How I Accidentally Worked 46 Hours for Free — And the System That Made It Impossible Again
The cost was less about hours and more about confidence. Here is the pattern I changed to protect my work and my mental health.
Story:
It started with a small favor. It ended in late nights and a collapsed margin. The turning point was implementing deposit requirements, low-res previews, and a fixed revisions policy. The system didn’t make me confrontational — it made me clear, predictable and ultimately more profitable.
3 immediate actions
- Require a 30–50% deposit before starting
- Share review links or low-res previews only
- Set revision caps and price extras transparently