Oh Joni, I don’t know what it is. Could be that I’ve been working so hard to win new business or maybe I’m just plain easy and want to love those new prospects that come my way, but really, shouldn’t I have learned my lesson by NOW, 24 years after launching this business.
Are you like me? Do you fall in love with clients so quickly that it makes you blind to signals screaming out watch it, this client just might not turn out the way you want!
Do you believe so strongly in yourself that you just “know” that you can make it good, make it better and well, make it right?
I know that I’ve fallen into that love-trap more times than I really wish to admit but well, maybe I’ve gotten more cynical, less needy or just plain smarter and recognize all of the red flags BEFORE I get into trouble.
For instance:
- The project is so far out of your sweet spot that you’re going to lose money, time, sleep and credibility for every minute that you’re working on it.
- The client is asking you to do things that just don’t feel right (defer billing, overlook something that seems legally binding, talks poorly about your competitors). You know what I mean, right?
- The decision-makers at the client change so frequently that you can’t even keep track of them and you’re losing time and money in meeting after meeting where you meet the “new” client team.
- The “direction” of the project changes multiple times while you’re still in proposal stage.
It’s nice to be in love with clients but a good dose of reality should keep the stars out of your eyes.
And when all else fails, a good pre-nup can help you to avoid a financially devastating and business crushing divorce.
