When I first started freelancing, a friend of mine who had been in the business for years explained due dates to me: "They're called deadlines, because dead is what your career will be if you miss too many of them."
Now, I'm certainly not saying I've never, ever missed a deadline, but keeping my friend's advice in mind has ensured that I don't miss them very often. I've also acquired a few clients who told me that they had ended working relationships with other freelancers because they were chronically late when it came to turning in their projects.
If you have a problem with missing deadlines, it's likely that one of three things is going on. See if you recognize any of these reasons:
1. You're procrastinating. Procrastinating means deliberately putting off tasks that you know must be done. People procrastinate for a variety of reasons including dislike for the project at hand, fear of not doing the work right, hope that someone will step in and do the project for you, and addiction to the adrenaline rush that often accompanies postponing a job until the last possible moment.
If you're a procrastinator, you need to make your calendar and your "to do" lists your very best friends in the whole world. As soon as you receive a new assignment, look it over and break it up into small, manageable chunks that are not at all intimidating. Then, schedule time to complete each chunk. Plan to finish your project a couple of days before the actual deadline, just in case you run into unexpected complications.
This method may feel unnatural the first several times you try it, but after a few successes, you'll wonder how you ever muddled along without it.
2. You're underestimating. Many of us feel that we "should" work faster than we actually do, and these shoulds may transfer into unrealistic expectations about the length of time it takes to complete a project.
If you always seem to be running behind, try keeping a time log for a week or two. Divide each day into fifteen minute segments and make quick notes describing your activities throughout the day. After a week or two, read over your time logs. Are you surprised by the amount of time you spent on "easy" tasks?
Use this information to schedule your day more realistically so that you are not trying to jam an impossible number of assignments into an eight-hour workday.
3. You're being passive-aggressive. This may occur if you resent the assignment or believe that you are not being fairly compensated for the work you are doing. If this is the underlying reason behind turning in your work late, you have some difficult choices to make. It isn't ethical to continue taking your client's money while delivering a sub-standard performance.
One option, of course, is to stop accepting assignments from the client, explaining that your business has expanded and you can no longer give them the attention they deserve. Another option is to talk honestly with your client and try to reach an agreement that you both find equitable. Still another choice is to reframe the way you think about the task and try to build up some genuine enthusiasm for it.
As my friend warned me more than ten years ago, getting a reputation for missing deadlines can end your freelance career almost before it begins. If you're plagued by problems with lateness, do yourself a favor and nip them in the bud now.
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