Pull yourself out of the dirt and shake off the nerves. The struggle does not end here.
We aim tirelessly to do business with the general public, all of us who think we have what it takes to offer some sort of service worth purchasing. Beyond the skill we've developed, beyond the work we do, and beyond it all is the common element we face: the wasteland of client relations.
I call it a wasteland because I watch too damn much "Mad Max". And I realize that we are fighting the battle he is fighting. The battle to survive. To continue searching the post-apocalyptic desert for water and food and supplies to sustain us. To trudge along, day after blistering hot day, clutching to all we've accomplished hoping to one day find the oasis, where we can sit for a while and rest our weary bones long enough to collect ourselves.
This journey is not without its deranged wasteland inhabitants. We are destined to run into people more often than not in this client wasteland, and true to the nature of survival we need to cultivate the ability to see the people we cross paths with for what they are, friend or foe.
Keep in mind, this is all business. Business is the wasteland. And no matter how friendly a wasteland dweller may be, they can be utterly disastrous to your survival as the keeper of your own success.
There are those clients who will buddy up to you only to later stab you in the back for your canteen. There are clients who will very obviously be walking red-flags, and with every ounce of resolve you have, you must stay the hell away from them. There are clients who are tired of the marauders themselves and will genuinely seek to empower and help you. And then there are clients who don't know who they are or what side they're on at all.
As far as business goes, this is an all or nothing affair.
There is no pandering here, in this wasteland. We do what we know will help us to survive, and that is all we do. Any distraction, any excursion into illusion or fantasy can stop this entire caravan in its tracks. Any client waving a white flag may in fact be bait for a larger trap, and you will only have yourself to blame.
So make a list of your personal assets. Know your strengths as an artist, freelancer or entrepreneur. Take note of the pitfalls you come across and learn your lessons well. Understand that everyone out here in this wasteland is looking out for themselves. Even those who seek to join forces are doing so out of personal interest.
There is no slowing down out here, not now or ever. Efficiency is the name of success, and learning how to navigate the client landscape is key to maintaining that efficiency. Keep a reserve of fuel and supplies, keep your wits about you, and most importantly, stick to your guns.
