Why loosing my favourite client was the best thing to happen to me this year…

Here is something no Content Writer and Marketer ever wants to admit: I lost a big client. Yes, that’s right, I admit it. And not just one! Two of my biggest clients in the space of two weeks. All this, just a week after I had turned down another offer from a client because I had “enough work.”

I am sure the irony is not lost on you.

I would like to say that years of being a freelancer — or remote content manager if you will — had toughened me up. But it hadn’t. I would also like to say that because of my 12 years experience and a pretty good track record it didn’t leave my confidence a little worse for wear. But it did. Both blows left me feeling a little like how I imagine a 7th grader would feel if they had just faced off with Tyson in a staring contest down a dark alley… “Wtf!”

Both assured me, “It’s not you, it’s us.” Which should make me feel better because it’s not personal right? It doesn’t. For someone who takes their work very seriously, it’s as personal as it gets. One of these losses was particularly hard. So hard that I found myself where any self-respecting girl should be when they’ve been dumped — nose deep in a tub of ice-cream.

They had been my favourite, my brand soul mate, the cute tinder date that calls back and says, “You know what, I am in this for commitment because I think you’re swell”.

Like with all breakups, the first three days were the hardest. You try not stalk their blogs to see if you can spot younger and sexier content, you go over your time together to see if there were signs that you had missed and you think of all the happy times. Could you have worked harder? Did you not bring enough cookies back from your last trip? And, nightmares of nightmares, had your content gone stale? (The equivalent of “Did I get fat and wasn’t I attractive enough any more?”)

But then something amazing happened… I came back down to earth with my kick-ass content self. As the crazy died down and I tucked into my Ben and Jerry’s with Lola Marsh, I realised like with any breakup hindsight, this parting of the ways was — yeah I am going to say it — meant to be.

It gave me time to sit down and reevaluate, learn, and check back in with the basics — And I gave myself the biggest pep talk of the year.

If You Don’t Believe In Yourself, No One Else Will

The equivalent to “there are many fish in the sea”, there are many clients out there. And like the soundest dating advice I ever got, “Find someone who’s crazy matches your crazy,” find clients who appreciate your skills and your content gumption. Before you can do that, you need to walk up to that mirror and say, “Honey, you’re the shit!” Even when you’ve had a bad day or have had your face in the ice-cream troff. If you don’t believe in yourself, your clients won’t. Just because someone isn’t buying what you are selling, it doesn’t mean your goods aren’t worth buying. Buck up, put that oomph in back in your step and put on your big girl panties, you have the spunk and no disappointment can take that away.

Complacency Will Kill You… AKA Don’t Be Fucking Lazy

Having “enough work”, (or shoes), is never an excuse to stop promoting yourself. Who knew? Unlike relationships, in the freelance (or shoe buying) game you can woo, date and snuggle up to as many prospective clients (or shoes) as you want — and you should. Never brush off more business for another client and never get cocky and complacent about how much work you have. When it comes to business, putting all your eggs in one basket will be the death of you — metaphorically speaking — and it’s a rookie mistake that even the most experienced of us can make. Not that work-life balance isn’t important — I know I am what Social Media Freelancer Guru Josh Hoffman calls an Indian — but it’s important that you don’t push so much for client service at the sacrifice of your own business and get complacent about your own needs and goals.

Fight For Content Ideas, It’s Your Personal Brand On the Line

Choose clients that value your opinion and match your content beliefs… Every piece of content you do for your client, reflects on you. Of course I am not saying you should scream down every brief you have but never not voice your opinion and give your ideas to please your client because you love them, they’re Ibas sexy or you don’t want to lose them. Here’s the honest truth, clients come and go. Your content — is on the web forever. You put your sweat, tears and coffee stains into it and if you don’t believe in the content you’re producing or don’t want to show it off on your portfolio — then it’s your own brand you’re hurting. Being complicit in stale content will get you stuck in a rut — which is one of the worst things to be as a content writer and strategist. So if you find yourself following content rules you don’t agree with, content plans that don’t scream relevance or that compromise your content beliefs… Get out, get out now!

Embrace the Cliche

Actions speak louder than words and you can’t please everyone. Don’t get bent out of shape if a client, a lover or your boss tells you to abandon ship. For every door that closes, another opportunity opens. Out with the old, in with the newer, more exciting project. Every cloud has a silver lining and content is a booming. What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. Ignorance is bliss, but it could leave you broke. There is not time like the present — so live in the moment.

There Are No Failures, Only Lessons

For every client you lose, you learn something. For every proposal you don’t get, you learn something. For every relationship that ended with a tub or two of ice-cream, you get schooled. There are no failures in trying at businesses and in life. There’s mistakes, miscalculations, miscommunication sure; but no failures. The only failure you can make, is to not to try at all. So if you find yourself, two clients down and a little ego bruised — dust yourself off, reevaluate, cold call your contacts, put your name out there and make YOU your client. Write for the pure joy of it. Content market for the pure love of it. Instagram for the art of it. Sit back, take in the lesson and go back to basics. To that place where you first fell in love with your craft.

Screw Plan B

Recommit to plan A and give it horns — because plan B can suck it! Go out and marry the fuck out of Plan A and make it count.