Started saying no to rush jobs and my income actually went up

Eva Craig · 2026-04-26T11:55:03.111513+00:00

I used to take every project that came my way, even if the deadline was crazy tight. Last month I told a client I needed 5 extra days on a logo redesign instead of the 2 they wanted. They actually agreed and paid the full rate. I ended up finishing ahead of schedule AND got a bonus for the quality. What I learned is that rushing makes me do bad work and then I spend hours fixing it for free. Has anyone else found that pushing back on timelines actually gets you more respect?

jamesf265mo ago

@abbyg14 same goes for saying no to extra stuff at family dinners too honestly.

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wyatt_green315mo ago

I once told a client I needed an extra week on a project and they ended up referring three new people to me... so I guess saying no actually makes people think you're in demand. Course now I'm worried I might get a reputation as "that guy who takes forever" but so far it's working out. My rushed work looked like a kindergartner drew it with crayons, so taking my time is probably saving me from some major embarrassment down the road.

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abbyg145mo ago

That's awesome that it worked out for you.

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