I've learned the hard way that when it comes to working for yourself, you have to be very firm when doing business. I've been accused of being very cold about money dealings but umm...isn't business just that? Business. Nothing personal. So after you pay me, then we can be all chatty ha ha and get the ball rolling on your project.
Seems simple to me.
But folks make it hard; saying shit like "Don't you trust me?" Man I don't even trust 30% of my family with money so whyhell would I go out on a limb for a virtual stranger? Funny that no one questions Walmart's or Burger King's payment policy, but all these folks wanna haggle me down. There's always some factor they want to throw into the mix - the jackleg designer before me that took everything but the kitchen sink; the financial struggles they seem to believe only they endure; the wife that grew a third appendage that needs to be hacked on right away...
You know, shit like that. But quite recently and into the far beyond, I've decided I'm no longer having it. I've experienced how swell the work machine runs when money matters go smoothly. I consider these clients of the holy grail variety, and I must say it almost makes my clit blasphemously hard when I come across one of the good ones. They know exactly what to do - state their needs, get a quote, then if they're down with my t & c...the only concerns from there are deadlines and how I prefer to be paid.
With a bat, you cannot beat it.
I think people like to attribute my hardcore stance to ego. But how is that when my rates are still piteously low in comparison to other designers of my same skillset/level? Shit, if I were to base my prices on creative energy alone, a lot of them would be shit out of luck. Now that's ego. And id. And supergo.
They're all telling me the same thing. And that is a) I'm pretty damn good at what I do; and b) as such I should be respected for it. It ain't about money with me. Though it pays the bills, I don't aspire to churn out cutesy corporate sites for the masses. I'm in this because it combines two of my most favorite things - technology and art. I consider myself lucky to even be getting paid to do something I enjoy. And chiiiiile...if you just stand back and let a bitch breathe and do her thing? Well, that's even better.
But fuck the dumb - I ain't fixin to be nickel and dimed and I'm not about to be worked. Can't hustle the hustla, and I know a forked tongue when I see one. Altruistic bent aside, there are financial obligations and Uncle Sam really wants a ROI on that master's degree. So really I don't care if Jesus or Boris Kodjoe is heading some new business venture; big names don't mean a damn thing if mfs ain't throwing some cash on the table.
Then again, I probably wouldn't have any trouble out of Jesus. 'Cause you know...he was a Jew.
Posted by Lisa at February 6, 2007 12:13 AM