As a freelancer, you never really know when the next big contract is coming. This can lead us to take almost every job that comes our way. However, these jobs are not always meant to be.
For example, these jobs can;
- Not work out the way your hoped
- Struggle with progress no matter how much time, money, energy and resources you pump into it
- Make you lose excitement and enthusiasm for completing it
- Sap your energy
- Take you away from profitable work
- Lower your morale.
When should you let it go?
If you have any project that is making you negatively question your ability or is draining you mentally and physically, then it often feels like you’ve invested so much into it, you have to complete it. Sometimes it feels like you need to prove to yourself that you can do it.
But you don’t have to.
So often, we hold on and persevere with a project for the wrong reasons. We feel that we ‘should’ or ‘have’ to complete it.
But, sometimes, the best way to complete a project is to drop it.
If a project isn’t getting you closer to where you want to be, then sometimes it doesn’t matter how much time, money or energy you have invested. Whether it’s a project for your business or a client, if it isn’t fulfilling and doesn’t feel like a success, it may be best just to let it go.
How to let a project go
- Take the learning opportunity
Often it is the projects that don’t seem a success which gives you the biggest lesson of them all. It may not feel like it at the time, but dropping a project can often show you something you never knew about yourself or your business and what direction you actually want to go in.
Always take time to evaluate the lessons learnt from a dropped project.
- It doesn’t mean forever
While some client projects will only have one chance, dropping a business project doesn’t mean you can’t pick it up again in the future. Just put it on hold. When the time is right, or a flash of inspiration comes, you can pick it back up again. Even projects in your mind can drain you of energy, so make sure your mind is free from this project when you undertake new ventures. Label your project as ‘on hold’ and remove it entirely from your to-do list.
- Drop it for the right reasons
Sometimes laziness can make us believe we need to drop a project. However, losing a project that seems too hard is just an easy way out. Do you want to be known for only doing the easy work? Or do you want to challenge and impress yourself, showing yourself that you have new and improved skills?
Don’t drop a project so that you have nothing left on your to-do list. Drop a project because you can tick off a more worthwhile project from your to-do list.
