Another complex project? Great. As a freelancer, I don’t map out the journey or craft plans. I figure out what needs to get done, and I do it, without the platitudes.
Clients don’t care about your meticulous planning or extra cushion. They just want work delivered on time and on budget.
I learned this the hard way after a timeline went off the rails and a client nearly ended the trip early.
Rookie mistake, but I haven’t made it since.
Now I take an iterative approach. I break the work into milestones, set a 4-hour cap for each task, and deliver functional work products every week.
The client sees progress and stays happy, and I avoid traffic jams from unrealistic deadlines.
Win-win. This isn’t an adventure, it’s a job.
Clients don’t want souvenirs, they want deliverables. Figure out the work, make a schedule with buffers, and execute.
Surprises only happen when you make them happen.
After years of trial and error—read making clients angry—I’ve realized you need to keep timelines simple and delivery pragmatic.
At the end of the day, clients pay for outputs, not processes. Save those for your postcard.
Just get the work done and avoid drama.
About Ambreen Dar
Ambreen designs for thrillseekers. She left the classroom behind to chase adventures in publishing, then dove into digital marketing's deep end. New tricks abound, but Ambreen's four furry fans still think she's top dog. Alongside Rebekah and Sam, Ambreen makes BRIL.LA's magic - and wouldn't have it any other way.