Fraction, Friction, Fiction

How it feels right now

 So for the past few weeks, I've been in multiple conversations with multiple prospective clients that are starting to make me question their good faith. (And given the timing, whether it's something I'm encouraging.)

That's one of the drawbacks to consulting. You just don't have full visibility into what's going on. So when a client goes dark for a few days, the list of reasons why can get uncharitable with a quickness. Especially when you are pre-contract, the client is taking on junior staff, or the initiative is part of a bigger and oft-delayed rollout.

Some employers will speak to the idea that the new modern workplace is increasingly fractional, with people taking on projects that truly interest them, or where they have something unique to contribute. This is especially true with remote work, with report of people doing more than one job (badly, of course) without either employer being aware of the double dipping.

All of which would be fine if, well, these limited bursts of work carried the day for all of the time when you were on the bench, ready to go in. The reality is that with very limited exceptions, the work that you do in marketing and advertising isn't something that only you could do. Unless you have a lot of folks bidding for your fractions, the whole isn't going to add up.

Which leads you to take on junior work or side hustles... and, well, taking on RFPs and dealing with the kinds of clients that lead you to question their good faith. 

Being an erratically paid consultant is one thing. Being an entirely unpaid one is quite another.

And being grateful for the clients that trade integrity for integrity, show loyalty by giving you more than just 100% fit work, or expand their time with you in troublesome times?

Is the most important thing of all.

(At least, until all of the dominos fall at once and we have very different problems...)