When it comes to being a perfectionist, I used to think I ranked high on my standards. I’m a business woman and feel extremely committed to my work. But since I have started seeing my Thumper in action, he has scored above any place I may have thought I occupied on the perfectionism scale.

Besides being more organized then me, he has the advantage of pleasing his clients with an occasional freebie that only costs him his time. Which is precious, of course. This usually gets gets him happy, returning customers, who are accompanied by a following of their associates.

Right now, he is overloaded with work. Which makes him put added pressure on himself when trying to make a deadline.

Granted: Thumper has never been the most accurate when timing something. With creative design, you really can’t speculate a precise time. You design a mock up, then send it out to the client, waiting for the changes they would like to have made.    

When Thumper is wearing his graphic designer cap, he takes extra measures to satisfy his clients. He always thinks ahead to what the client, or the backend programmer (yes, Bunny knows what this means now) may want to change at some point. So he makes it dynamic and easily changeable with a little bit of special code. He creates unique and easy to manage web sites, among other things.

Web design is not your typical 9-to-5 job when you are a freelancer or run a small business. When you get a new client and have to come up with a new creative idea, you work the hours necessary to finish it in a timely manner. Another factor is this: when an idea hits a designer, it is a rush to get it started while the creative juices are flowing. Be aware – this could hit at anytime of the night, or, if you’re lucky, during the day.

One of our standing jokes is . Just to let you know, Adobe Illustrator is a program that Thumper uses most of the time. If you work with it, or know it, then you will know how from time to time it crashes unexpectedly. Especially when you have several files open at the same time; e.g. when you’re working on a large project. Then, the panic sets in – at least for me. Thumper is angry for a matter of seconds, then he starts to recreate the artwork that was lost. I’m really thankful that he has such a short anger span.

I chose this as an example because the hours of work that all of us do to please a client are not to be dismissed as “necessary”, or “required”, too easily. Too many people do this too often. As for Thumper and myself, the effects his perfectionism has on us and our relationship is that he sometimes (only sometimes!) works to a degree which I find not too amusing. Am I the only one who feels this way?

Don’t get me wrong. I do feel it is important to do the little extras so that your reputation is carried on by the (most powerful method of promotion –) word of mouth. The best example for this method of promotion being a successful one is Thumper, and also myself, considering almost all my clients became my clients through a recommendation by my other clients.

I also feel you need to support each other’s careers and maintain a balance in your relationship. It really takes a very self-disciplined person to be a freelancer and an entrepreneur. So I do not object to his commitment to over-deliver – not at all. Even though I’d sometimes rather have it otherwise.

Getting the word out

Having a reputable recommendation from a client is the best advertisement you can have going for you. It only costs you that extra mile to get a priceless promotion of your work, directly from the horse’s (client’s) mouth. PR is very important. This is a most essential method to get more business coming your way.

Then, thorough communication is necessary. It can be a short business meeting, a quick phone update, or an email. But the courtesy of an update is important in any job.

Don’t rely on memory

While I usually only have to record information at a meeting, Thumper has his sketch pad – often doodling ideas, as well as taking notes, when he is meeting with a client who wants some work done. I personally like to use a mini recorder at meetings and write down points of interest, or what is the most urgent.

Collect business cards

Business cards are essential. What I have done is categorize them in a business card binder. Why categorize them? Simple. Say I’m looking for a real estate broker – I already have the ones I have cards for all in one place. Same goes for clients, and other contacts of course, but also hotels, restaurants, and delivery or mailing services.

It is also a good idea for you to have plenty of your own business cards to hand out, or leave on a table in a restaurant that is vacant. You never know who might pick it up. You never know who could know someone who is looking for your services.

Home Office Blues

Working from home has its advantages and disadvantages. I would like to say it is perfect, but it isn’t.

At times, you experience periods of isolation similar to cabin fever. Even with Thumper and me, it still sets in. We don’t have periods of getting on each others nerves much though. I guess right now it is more a matter of me killing time as he works his 16 hours day. His work load has been very heavy these last few weeks. So working too many hours is a problem that occurs frequently.

When you work from home, you have the flexibility to assign your own hours, and schedule the tasks you work on in your own manner. As a business woman, you don’t have to worry about hair and make up, or about dressing up every day. Although there remains the procrastinating on jobs you aren’t fond of.

For instance, I like being able to do laundry while I am working. Then of course I don’t like forgetting to put in the dryer, or take it out of the dryer and fold it.

You let the dog out and forget you have.

You cook too much, too early in the day.

You try not to disturb Thumper when you are taking a break. Sorry – I try. That is very hard to do.

You sometimes actually run out of food because you hate to shop. I only shop when I feel the store is empty. That means when other people should be at home having dinner. The convenience of a 24-hour opened market is great for me.

Another issue is not getting enough sleep. This is still a common problem for both of us. The other day, it was 6 AM before we went to bed; the sun was up, at 8 AM, when we finally closed our eyes. The following day (same day actually), we got up at 3 PM to work. We were both very tired, and Thumper’s 7-scoop coffee wasn’t helping him wake up as usual. We were both waking up with headaches and a slightly stiff neck.

Thumper usually doesn’t need to be up during “normal working hours” to work on his client projects. Whereas for me, my clients are the usual 9-to-5 crowd. Who, by the way, have no clue as to when I wake up. Emm, normal hours – what are they anyways? That one phone call sometime in the afternoon is just a phonecall in the afternoon. Another benefit of working from home.

Time to unwind!

We all call for some necessary unwind time after work. Have you ever tried to go to bed directly after a busy work day? Then you know what I mean.

I usually work out or read while waiting for Thumper to finish up. Often we will have a glass of wine together and talk about our day. One time in the future I will share with you my learning some technical terminology in web development, for example what a div is. The funny side to this is how he incorporated it into foreplay.

By the way – a div is the code for a box in a website layout. Like the code for the sidebar, or for the post itself. Yes, this is a turn on. I love to hear him talk about his work!

Right now, it is only us and our pets. There will be a definite shock to our systems when we have children. I really think that being able to work from home and raise a family is fantastic, but hard work. I admire the women who do this. A work from home mom is what I plan on being.

So tell me – what about your significant other turns you on? Does his or her profession play a role in it – or is it rather the way the job is accomplished?