word dog…
I’ve found one of the worst choices in a freelance design career is expressing to a client ‘how busy you are.’ As much as I would love to explain to a client all of the other work I have on my plate, that has priority over theirs, I never do. I try my best to keep my client relationships squeaky clean, and make them feel like they are my most important client.
Next time around, you’d hate for them to not consider you because you are just so busy.
I’ve also learned that bringing on the work, that you think you may not have time for, is actually a way to force yourself into better work habits. I’ve learned to work more efficiently, and to not over-complicate work that may not warrant it. You may learn to streamline your creative talent, and hit the nail on the head the first time. I think designers would be surprised at what they’re capable of, and how having such a constant workflow will actually motivate them to work more diligently, and get better at their craft.
Thanks for the regular postings, Blankenship. Your frequent updates keep me stopping by every day.
Wish I had more time to leave a better comment…
Brandon, I love your thoughts on this, and I especially love that you have the work and client list to back it all up.
oh wow! so good- I was just thinking the other day about how busy I always seem to be, but you are right I totally choose it.. and the thing is, I just have decide what are really my priorities, and allow the excuse of I’m too busy to keep me from accomplishing my dreams & goals.
Great post. I’m constantly guilty of this. Truth is there is a lot I want to do. And a limited amount of time to do it. And I’m good at overextending myself. But ultimately I need to be the one that sets the priorities. Priorities are what dictate what gets done and what doesn’t.
Wow, what timing (no pun intended).
We just talked about this very subject in Bible Study last night… How people make the excuse that they don’t have enough time for discipleship let alone God. Time is a man made commodity it wasn’t around until we invented it and we promptly started loosing track of it there after.
Spot on Mr. Blankenship.
Touche’! I think one of the major issues here is that we have unreasonable expectations of ourselves, others, and what life is meant to be about.
About The Author
I'm a graphic designer and sometimes writer living in Anderson, South Carolina. I serve as the Design Director for NewSpring Church. I love Jesus, my wife, Levi's Jeans, good Tex-Mex, and 8oz glass bottle Coca-Cola Classic. On good days I love them roughly in that order. Email me.
Stop Saying ‘I Don’t Have Time’
Thu 02/12/09
“Did you get that stuff for the thing done?”
“Oh, dude, I’ve been really slammed…I don’t have time.”
Liar. Thousands of people will spend hours just commuting to their jobs today. 20 years ago we didn’t have time for the internet. 100 years ago no one imagined carving out most of the night to watch TV. You have time. But you choose not to make time for certain things.
That’s wise. Own it. Your schedule is not like a weather pattern you have no control over. The lack of enough hours in the day isn’t happening to you, you’re intentionally choosing it. You are not a victim of an intricate time vampire conspiracy. All of us have to determine our priorities and defend them, and that means making time for the big ones at the expense of the lesser ones.
But ‘I don’t have time’ is a cop out, because it isn’t true. Stop making excuses for your decisions. You have time. You don’t make time for everything.
And hopefully, because of that decision, you actually get the right stuff done.