Parc Entertainment - A Video Production Company - Birmingham, AL

As a small business owner or freelancer it can be very tempting to jump on any job opportunity offered up to you. That knee-jerk reaction to say “yes” to any and everything does communicate eagerness, but it can get you into big trouble down the road if you don’t carefully examine the situation before diving in.

In Luke 14:28 Jesus said, “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, there’s some wisdom here that’s applicable in your personal and professional life. The moral is, think before you commit. If you make a promise to your client, it’s vital that you deliver on that promise. If you can’t finish what you start, it not only makes you look bad, but it puts your client in a very inconvenient situation.

Sometimes a potential client will come to me with a very attractive project and a very tight schedule. I have to carefully weigh the needs of the client, the scope of the project, and the time frame in which it has to be completed. If I’m confident in my ability to deliver, I move forward on the project. If I don’t feel as though I can deliver all that the client is asking in the time frame allotted, I don’t walk away. Rather, I work with the client to see if we can trim the scope of the project to a more manageable size. I almost never say “no,” because often there are solutions that can be made to the satisfaction of everyone.

To succeed as a business owner or freelancer, you have to deliver a quality product on time and on budget. Before you jump in, evaluate the situation carefully and make sure you always deliver on what you promise.

Part of being a successful freelancer or small business owner is having a specific vision for the type of work you want to go after. Early in your career, however, you might have to take jobs you wouldn’t ordinarily accept. But what happens when you are a few years into your career and a job is offered to you that doesn’t exactly fit with your vision? When should you take it and when should you pass?

1. Consider the Contact - the job itself might not be attractive, but if the individual offering you the job is someone who can offer bigger and better jobs in the future, it might be wise to take it. Do what you can to establish that relationship. If he or she is pleased with your work on the smaller jobs, they’ll be more inclined to come back to you later.
2. Consider Your Finances - Keeping an eye on your cash flow is important. If the three-month outlook isn’t where it needs to be, consider taking those smaller jobs to make ends meet.
3. Consider the Timeframe - How soon does the prospective client need the final product? If you can come through in a pinch with a quality product, your client will see you as a reliable resource and will be eager to hire you again.

Always consider the kind of reputation you are building. Evaluate it and make sure it’s a reputation that fits in with your goals.