Something that I have to remind myself all the time.. a work ethic that I must, always and forever, live up to.. if you enter an agreement, however unfair it was for you, basta pinasok mo, dapat tapusin mo and do your very very best to fulfill that agreement 100%.
Lagi na lang eh.. I would say YES to something though my instincts tell me NO. Alam mo nang lugi but because you are a people person, you still say yes. Sometimes it’s because you don’t want to disappoint people, sometimes it’s because you think kaya naman, and sometimes it’s simply because you have this habit of saying yes first before actually thinking about what you are saying yes to. And then in the middle of the job, tsaka mo mararamdaman ang burnout, yung feeling na hindi worth it ng time mo lahat ng nangyayari at mga susunod pang mangyayari. You start questioning why you agreed to it in the first place, why you accepted such a low rate, and why you keep putting yourself in situations like this. Eh kasi nga, you said YES! And now you have to deal with it.
But no!!! PEHPOT! No! If there is a task, a job, a campaign, basta you said yes to it, you have to give your 100%. Hindi pwedeng halfway through the project, bigla kang mawawalan ng gana just because you realized na lugi ka pala. Hindi rin pwedeng babawasan mo ang quality of your work just because you feel that the compensation is not enough. You agreed to the terms, you accepted the deliverables, and whether you like it or not, you made a commitment. And that commitment should mean something. Your work ethics should not change depending on how much you are getting paid. Of course, the amount should determine the scope of work, but once the scope has been agreed upon, you have to deliver what you promised. Hindi naman kasalanan ng client na hindi ka marunong mag-NO. SAKLAP!
And this is something I really need to work on. Because I noticed that when I feel undervalued, I tend to lose my enthusiasm for the project. I start thinking about all the other things I could have done with my time, all the opportunities I might be missing, and all the effort that I am putting into something that is not giving me enough in return. And the more I think about it, the more frustrated I become. The funny thing is, wala namang nagbago sa agreement. The deliverables are still the same, the payment is still the same, and the expectations are still the same. Ang nagbago lang, yung feelings ko about the agreement. And that is something I have to manage.
So how do I make situations like this more smooth sailing? Because knowing myself, this probably won’t be the last time I will find myself in this kind of situation. Hopefully, mabawasan naman. HAHAHA!
5 Steps To Make Situations Like This More Smooth Sailing
1. Acceptance. You said yes, so accept it. Stop thinking about how unfair the agreement is and focus on what needs to be done. Tapos na ang usapan, trabaho na tayo.
2. Do not take it personally. Ah kaya mura ang offer kasi mababa na ang tingin sa akin? STOP! DO NOT OVERTHINK! Not every low offer is a reflection of your worth. Sometimes, yun lang talaga ang budget nila.
3. Plan how to execute it in the least amount of time possible. Work smarter, not harder. Plan your deliverables and find the most efficient way to finish everything without sacrificing quality.
4. EXECUTE RIGHT AWAY. Stop procrastinating just because you’re no longer excited about the project. The sooner you start, the sooner you finish. Gawin mo na para matapos na!
5. Learn from your mistake and learn to say NO. Remember how you felt and make sure you don’t put yourself in the same situation again. Hopefully, lesson learned na talaga this time.
The Importance of Learning To Say NO
I really need to learn how to say NO without feeling guilty about it. Hindi naman lahat ng opportunity kailangan tanggapin, and saying NO does not mean I am being ungrateful or difficult to work with. Sometimes it simply means I value my time and I know my limitations. I cannot keep saying YES just because ayaw kong maka-disappoint or because nanghihinayang ako sa opportunity. And honestly, saying NO before entering an agreement is so much better than saying YES and regretting it halfway through. Hindi naman masamang tumulong or magbigay ng consideration, but I have to remember that being considerate of others should not mean always putting myself last.
The PEHPOT 4-Way Test Before Saying YES
Inspired by the Rotary Club’s Four-Way Test, here’s my own version that I should probably memorize before accepting another project or collaboration.
1. IS THE COMPENSATION FAIR? If not, may mapapala ba ako in other ways? A good relationship, a brand I’ve always wanted to work with, or an opportunity that might be worth more in the long run?
2. IS IT SOMETHING THAT FITS MY COMMUNITY? Is this something my readers and followers will actually find useful or interesting? Bagay ba talaga sa content ko or pinipilit ko lang because there’s an offer?
3. WHAT’S MY PAST EXPERIENCE WITH THIS CLIENT OR BRAND? Have we worked together before? Maayos ba silang kausap, reasonable ang demands, and okay ang overall experience? Or is this another situation na alam ko nang stressful pero papasukin ko pa rin?
4. IS IT WORTH MY TIME AND EFFORT? Considering the deliverables, deadlines, and my current workload, kaya ko ba itong gawin without sacrificing my other priorities?
Simple lang naman, di ba? If most of the answers are NO, then maybe I should stop convincing myself to say YES. Ang problema kasi, sometimes I already know the answer, ayaw ko lang sundin. HAHAHA!
A Reminder To Myself
PEHPOT, please lang.. THINK BEFORE YOU SAY YES! Hindi lahat ng offer kailangan tanggapin, and hindi lahat ng opportunity worth your time. Learn to say NO when something doesn’t feel right, but once you say YES, panindigan mo. Give your 100%, deliver what you promised, and stop complaining about an agreement you willingly entered into. You can be kind and accommodating without always saying YES to everyone. And hopefully, the next time your instincts tell you NO, makinig ka naman. Kasi ilang beses na ba natin ito pinagdaanan? HAHAHA!
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