Artful wishes to you!

Isn't it more important in tough economic times not to do business with clients who cheat, or even abuse you? Even if they eventually pay off as agreed, your time and effort hassling with them costs you. And if you're like me and most creators I know, the hassles enervate you and make it harder to do your work, imposing additional real costs.

Have you heard of the "80/20" rule, otherwise known as the Pareto principle? It's way trendy right now, but for once, for good reason. It holds, basically, that 20% of your customers provide 80% of your income. That makes it worthwhile to carefully keep an eye on your clients and the efforts you expend on them - and especially makes it worthwhile to ditch the bad ones.

Are you familiar with Tim Ferriss and his book THE 4-HOUR WORKWEEK? He explains the 80/20 rule quite clearly, and frankly advocates firing unproductive clients. In fact there's a great deal of value in the book for people trying to make it through their own enterprises.

So don't feel bad; you did what was necessary. Moreover you acted bravely, in the fact of those fears that counsel us that in a depression every client is precious - which is utterly untrue.

In light of your experience with the community college administration, you might also ask yourselves, can any bureaucracy be loyal, grateful, or trustworthy.

Good fortune and happiness to you!

Standing up for what is right and good is difficult sometimes.