I had to break up a relationship with someone because smoking is a deal breaker for me. Can't deal with it. I also hate constant whiners. If you don't love yourself and don't want to improve your life, don't expect me to share in your misery. I'm happy and I want to be someone who can be happy. I don't need another project. Additionally, I am ambitious so I can't spend every waking moment with you. If you don't have a life before I got there, we're probably not going to last for too long.

In business, I've refused to offer products that I know will sell but I know won't do crap for my clients. For example, a lot of big companies offer “SEO services” and “search engine submission” services. What they'll do is add some meta tags and use a program to submit your website to a few thousand pointless directories and search engines. They sell these services like crazy because it's relatively low priced and a lot of people just don't know any better. I could sell it as well and $99 for doing 3 minutes of work… and I would do it… except I know it hasn't had any effect on search engine rankings since around 2000 & 2001. So I refuse to do it.

I also hate dealing with clients who make it their job to low-ball me on every little thing. I've figured out a screening process for them. If they bargain on the little items or delay paying the small bills, I politely inform them that we're not a good fit.

It comes down to self-respect. If you don't respect yourself enough to value yourself & your time, why should anyone else?

** End of Rant. Stepping out of my soap box. **

I had to break up a relationship with someone because smoking is a deal breaker for me. Can't deal with it. I also hate constant whiners. If you don't love yourself and don't want to improve your life, don't expect me to share in your misery. I'm happy and I want to be someone who can be happy. I don't need another project. Additionally, I am ambitious so I can't spend every waking moment with you. If you don't have a life before I got there, we're probably not going to last for too long.

In business, I've refused to offer products that I know will sell but I know won't do crap for my clients. For example, a lot of big companies offer “SEO services” and “search engine submission” services. What they'll do is add some meta tags and use a program to submit your website to a few thousand pointless directories and search engines. They sell these services like crazy because it's relatively low priced and a lot of people just don't know any better. I could sell it as well and $99 for doing 3 minutes of work… and I would do it… except I know it hasn't had any effect on search engine rankings since around 2000 & 2001. So I refuse to do it.

I also hate dealing with clients who make it their job to low-ball me on every little thing. I've figured out a screening process for them. If they bargain on the little items or delay paying the small bills, I politely inform them that we're not a good fit.

It comes down to self-respect. If you don't respect yourself enough to value yourself & your time, why should anyone else?

** End of Rant. Stepping out of my soap box. **

As a copyeditor, there are things I refuse to do. One is edit erotica. There are extreme rules for this genre and since I'm not part of it, I wouldn't do it justice. The big one for me is not editing homework. Being offered anything from high school assignments to dissertations, I've avoided them all. I'll find the rest of my dealbreakers as they find me.

Thank you for making us think, Elizabeth. Again.

Though I love my business, I too am going through a change, a process so to speak. Where I know I have a higher calling (or whatever you want to call it..) really more that I know I have so much to offer the world.

It's so inspiring to see something so authentic out there. And I feel too often the word authentic gets used — but you're the real deal.

Speaking of deals…you're so right on about deal breakers!

Dinneen @EatWithoutGuilt

P.S. Love you did the video in your car! Totally a no-excuses for not just doing it. Can't say it was raining outside, kids in house, etc. You just do it!!