Ouch. I feel your pain.

The answer is “it depends.” Can you deal with it, knowing what your client will be like (and what he’ll say) month after month? Or, is it turning into a soul-sucking exercise?

If a client is draining your time and mental energy, sometimes it’s best to let them go. Your sanity is more important that the monthly fee.

Otherwise, you can think of your client like that annoying relative you have to deal with from time to time. You know what they’re going to be like, and you know they aren’t going to change — so all you can do is roll your eyes and mutter, “here we go again…”

:)

Bonnie-

I am AMAZED the prospect paid your consulting bill! I guess some good came out of the situation — but, ugh, what a learning experience. I don’t write strategy proposals anymore, either..

That’s another painful lesson I’ve had, too. To top it off, they used a good portion of the strategy/tactics that I outlined tho they used another service provider. So I sent a bill for consulting services (detailing *everything* they did as per specific sections in my proposal). To my shock they paid it! I don’t do proposals anymore because of instances like this.

Dave, I feel your pain. In a perfect world, we’re able to present our proposal to the decision-maker. Otherwise, it’s too easy to skim down to the bottom, read the price and deem it as “too expensive,” (whatever that means!).

Hmm, but this client needs a name. What about the “Hot Potato” client? The person who takes the proposal and immediately gives it to someone else to review? Not perfect, I know…I’m open to suggestions! :)

Thanks for your comment!