I scared myself last week by turning down two jobs. Two!
Before you wonder how well my brain is functioning, let me tell you why I turned away work, and why you should seriously consider doing the same when you have the option.
- Both jobs had unreasonable deadlines; I would have had to drop everything else to meet them.
- Both jobs overlapped a week where I already have deadlines to meet for good clients who give me recurring work with advance notice.
- The projects were not something I do best (such as newsletters, case studies, “warm and friendly” style), so I knew they would take me longer than usual to do well.
- One required several in-person meetings at a location at least an hour away from my home office, which would eat up the time I needed to meet my other deadlines.
- All my instincts cried out, “No!”
Oh sure, I’ll admit it was difficult turning away work. However, I have learned over years of running my own business to listen to my gut feeling about a job. It’s a philosophy that has helped me keep my life balance and keep from tearing my hair out. And I do believe it leaves space in my schedule for the work that does suit my style and strengths.
What about you; have you turned away work? Has it been the right thing to do?
Oh, yes, Sue. I’ve turned down a few assignments over the last few weeks for the very same reasons you’ve outlined. You have to listen to your gut!
I’ve turned down work twice: once for Philip Morris (need I say why?); the other time for a supercilious, demanding man I had already done one project for and found I could not abide. Both fell into the “life’s too short” category.
Good call, Sue. I just worked on a communications plan for a client. But as we worked our way through it and talking in more detail with the client and the company, it started to look less and less like we were going to enjoy the relationship. Fortunately (in my view) the client felt the same way. They decided not to proceed with the plan and are heading in a different direction. It saved us the need to turn down their business after having invested some time in it, but in retrospect, we should have done a better job of thinking things through before we started down the road.
I’m glad to hear from colleagues I respect that you do the same thing! Despite all the financial doom and gloom, as Jean says, life’s too short.