Sometimes, no matter how much money a client can give you, the relationship you have with that client is toxic, and you have to fire him or her. Many times, a business won't take that action, because they are more concerned with getting the money than actually preserving their sanity or happiness. The problem with that mentality is that its a scarcity mentality. You are more worried about the money and the security it brings, than about focusing on being happy. The irony is that when you focus on trying to keep that kind of client with you, you actually can end up more stressed and lost money, because you're always having to deal with the client's issues. You know the client I'm talking about:
S/he constantly complains about the price, constantly has questions or problems, constantly complains about business, and otherwise makes your life miserable, because nothing you do is ever enough for that client. There's only one thing you can do with a client like that:
Fire your client. That's right: fire your client. If you find yourself spending more time on that client and his/her issues, business and personal, then it's time to fire him/her. You might lose some money, but you'll be surprised at how much time and energy you free up and how much happier you will be. In fact, you just might find you get more clients, better clients, because you're no longer invested in trying to make that problem client happy.
Not all clients are good clients. Some are toxic...and you can recognize them by how much they complain and how much they bring down you mood. If you feel depressed or unhappy about working with a client, it's time to let go and get focused on clients who will appreciate you, even as you appreciate them.
What do you think?
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