Alongside of dealing with the deeply personal challenges of a difficult relationship breakup, I have been trying to maintain a functioning business. In the last couple of months, business has flourished. For the first time next week, I have solid back to back bookings and that does feel good. I should feel on top of the world. The effort I have put into the business up until now is starting to pay dividends.
Knowing that it will be crucial for me to stay on top of things for next week, today was supposed to be about getting myself organised and then getting some rest to be ready for the coming week with energy in reserve. I wish today panned out that way, but instead there were gremlins wherever I turned. Perhaps it is all those people chasing pokemons that are stirring up trouble in the world of gremlins.
We all stuff up. This week I have done it a few too many times in all areas of my life. The ripple effects of last weekend's fire had spilled over into the business without me being aware until tonight. Early last week I acquired a new customer with a great job. Dates for the photoshoot were agreed, but then at the end of last week they needed to change the date. Not a problem. This happens all the time when you freelance. You quickly learn to be flexible enough to go with the flow. Tonight, on top of what had been a day of obstacles and upsets, I discovered that the fire had completely burned out all memory of that conversation and the subsequent changes. This week, emotionally drained but determined to continue to draw positives into my life, I acquired another new client with potential ongoing work. I booked them in, excited that business was looking up.
In trying to resolve system glitches with my computer, online calendar and google email services, I discovered the disaster of a double booking. My heart sank and anxiety crept in. I would have been blissfully unaware of the problem probably until Tuesday morning, except for the fact that the calendar invite I had sent to the more recent client screwed up both the date and the time. Thankfully the customer had written back to me questioning the booking. At the end of the day, clients don't want to know about your personal issues, or problems with other clients, or issues you are having with your business systems. Out of hours phone calls are not pleasant ones to make, and it not the time to make excuses. The best you can do is fess up, apologise, have a solution on hand, be committed to deliver that solution and hope that they will continue to want to do business with you. I am annoyed with myself but then had to remind myself of Drago's top three flying solo tips "gather your courage, breathe, everything is as it needs to be".
Flying Solo Tip 015365 : We all F up. Don't make excuses, learn from it, then get on with it.