Donnie Bryant: Did Michaelandgelo do rush jobs?

“Do you think Michelangelo did rush jobs?”

I heard copywriting and direct mail giant Richard Armstrong asks this rhetorical question a few years ago. He was teaching freelancers and solo professionals a lesson he claimed would immediately change their lives and make their businesses more profitable.

If you’re like a lot of freelancers or solo professionals, there can be quite a bit of pressure at times to take on less-than-ideal projects from clients who want work done in a hurry. And while we know it takes some time for us to create the outstanding results we’re used to producing, we may be inclined to take on these kinds of gigs.

Maybe we feel like we need the money, or the client looks like one that we can form a good long-term relationship with.

What Mr. Armstrong was teaching was this: when you accept rush jobs as a copywriter or any other freelance professional, you present the wrong image about yourself.

You position yourself poorly as a service provider.

With over four decades of experience as a freelance copywriter, this is a topic with which Armstrong is very familiar.

Michelangelo is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists of all time. He knew the value of his work. Surely he demanded respect from those who wanted to commission art from him. You can’t create extraordinary art, copy, or whatever, in a rush. Or maybe you can, but even if you do, you almost certainly would have been able to do an even better job given more time.

More importantly, you send the wrong message by taking on projects with crazy turnaround times. You’re implying to the client that:

1. What you do is easy

2. Your service is less valuable than it really is

3. You NEED the job badly (which says a lot about you and your business)

4. You don’t demand respect for your process

Has anyone ever told a cardiologist to hurry up in surgery? Don’t be ridiculous! He needs to take his time and get the job done right. Why should you be any different?

By accepting rush jobs, you devalue yourself and your service.

You’ll be surprised by the way your clientele and your business will improve by refusing to accept gigs like that. It might be difficult to pass up the opportunity, especially when you’re first starting out, but your strong positioning will more than make up for the few dollars you may miss out on in the short-term.

And you’ll be saving yourself from a lot of stress. You didn’t become a freelancer to work under the looming pressure of ridiculous deadlines.

How long does it generally take you to produce results you’d be proud to show your next potential client? Determine how long it takes you to produce your best work and have the backbone turn down anyone who asks you to shortcut your process.

Your clients and peers will respect you more than ever. You’ll begin to attract better clients – ones who understand how valuable you are and give you the freedom you need to deliver the goods. Best of all, you’ll start designing the business and lifestyle you desire, which is the reason you became a freelancer.