A meltdown cost me a contract yesterday.

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camelia
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30 Oct 2011, 5:03 pm

I have a small business and have been courting (if that's the right word) someone for a potential large contracted project for the last several months. Well yesterday I blew it. Had a meltdown because I was not being told yes or no on the contract, and the person wanted me to do some initial work for no cost. I was willing to do the free work if it meant I got the large job. But the person wouldn't commit to that. I freaked and blew up over email and chat conversations. Shortly after they wrote and said they would not be needing my services.

Really bummed about this as it was going to be a great opportunity to get into a slighly diff line of work, but which I'm comfortable and experienced in. I f*****g blew it.


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Cerberus73
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30 Oct 2011, 5:32 pm

Ah dont stress over it to much, hell I've done it a few times over the years myself, in my line of work, especially at the start, i used to get asked to do freebies, or extras above and beyond what i was being paid for (I'm in graphic/web design) usually on the promise of more or ongoing work. most of the time they were just out to shaft me hard. and like you, i get a bit peeved when they won't just give me a yes or no answer. i know your beating yourself up over this at moment, but from my experience.. when they start with the oh do this and we will see attitude, it usually means they are just looking to get as much out of you for free with little or no intension of ever giving you the big contract.

There can be a plus side, sure you lost this job with this lot, but in all likelihood they had no intention of giving you the long term work, so you have saved yourself grief in the long run. it don't mean to say you can't look for something along the same lines with one of there competitors. if you have worked on stuff that can be repurposed for that line of business.



CanadianRose
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30 Oct 2011, 5:55 pm

Look at the experience as a learning opportunity.

I am not sure what your line of work is, but in many industries, there are a lot of people who try to get free services (just like the previous respondent suggested).

Try to draft a set response to the request for "trial services" or "free services" Determine yourself what your limits are. You may be willing to do some trial work for a certain length of time or for a certain aspect of your service - depending on the contract. You may not be willing to do any free service - it depends on what your industry is. I'll leave this to your good judgment.

The point is: Draft a professional, set response to the request for "trial service." This might look like this:

"I am able to provide a trial for ___ hours so that you may see the quality of my work and how it will increase your productivity. I am sure that you will be very pleased. After this trail, I will need a definate "yes" or "no" to the contract which we have discussed. Please let me know by (insert date) so that we may move forward."

or

"I am able to provide a trial for my services based on your companies needs, however, I require a deposit of (insert price). I am sure that you will be very satisfied with my service and will be happy to apply the deposit to the six month contract that we previously discussed. If you would rather go another route and decline my service, I would be willing to hold your deposit for six months should you choose to utilize my service at a later date. I am certain that you understand the amount of work in setting up a trial and the necessity of having a deposit to compensate for my time and expertise. However, I am certain that you will be very happy with the results and will want to move forward with a contract."

These are just quickly thought of examples. You would need to write something that respects your potential clients and respects yourself.

Also, have a few extra replies when someone still wants a free trial (or something else that you are not willing to budge on). This might look like,

"I respect the needs of you and your business, however, I cannot provide services at this time without a contract. If you would like to contact me in the future when you are able to commit to a contract, I would be happy to hear from you and discuss things further. "

This way, you will have some nice, set responses and won't be caught off guard and have the risk of a meltdown.

Also, when replying on-line (through e-mail), monitor your own emotions. Are you feeling angry? Are you feeling taken advantage of? Are you feeling frustrated. Do you feel your breathing becoming rapid? Heartbeat speeding up? If you do - take deep breaths and wait a while before you respond. After you wait a while, draft your response, save it and have a look at it later. This will help you keep calm when having discussion or debate with others.

I hope that this helps a little.



Chronos
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30 Oct 2011, 6:21 pm

camelia wrote:
I have a small business and have been courting (if that's the right word) someone for a potential large contracted project for the last several months. Well yesterday I blew it. Had a meltdown because I was not being told yes or no on the contract, and the person wanted me to do some initial work for no cost. I was willing to do the free work if it meant I got the large job. But the person wouldn't commit to that. I freaked and blew up over email and chat conversations. Shortly after they wrote and said they would not be needing my services.

Really bummed about this as it was going to be a great opportunity to get into a slighly diff line of work, but which I'm comfortable and experienced in. I f***ing blew it.


I don't think it's unreasonable to throw in some extra work as part of the contract but that they wanted you to do it without any payment or contract sounds like they were trying to take advantage of you.



safffron
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30 Oct 2011, 7:35 pm

It sounds like you were being spared a frustrating fate.

Check out Freelancers' Union, if you haven't heard of it already. They have advice on contracts for self employed persons. http://www.freelancersunion.org


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zer0netgain
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31 Oct 2011, 7:53 am

camelia wrote:
Really bummed about this as it was going to be a great opportunity to get into a slighly diff line of work, but which I'm comfortable and experienced in. I f***ing blew it.


There's an expression that goes, "One day we'll look back on this and laugh...then run head on into the tree in front of us."

:lol:

I've felt for years that I'm the king of Pyrrhic victories. I wonder why some things never worked out. After spending months reliving every moment, I can see how I basically shot myself in the foot with a bazooka again and again and again over stuff that really didn't matter. It cost me everything I wanted, but I was "right."

There will be other opportunities. Hopefully this will be a learning experience and not a trend.

I could probably write a novel over some of my classic screw ups....all borne out of stress in the moment and how I chose to react to it.



tigerleahu
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31 Oct 2011, 9:09 am

camelia wrote:
Had a meltdown because I was not being told yes or no on the contract, and the person wanted me to do some initial work for no cost. I was willing to do the free work if it meant I got the large job. But the person wouldn't commit to that. I freaked and blew up over email and chat conversations. .


I hate it when ppl ask for free work, its insulting. I'm a sailor ashore and give'em an ear-full when I feel manipulated. I've had security escort me out from a telemarketing boiler-room interview and also from the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. No physical violence mind you, just replies to perceived insults like a Dutch uncle. I find HR people to be the scum of the earth and I tell them, "just let me talk to your boss; you are a waste of both of our time."

... still unemployed..


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camelia
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31 Oct 2011, 9:22 am

safffron wrote:
It sounds like you were being spared a frustrating fate.


After sleeping on it, I'm more inclined to agree with this.

Scumfux just the same.


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camelia
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31 Oct 2011, 7:37 pm

Ok well one of them wrote back and wanted me to try to make amends. They want me to come up with my own language in the contract. I still think they are looking for a way out, so I need to be careful not to give them one in whatever I come up with.

Trying that freelancers site out.

btw, this is actually not web work, although that is what I do for my regular day job.. this is my weekend landscape/grading gig, my small business.


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camelia
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31 Oct 2011, 9:47 pm

Sent off a propsed contract.. the freelancer's site is pretty cool that way.


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techstepgenr8tion
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01 Nov 2011, 8:45 am

How 'big' was this company? I work for a company that does work on contract basis and I've heard some of the horror stories about how some of these companies will throw their weight around. My bosses boss, a sales rep, and I believe one of the branch managers went to see a mega-client for a proposal. They put the time and money in to fly out there and give them a presentation. Turns out that they didn't even want the sales pitch, wanted to chat for two hours, and gave them the impression "We're us, anything you find that we don't want to pay for we won't pay for, and you'll either bend over and take it with a smile or we'll do business with someone else". Needless to say we passed on that contract.

If you can choose at all stick with honest clients and, if clients in all are running short be sure to work the marketing angles and networking as much as you can. Especially if you're a sole proprietor - these people who will thread you along on big promises and not even pay you; until you have at least ten or twenty people working for you and have maybe two or three people who's time can afford to be wasted at times on such ventures I'd say don't gamble with your mortgage or credit on the 'good ol boys' network.


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camelia
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01 Nov 2011, 8:59 am

It's a small company, a non profit. The guy leading it up is nice and all, but he talks in what I call corporate-speak. I guess politicians use the same lexicon. Everything is wordy and technical, which seems to allow them not to say what they really mean. There are honest people that talk that way, but it just sends red flags. Maybe its the aspie in me.


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zer0netgain
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01 Nov 2011, 10:24 am

camelia wrote:
It's a small company, a non profit.


Ick.

Not that all non profits are bad, but churches and charities tend to make bad clients...they keep trying to guilt you into giving something for free.



ictus75
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01 Nov 2011, 11:02 am

I just tell people who want me to do stuff for free, "The next time you need a plumber or electrician, ask them to come over and do some work for free so you can see if you want to hire them." That usually shuts them up…


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techstepgenr8tion
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01 Nov 2011, 11:14 am

ictus75 wrote:
I just tell people who want me to do stuff for free, "The next time you need a plumber or electrician, ask them to come over and do some work for free so you can see if you want to hire them." That usually shuts them up…

I wonder, where performance metrics are available, if a contract could be set up on a performance basis rather than hourly in some respect. If its stuck at hourly and a company wants to road-test a contractor I could see the contractor at least offering a one-time 30 or 40% discount for the first project but then noting that this discount will only apply in the future based on work volume over a particular amount.


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