…right, you let me know. I’m with someone now, call me back later.
Who was that?
Guy trying to get some freelance work from me.
You taking it?
I hope not.
Then why not just tell him that?
This way is much better. I quoted him a price that is fairly high. Much more than I would quote someone I wanted to work with.
Uh-huh.
So if he wants to pay that much for the work, if it means that much to him, I’ll do it. If not, problem solved and I wasn’t the one who said no.
So, basically, if he is willing to be dumb you’ll let him be dumb.
And give him good work in return!
Well there is that.
It’s just so much easier. People don’t start to feel like you’re the guy who always says no, and yet you can, effectively, always say no.
And when they do agree…
Exactly! It’s worth the time at those prices!
I dunno, still feels like it would be simpler to say no.
Simpler for who? For me? Sure.
Who else should it be simpler for?
The client! I want them to feel good about themselves. If they feel they just can’t afford me, they’ll find someone else and be fine. If they feel I’m always saying no, they’ll stop calling.
How is that simpler? And who cares if they stop calling, if you always say no.
Well maybe it isn’t simpler.
Uh-huh.
But sometimes I do say yes, so I want them to call me. Sometimes.
This is like playing with your food, man.
Bah!
Don’t “bah!” me. It’s true. Just be honest with them.
You don’t get how consulting works, do you?
Sure.
No, you don’t. Otherwise you would know that telling lies is kinda the entire idea.
Oh.
Yeah.
Huh.
Yup.
Well.
Exactly.
Right then!
Yup!
April 27th, 2010 on 10:49 am
A) I totally do this. All the time.
B) This is EXACTLY how consulting works.
April 27th, 2010 on 10:51 am
Yup, it really is. I’m always shocked by people who don’t know it, personally.
April 27th, 2010 on 11:42 am
I don’t do this, but the people I work for do.
Wait, I do do this. Except mine is just with time estimates.
“Yeah, totally how consulting works. This way is much better. I quoted him a price that is fairly high. Much more than I would quote someone I wanted to work with. . . . So if he wants to pay that much for the work, if it means that much to him, I’ll do it. If not, problem solved and I wasn’t the one who said no.”
I’ve heard almost this exact line a couple times before from co-workers.
April 27th, 2010 on 11:42 am
Yup.
May 14th, 2010 on 1:03 am
Nope never might though.
June 16th, 2010 on 2:42 pm
I should be a consultant. How does one get into that trade, anyways?
June 16th, 2010 on 3:03 pm
Well. I could be a consultant for you, to get you into the…
July 8th, 2010 on 2:40 am
Deal. I’ll give you a 5% cut of all my consulting jobs for the first two years as your fee. Sound good? XP