Comments on: The Baffling Case of the Invisible Client http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/2008/08/12/the-baffling-case-of-the-invisible-client/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:56:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Karen Swim http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/2008/08/12/the-baffling-case-of-the-invisible-client/comment-page-1/#comment-8971 Karen Swim Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:26:34 +0000 http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/?p=155#comment-8971 Hi Joey! It is nice to know that we're not alone and share tips for managing. :-) Hi Joey! It is nice to know that we’re not alone and share tips for managing. :-)

]]> By: joey http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/2008/08/12/the-baffling-case-of-the-invisible-client/comment-page-1/#comment-8969 joey Wed, 20 Aug 2008 02:51:41 +0000 http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/?p=155#comment-8969 Hey Karen! I'm sure we've all had invisible client horror stories, and it's nice to know that we're not alone in dealing with these problematic individuals who loiter around the net :o joeys last blog post..<a href="http://theunjob.com/2008/08/18/great-writing-gigs/" rel="nofollow">My four favorite sites for great writing gigs</a> Hey Karen! I’m sure we’ve all had invisible client horror stories, and it’s nice to know that we’re not alone in dealing with these problematic individuals who loiter around the net :o

joeys last blog post..My four favorite sites for great writing gigs

]]> By: Nadine Touzet http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/2008/08/12/the-baffling-case-of-the-invisible-client/comment-page-1/#comment-8933 Nadine Touzet Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:48:53 +0000 http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/?p=155#comment-8933 Dear Karen, I had a severe case of the invisible client recently. Fortunately, the invisible client proved ultimately to be kinder and more open to dialog than the 'official' client and it turned out well. (I got paid in the end.) The official client reported to me that the invisible client was not happy with the translations, and that the official client would only pay if the translations were impeccable. Not only did this sound bad, but there hadn't been any mention of an invisible client up until the work was completed. One lesson I drew from this is I should be more systematic in my first interaction with a new client. Had I asked: is this translation for you, or for someone else, can I talk to them? I would no doubt have been informed of the existence of the 'real' client. Nadine Touzets last blog post..<a href="http://nadinetouzet.com/blog/2008/08/12/twitter-updates-for-2008-08-12/" rel="nofollow">Twitter Updates for 2008-08-12</a> Dear Karen,

I had a severe case of the invisible client recently. Fortunately, the invisible client proved ultimately to be kinder and more open to dialog than the ‘official’ client and it turned out well. (I got paid in the end.)

The official client reported to me that the invisible client was not happy with the translations, and that the official client would only pay if the translations were impeccable. Not only did this sound bad, but there hadn’t been any mention of an invisible client up until the work was completed.

One lesson I drew from this is I should be more systematic in my first interaction with a new client. Had I asked: is this translation for you, or for someone else, can I talk to them? I would no doubt have been informed of the existence of the ‘real’ client.

Nadine Touzets last blog post..Twitter Updates for 2008-08-12

]]> By: Karen Swim http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/2008/08/12/the-baffling-case-of-the-invisible-client/comment-page-1/#comment-8890 Karen Swim Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:59:31 +0000 http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/?p=155#comment-8890 Evelyn, LOL! I have coached people to use that in negotiating salary. That does add another spin to the "invisible client!" LOL. Kimota (JC) Arrrrgh! That does sound painful! Now that's a tough one for a contractor to navigate since the changing scope seems embedded in the culture. How do your contractors respond? Melissa, even with a solid work & fee agreement, the invisible client can rear his/her head. I have also dealt with the "clueless" client you talk about, in fact quite often! Those are the people who I fondly remind that my tools are brain and keyboard not magic wand and crystal ball! :-) Jaden, thanks for the site compliments! :-) The invisible spouse. friend or co-worker is a thorny issue, eh? The invisible partner sounds like they may have security issues. It's not very nice to make up lies about people. Grrrr.. Evelyn, LOL! I have coached people to use that in negotiating salary. That does add another spin to the “invisible client!” LOL.

Kimota (JC) Arrrrgh! That does sound painful! Now that’s a tough one for a contractor to navigate since the changing scope seems embedded in the culture. How do your contractors respond?

Melissa, even with a solid work & fee agreement, the invisible client can rear his/her head. I have also dealt with the “clueless” client you talk about, in fact quite often! Those are the people who I fondly remind that my tools are brain and keyboard not magic wand and crystal ball! :-)

Jaden, thanks for the site compliments! :-) The invisible spouse. friend or co-worker is a thorny issue, eh? The invisible partner sounds like they may have security issues. It’s not very nice to make up lies about people. Grrrr..

]]> By: Jaden @ Screenwriting for Hollywood http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/2008/08/12/the-baffling-case-of-the-invisible-client/comment-page-1/#comment-8884 Jaden @ Screenwriting for Hollywood Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:02:50 +0000 http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/?p=155#comment-8884 What a stellar article! And your site looks amazing: clean and attractive! I am so impressed with all your new work. You're glowing darlin'! Rather than the invisible client, I have had this problem more with the invisible spouse or partner or friend or co-worker or family member... Where I try to see or make arrangements with a person I like a lot, but the mysterious significant other thwarts all efforts. Frustrating indeed! ...especially when the invisible partner makes up lies or says nasty things. Urrrr. Jaden @ Screenwriting for Hollywoods last blog post..<a href="http://www.screenwritingforhollywood.com/screenwriting-tips/sunday-picture-post-23-extraordinary" rel="nofollow">Sunday Picture Post 23 / Extraordinary</a> What a stellar article! And your site looks amazing: clean and attractive! I am so impressed with all your new work. You’re glowing darlin’!

Rather than the invisible client, I have had this problem more with the invisible spouse or partner or friend or co-worker or family member… Where I try to see or make arrangements with a person I like a lot, but the mysterious significant other thwarts all efforts. Frustrating indeed! …especially when the invisible partner makes up lies or says nasty things. Urrrr.

Jaden @ Screenwriting for Hollywoods last blog post..Sunday Picture Post 23 / Extraordinary

]]> By: Melissa Donovan http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/2008/08/12/the-baffling-case-of-the-invisible-client/comment-page-1/#comment-8877 Melissa Donovan Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:55:29 +0000 http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/?p=155#comment-8877 This is something I haven't had to deal with yet so I guess I'm pretty lucky. It sounds underhanded to me, making someone do a bunch of work with very little directive only to say the invisible client wanted it this way or that way. Just another reason to make sure the work agreement/contract is solid and signed ;) On the other hand, I have had clients who want something but don't know what it is. "Write my home page!" they say. "What's the purpose of your site?" I ask and they answer, "ummm...." Mind boggling. Melissa Donovans last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/WritingForward/~3/359239116/a-story-for-a-song" rel="nofollow">A Story for a Song</a> This is something I haven’t had to deal with yet so I guess I’m pretty lucky. It sounds underhanded to me, making someone do a bunch of work with very little directive only to say the invisible client wanted it this way or that way. Just another reason to make sure the work agreement/contract is solid and signed ;)

On the other hand, I have had clients who want something but don’t know what it is. “Write my home page!” they say. “What’s the purpose of your site?” I ask and they answer, “ummm….”

Mind boggling.

Melissa Donovans last blog post..A Story for a Song

]]> By: Kimota http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/2008/08/12/the-baffling-case-of-the-invisible-client/comment-page-1/#comment-8876 Kimota Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:43:56 +0000 http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/?p=155#comment-8876 Our company directors are the invisible clients that constantly shake up the projects my department briefs contractors on. Getting them to sign off on a stage of development usually provokes them into completely changing the brief and sending everyone back to zero. I feel for our contractors, I really do, but these are business men who see a brief as a fluid document rather than as a fixed statement of what is expected for the fee. Painful to watch. Kimotas last blog post..<a href="http://www.jonathancrossfield.com/blog/2008/08/awards-and-toothache.html" rel="nofollow">Awards and Toothache</a> Our company directors are the invisible clients that constantly shake up the projects my department briefs contractors on. Getting them to sign off on a stage of development usually provokes them into completely changing the brief and sending everyone back to zero. I feel for our contractors, I really do, but these are business men who see a brief as a fluid document rather than as a fixed statement of what is expected for the fee. Painful to watch.

Kimotas last blog post..Awards and Toothache

]]> By: Evelyn Lim http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/2008/08/12/the-baffling-case-of-the-invisible-client/comment-page-1/#comment-8875 Evelyn Lim Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:30:27 +0000 http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/?p=155#comment-8875 I have to confess that I've often used the excuse that my husband is the decision maker and that I will need to consult him first, in the event when I need to buy time in front of the sales person. It may sound unbelievable when the item being sold is a vacuum cleaner! Evelyn Lims last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/attractionmindmap/~3/361993639/" rel="nofollow">7 Wise Confucius Sayings</a> I have to confess that I’ve often used the excuse that my husband is the decision maker and that I will need to consult him first, in the event when I need to buy time in front of the sales person. It may sound unbelievable when the item being sold is a vacuum cleaner!

Evelyn Lims last blog post..7 Wise Confucius Sayings

]]> By: Karen Swim http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/2008/08/12/the-baffling-case-of-the-invisible-client/comment-page-1/#comment-8874 Karen Swim Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:49:44 +0000 http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/?p=155#comment-8874 Lillie, LOL! Now that may just be my favorite solution! LOL! Lillie, LOL! Now that may just be my favorite solution! LOL!

]]> By: Lillie Ammann http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/2008/08/12/the-baffling-case-of-the-invisible-client/comment-page-1/#comment-8873 Lillie Ammann Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:37:47 +0000 http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/?p=155#comment-8873 Karen, I dealt with it by selling the interior landscape company and becoming a freelance writer. :-) Of course I dealt with for nearly 17 years before then. The good thing was that everyone bidding on the job—and these situations were frequently competitive bids—had the same challenge. The salesperson who did the best job of figuring out what the invisible client wanted usually got the job. Karen,
I dealt with it by selling the interior landscape company and becoming a freelance writer. :-) Of course I dealt with for nearly 17 years before then.

The good thing was that everyone bidding on the job—and these situations were frequently competitive bids—had the same challenge. The salesperson who did the best job of figuring out what the invisible client wanted usually got the job.

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