I am in a constantly resolving never to take last-minute projects and agreeing to them. They cause me stress and they put me in situations I don’t need to be in.
I realized that in some cases I was diminishing my own happiness and worth and after reading this great article about saying ‘no’ promised that I would be better at standing up for myself. Well, I did it again.
So this Friday 5 is especially to Jacklynn-of-the-Future to read the next time she gets the timeline of a new projects.
- When things are rushed, they usually come in bits & pieces causing it to take more time for me to organize everything and understand the project as a whole. I can’t complete a good project with only part of the information.
- I’m getting off on the wrong foot. I can’t help but start off in a bad mood or feeling resentful when someone else throws an emergency at me.
- I am not as creative when I’m told to rush. Yes, I do work well under pressure, but there is a difference between the client telling me not to spend too much time on a project and my own pressure to do well. I always want to well.
- “Quick” is often a pseudonym for “we’re cheap” as I talked about in this post. Thoughts have value too.
- Most importantly, when I’m rushed I can’t dedicate as much thoughtfulness into a project as I’d like. I want to create meaningful things that I am proud of,—that my clients are proud of—not things you shove out the door as quickly as possible.
And then, to be fair, I need to talk about the other side of the coin: Am I passing up a valuable opportunity? There is constantly an opportunity cost gauge when I’m working. I think it might be slightly over-sensitive, but in general, I appreciate it. I really do want to try new things, work with different people, and grow as a designer. And some times that opportunity comes as a midnight email.
Two ways that I try to quell these two conflicting motives is:
- Always take time away from the situation to decide what to do. This is hardest for me when I’m talking in-person with the client and they ask if I will take a project. My rule (that I don’t follow) is that I must go home and decide and then respond to them either that night or the next day. Separate yourself from a situation where you might over emphasize what other people want you to do instead of thinking about what you want and have time for.
- There are always other awesome projects in the world. If you take x project you are missing the opportunity to take another one you might enjoy more that comes in the door. Stop worrying. They can make do without you.
Again, these are my the magical rules I have in my head that find myself ignoring. It all works out in the end, of course, but that’s not the point. According to some famous philosopher, your ideologies are your actions, not your words. I believe that :).
Here’s to change!