Warren Buffett once said, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.” Well, I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Buffett when it comes to building a reputation as a professional.
Being a talented freelancer is not enough. If you're making these mistakes we listed in this post, you might be losing your chances of having a successful freelancing career.
Being unresponsive to employers
Employers can be demanding, and sometimes your daily work life may be chaotic. However, being busy is no excuse to not respond to your client’s emails or calls.
By doing such thing, you will come out as rude and unprofessional, which will probably frustrate your client.
Constantly pushing deadlines
Deadlines are a great way to keep workflow organized, but sometimes estimating how long something will take is hard. You thought it would take only four days, but you’re still working at 3AM on the fourth day, and you’re nowhere near getting the project done. Your employer needs it ASAP. What should you do now?
Well, it is okay to ask for an extension, however, making this a habit will reflect badly on you as a professional. It will show that you lack organization skills and time management.
Related article: Top 5 Productivity Apps You Need to Download Now
Delivering unfinished work
When you close a deal with an employer, you set goals, deadlines, and budget. It is only logical that you deliver in a timely manner.
By not presenting what was expected from you, you would be breaking this deal that was once set. This will only upset the employer. Get your act together if you don’t want to lose the chance of getting re-hired for a future project.
Related article: Things That Can Hurt Your Chances of Repeat Hire (and How to Avoid Them)
Canceling an ongoing project
This is a tricky one. You would think that it would be best to cancel it before it gets out of hand, but the reality is you should have never accepted it in the first place.
Keep in mind that employers are investing their money, time, and even hopes and dreams into these projects. By accepting a project you are not sure you can fully deliver will make the employer feel it’s all wasted investments.
Related article: How to Gain and Retain Your Clients’ Trust
You may be the best in your field, or have the most talented team in the region; however, committing these silly mistakes will probably cost you your next project.
