Why Do I Call My Clients "Boss"?

Oftentimes, I'll start emails to frequent-client with "Hey Boss" or greet them with "Sup Boss" when they come in for a meeting. Obviously, as a freelancer, I am self-employed and don't have an actual boss. Duh. But I see my regular clients in a similar light. Of course there are differences - I don't get particularly consistent pay from them, I don't have benefits, there's no guaranteed schedule so there's no regular paycheck. BUT! Giving them the same respect and say as an employer helps them to feel like they have more control and involvement in whatever they hired me to do and they're still the people that pay me.

1. Customer service is basically the same as sucking up to your boss.

In any job, you're going to have to suck up a little bit. Kissing butt can make a world of difference when tasks are being assigned, and I can tell you that I sure as heck would rather laugh at the same joke every single day for a year than clean up the puke on aisle four. It's the same with clients - you have to laugh at their jokes, you have to be nice most of the time, and if they're regulars, you should probably get them a Christmas present. So put on your toothiest smile, use perkiest voice, and pucker up.

2. Clients essentially are giving you instruction on what you'll be doing.

A boss delegates tasks and will usually ask for updates and progress reports on the big things. It's the same with clients. Clients tell you exactly what they want you to create and sometimes you have to send them draft after draft until they're satisfied. The client tells you what changes they want, what file type, the content, everything. They're the decision-makers, and it's important that they feel important.

3. Deadlines are the same.

No matter what job you have or who your client is, there will be a deadline. If you miss the deadline, you jeopardize your pay and your referrals and your reputation. It's exactly the same as having a boss - you risk your job. In my opinion, missing deadlines as a freelancer is even worse as you are risking pay for that entire job and future jobs from that client, as well as a bad review on social media which could damage your business.

4. It's still all about relationships.

Having a good relationship with your boss is important for a happy and healthy work environment. It's the same with freelancing. You have to maintain a good relationship with your clients to maintain a happy and healthy PAYMENT. Not to mention, if you keep your boss happy, you could use that person as a reference if you try to go on to bigger and better things. Again, the same with freelancing. Good relationships with clients will often lead to referrals which means mo' money in yo' pocket.

5. They're cutting the check.

At the end of the day, bosses and clients sign your checks. They both give you what you need to pay your bills and, more importantly, buy food. The relationship is very similar and the end result is identical - dolla dolla bills.