Pain Point

It was the worst project I ever took on. And I’m grateful for it.

Winter was coming, and I didn’t have much work lined up. The guy helping me at the time was relying on a steady paycheck. And rightfully so. So when a project came along that would keep us busy all winter, I said yes. Even though, from the very first meeting, something in me was saying no.

I didn’t listen.

The work didn’t excite me.
The people—the client and the contractor—were a nightmare. I don’t say that lightly.
And the price? I underbid the job I didn’t even want because I was afraid I’d lose it.

I told myself I needed it. I told myself I’d make it work.

I was wrong.

Every day on that job made me feel smaller. Less creative. More resentful. My helper nearly quit. I wasn’t making money. I hated the work. And the people. And myself a little bit for taking it on.

As bad as it was, I needed that project. Not to survive the winter, but to change my life. The pain of that project showed me how far I’d drifted from the kind of work I wanted to be doing. And who was to blame for that.
Not the client.
Not the contractor.

Me.