… read something in a magazine.

It said:

“You can’t do a good deal with bad people, and you can’t do a bad deal with good people.”

The article was about finding venture funding, but the quote applies just as well to our clients.

If you’re careful about who you work with, and you find people who treat you well and seem to be on the same page, everything works out.

“Bad clients,” on the other hand? All the contract language in the world won’t protect you from the headaches.

P.S. If you think you’re not yet in a position to be choosy about clients, you’re not giving yourself enough credit (or power). It won’t change until you walk away from them.