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My uncle told me to never work for free, and I should have listened
When I started freelancing last year, a client asked for a 'small test project' to see my skills. My uncle, who's been a contractor for 20 years, told me flat out, 'Never do spec work, not even a little.' I did it anyway, thinking it would lead to a big job. That 'test' turned into three weeks of unpaid revisions, and they ghosted me. I lost about 40 hours I could have billed to paying clients. Has anyone else gotten burned by a 'quick trial' that went nowhere?
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graytorres5mo ago
Yep, learned that lesson the hard way too.
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the_emma5mo ago
Ugh, it's the worst. My big takeaway now is to get everything in writing, even the small stuff. A quick text or email to confirm what you talked about can save you so much trouble later. People forget things or remember them differently, and having that record stops the "but you said" arguments before they start. It feels a bit formal sometimes, but it's saved my skin more than once.
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lily5113mo ago
I mean, idk, sometimes getting everything in writing can kinda backfire though. People get defensive if you're always pulling out receipts, makes it feel like you don't trust them from the start. Maybe it's just me but a little verbal trust goes a long way before things go south.
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