Humble Pie

Ugh. I fell ill last week. Really, really, hospital ill. And that sucks for me, but it also sucks for my clients. Being the sole proprietor of a freelance writing business means there’s no partner or secretary who can grab my address book while I’m being rushed away by ambulance, and give my clients a heads up.

So now I’m in a place where I’m feeling a little better, a little stronger, ready to work – and I have to apologize to my clients for dropping the ball. It’s awful. I feel terrible for letting people down – in some cases with time-sensitive work.

In addition to having to apologize, I need to implement a backup to make sure something like this can never happen again. A telephone tree, a Virtual Assistant – something to ensure that my clients will always have their work completed or at least regular updates as to my return.

I’m not sure how to implement this, but I’m certainly open to suggestions. Do I make a copy of my clients’ numbers for a friend? Do I get a MedicAlert bracelet made with “In case of unconsciousness, call clients!” written on it?

This is where I’d love to hear from other freealncers who work alone – whether it be in writing or some other medium. What do you have in place in case of emergency?