LuvLaneyLuv Weekly Vlog 11
Alright, the conversation is about to get serious. In this vlog, I talk about how difficult it is actually being a freelancer/ contractor. From the not so serious requests for work to cold calling to setting boundaries with how clients think I should spend my time.
Setting boundaries during first contact
Past potential clients have told me that I was rejected for a job because ‘they thought it would be too boring for me’. Boring how exactly? I applied for the job because… it’s a job, not entertainment. How do they know what is exciting for me vs. what isn’t? And when did ‘excitement’ become part of the brief? Plot twist: It hasn’t. This is a microaggression.
When people are basing their decisions, not from the work you create, your character nor anything tangible, but from their assumptions, that is projection or conscious bias. If you are concerned with my level of entertainment at work, you’re projecting your view of my culture on to me. Yes, I have an eclectic background but I am willing to do the work. My ‘why’ is none of your concern. Just like your ‘why’ for being at the job is none of mine. I’m a grown-up and can make my own decisions for my life. I don’t need an uninformed stranger making those decisions for me.
Black people are not entertainers
Have you had a black friend that makes you laugh, who brings the fun, or is always there for you when you need them to be? Then you’re a sh*t friend projecting an outdated trope of the role of a black person in your life. Periodt.
Can you imagine if me and my black friends got together and said things like, ‘Jane is frigid and boring because grew up eating bland food. We don’t believe she can be a good chef or have a restaurant.’ ???. That is what’s going on here when I’m being rejected for potential boredom of the work.
It is not for others to determine the direction my career path takes. – Laney luv, March 2022
I don’t source my fun from my work. I source my fun from my life and hobbies such as painting, drawing, cooking, and connecting with my community. Making these ignorant statements, shifts the control of my future into their incompetent hands. Listen, I have had enough of people telling me that I am lacking skills or abilities or that I’d be bored, when they can’t even keep their rooms clean or manage basic tasks without their mom’s help. If you want well-rounded people to show you that they are well-rounded and have balance in their lives, refrain from punishing them for not being like you.
Instead of putting the onus on me for being too interesting, maybe you should hold accountability for the toxic work culture you are trying to recruit for. – Laney Luv, March 2022
I said what I said.
Am I in the wrong city to be the freelancer I want to be?
That is the question. Toronto has a concentration of the most sheltered inexperienced people I’ve ever lived in. Few specialist or even good generalists to choose from. That’s why talent flees the city because of their constant struggle of being platformed. But this is a topic for another day…
Setting even MORE boundaries
A potential employer sent a second interview request at 10pm for the following day. Outside of office hours, late at night requests are normally ignored. My gasts were flabbered because I didn’t know how to respond. It felt like I was being set-up for failure. If I hadn’t read the email I would have woken up the next morning with the notification that I had a 90min interview in 3 hours.
So I gently (yet firmly) pushed back because It’s my responsibility to let people know what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour from the beginning. When I send out my client contracts, it’s clearly stated what my office hours are and what happens when contact is made outside of those hours. This contract feature helps with managing the client’s expectations. Clear boundaries stated some where visible for reference. Highly recommend.
Having strong boundaries in the production process, shows you where the flaws are. – Laney Luv, March 2022
But in this instance, I made the assumption that the company understood to not contact me in a professional capacity at 10pm. I was afraid because I thought my boundary would eliminate me from the process. It shouldn’t but that’s a big challenge for Black people in general: Saying no. Saying no to poor behaviour or ‘no’ while negotiating. What usually happens is an extreme response. In this case, it didn’t.
To summarize this entire vlog, being a Black woman in business is very difficult. I addressed many things from a difficult week of navigating this hiring season. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.
3 Key Boundaries to Set as a Contractor
- Office Hours – make it very clear in your contract (or on your site) when your office hours are to manage the expectation of when you will respond to requests.
- Push Back – if a request doesn’t align with what you’ve agreed to or stated in the contract, push back. Refer to where the misalignment can be found and adjust accordingly. If the deadline needs to be adjusted at the last minute, then you can issue a ‘Change Order’ that modifies the scope of work. A ‘Change Order’ is an amendment to the contract that adjusts time, scope or compensation needed to complete the job.
- Take jobs that positively affect your reputation – You do not have to be friends with or even like your clients, but if you know the work will gravely affect your reputation and impact future employment, don’t do it. No amount of money can repair a damaged reputation.
VLOG CHAPTERS
0:02 Monday – Break by the water
0:27 Tuesday
0:36 Morning vetting call
0:52 Domestic stuff
1:26 Tea break #1
1:56 Breakdown of the day – Media Kits & Scripts
4:06 ‘We thought you’d be bored’ : a convo about cultural projection
9:11 Am I in the wrong city for freelancing?
9:51 Call with hiring manager
10:37 Post interview recap – being a dork
11:52 Rundown of tasks for the remainder of the day
12:21 Digital products development – https://luvlaneyluv.gumroad.com 13:06 Working
13:32 Big BBQ dinner
13:49 Wednesday
13:57 Breakdown of day
14:37 Why is there no Laney Luvs to Talk this week?
16:18 Work emails past 10pm?!?
16:18 Set a boundary or go along with the chaos?
19:12 The anxiety of being a freelancer
20:29 Thursday – Fitness
20:41 Interview update
21:56 A chat about kindness, setting boundaries as a freelancer, & experiencing work culture in different countries
26:14 Tea #17
26:19 Updates
27:31 Money Moves event & Toronto committee meetings
29:24 Friday – Drawing
*psst… Don’t forget to like and subscribe to my youtube channel.
See you next week Luvlies!
xoxo Luv Laney Luv
