Whether it’s early in your freelancing days or years into a chosen career as a professional freelancer, there will come a day when you are torn between taking a well-paying gig and walking away from it. You know that this isn’t the right job (for whatever reason), and yet you’re looking at that potential payout and you’re hesitating. Why? After having this happen to me many a time, here are my thoughts on it.

The trouble with a bad project having a good paycheque

Over the years, here are the main points that I think pop up when you are deliberating working on a bad project that has a tantalizing possible paycheque.

• The client or job is going to be hard work: There’s something in your gut that’s telling you this is going to be a bad project or a bad client or both. Maybe it’s something obvious that you can pinpoint, but maybe it’s not. Otherwise, there would be no debate, and you would have taken on the project already, right? Listen to that instinct! It’s going to be your best friend and help you make the right decision for your short-term frustration and possibly long-term health.

• It’s hard to get a high-paying gig these days: This is true for two main reasons. Firstly, AI writers are still everywhere, and most of us are competing for the same jobs. The other thing is that there are more and more freelancers every single day. I mean, with a cool career like freelance writing, it’s hard to blame them, but still. More people mean more competition. High-paying gigs can be extremely challenging to find, and it’s totally normal to want to grab the first one that comes your way.

• You’re letting money rule you: This one is the hardest, I’ll be honest. You’re seeing that paycheque amount, and it’s leading you into making a decision based on that amount alone. This can be hard to ignore as you go through all of your other normal checks when considering a job or client. It also makes even the most cautious freelancer waffle back and forth on the final decision. 

Tip the scales in your favour

If you’ve felt any of these things, or you recognize yourself in any of these reasons, please know that you aren’t alone. These are totally normal, and I’ve felt them so many times! Firstly, there’s nothing wrong with feeling this way! The thing about being a freelancer is that you have the control to take or pass on any job that comes your way. While this can be a great thing, it can also be challenging when you’re arguing with yourself about a project or client.

In this situation, I really recommend putting yourself first. You, the human, that is. Sure, that project or client is going to be a good paycheque, but will you “spend” more than usual on working out details? Handling difficult situations? Working with unrealistic client expectations? Or, even something as simple as working on a project that you hate?

While that dollar amount is always going to be tempting, making a decision that keeps your needs at the forefront is definitely something to prioritize as much as possible.

But, what do you think? Do you disagree with me? Please share below!