-extended trying to meet those demands. After all, a self employed professional is still only one person.
