If I knew five years ago, or even three, what I know now, I would have done a lot of things differently -- and I hope better. I wish I could know now what I will know in three or five years. For sure, I will know a lot more then, and it will affect what I do and how I do it and what I charge for my services and what projects I take on and what projects I decline immediately.
A current learning experience pertains to a book I've been editing on speculation (that is, without insisting on a substantial part of the fee in advance of doing the work). The author is pulling the old "the check is in the mail" (well, the check WILL be in the mail) routine, after I declined his offer to pay only after I'd completed the work. (Tedious, time-consuming, exacting work.) He's tried to cut costs, in ways that will probably end up increasing his costs and diminishing his results. If the check does not show up by Thursday -- and at that I am giving him an extra day -- I'll fire him as a client (nicely, but firmly) and block his email and not take his calls. I can refund payment for services that do not meet the need (and I have done that in the past), but cannot get a refund on time spent on dead-end projects.
Soon, after the initial one-hour consultation, I'll require a sizeable check -- and clearance of that check -- before investing another minute.
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