[Insert Exclamation of Frustration Here]

I had a terrible work experience yesterday. Without going into detail, this is that new client I mentioned a while back, and it's a completely different type of work than I normally do. But more than that, the nature of the work requires each project to be assigned to two freelancers, each of whom does a different task—and it's all very rush-rush. The first person does her end of it and then sends it on to me, so I can't begin my work until she completes hers. ("She" can be any of a number of other freelancers who do this other task that I don't do. I don't mean to sound all mysterious, but I feel like venting and don't want to get busted. It's really not that fascinating, trust me.)

I just deleted two whole paragraphs of boring details. Really, all you need to know is that the freelancer I was working with totally dropped the ball on her end, so I not only blocked out my whole day yesterday for absolutely nothing (including turning down work from another client who happened to call and not going to the gym), but I ended up working until 3:00 a.m. last night to get it done as I'd promised. When I emailed it to the client at that hour, I stated quite forcefully that I couldn't work like this and would have to decline future projects from them. Oh, and I forgot to mention that this is the second time this had happened to me, although I wasn't up quite as late the last time.

So of course the client called me in the morning and felt my pain ("Feel this!" was about all I could think of saying, but I didn't) and begged me to reconsider because I do Such. Great. Work. On three hours' sleep, I was practically weepy, so of course I totally caved and agreed to try them one more time but only with the agreement that if the first person doesn't hold up her end, I will not be held responsible for mine. I'm such a wuss.

No! No! No! See, I can type it easily. I just can't say it. Sigh.

Well, things are already looking up. Andy just walked in from three days in New York and that can mean only one thing: It's cocktail hour! That I'll always say Yes to.

Comments

[Going Like Sixty]

I work in a business where we have to fix other people's problems. I'm lucky enough to have a person that does it with little complaining.
But I hate it that we make the person that submitted the rotten material look sooooo good in the end.
It's called caring about the customer.
Congratulations!
Now bill them extra. We call it the PTA fee.
Pain In Ass.

[Karen]

I too get tired of always being the Good Guy, but I guess that's the cross I have to bear! (And we all know that I'm not THAT good anyhow...!)

[Tonya]

I think the most difficult part of working is having to rely on other people -- and it amazes me how often they don't hold up their end of the bargain. After dealing with this for years on end, I'm pretty jaded with WORKING and yearn for fulfillment. (Retirement).

[TwoBusy]

The pain in the ass surcharge is a beautiful thing -- I absolutely second that emotion.