[Tom Edgerton]

Ring the doorbell and make 'em move the car. The yard man would. The plumber would.

Part of avoiding negatives is to insist on being treated like a professional. This is not always necessarily verbal--it's in the attitude you convey. If you run a tight ship on your end by keeping scheduled appointments, preparing adequate contracts, communicating clearly both personally and in writing, and generally doing what you say you will do and not doing what you say you won't, most clients and potential clients will respond to you with respect. You don't have to be humorless and stiff, just straightforward and firm when firmness is needed.

Ninety percent of the people I work with are exceptionally nice and personable, even fun. But I learned a while back if I act like "hired help," some folks will treat me that way. Subsequently, I've found that if I expect respect (and extend it) from my side, and I don't get it back, that's someone I don't want to work with and I diplomatically decline the job. Any project that smells bad at the beginning smells worse in the middle and won't get better later. Trust your initial impressions.

Better to work part time until your business picks up than to work for obnoxious people who will spoil the work for you.

Best--TE