[🐝U] biz lessons learned from a Meatloaf playlist

I’m about to share 1 of the strangest business claims you’ll probably ever hear:

& I realized it during another episode of my freezing-cold, money-pit of a property.

& before you question my sanity…
I promise, I’m mostly still thinking straight.

Meatloaf might be a better business teacher than most gurus on the internet.

seriously!

Ever since I got scammed 10s of thousands of $$ by Sovereign Power Corp in Southern Alberta, I’ve needed to pinch pennies to pay someone else for the same thing

I’ve been in full damage-control mode.
Every dollar suddenly matters a lot more when you realize how easily it can disappear.

But I still needed gutters for the barn
Partly to keep the water from eroding the sides 1 drip at a time
& because there’s no water on the property, it needs to be collected
That also means trying to keep it as clean as possible heading into barrels.
So just gutters isn’t enough

I found a company that had a lifetime warranty on everything, including the screen filtering out the debris
& it could be done within a week
but it wasn’t cheap

It was about 50% of the cost for all the other barn materials combined.

I kept staring at the quote thinking…
“I know this is probably the right call…
But I just can’t bring myself to spend that right now.”

So I started looking for something with a smaller price tag.

Then I found a cheaper option.
& I’ll be honest… it felt like a win.
With bonus points for them coming within 2 days
(despite a blizzard & outside their usual working area)

Everything seemed to be going great.

For a few days, I thought…
“Finally … Something went my way.”

…until the snow started thawing.

& instead of relief…
I got that sinking feeling in my stomach.

“I just got burned again, didn’t I?”

& right here is where a Meatloaf playlist started playing on a loop in my head.

starting with …

“Now don't be sad
'Cause 2 out of 3 ain't bad”

That’s basically the entire “Good – Fast – Cheap” rule in 1 sentence.

You can have any 2:
→ Good + Fast = Expensive
→ Good + Cheap = Slow
→ Fast + Cheap = Low quality

But all 3?

That’s the little overlap in the middle labeled “impossible utopia.”

& I realized I didn’t just buy gutters.
I may have bought 1 side of a trade-off I didn’t fully think through.

Did I just pay for the cheap & fast version of a “not good” bigger problem?

& here’s the part most freelancers miss,
especially when we’re just getting started
because 2 out of 3 (really) ain’t bad

1. Good + Cheap (NOT Fast)
This is where most beginners start.
& where “perfect” &“imposter syndrome” quietly trap you

You keep prices low & you give yourself time.

But that also means:
→ Fewer billable projects
→ Earning less per hour (& when you add it up, often less than minimum wage)

This is an OK place to start out
But after 2-3 projects under your belt (as proof of concept)
You can’t stay here & grow your business.

3. Fast + Cheap (NOT Good)
This tends to be the next step when we realize we need more work
But not quite comfortable charging more.

Think Fiverr or Upwork
You’re no longer competing on value…
You’re competing on who’s willing to charge the least.

That’s a race that never really ends well.
You’re not Walmart …

You can’t sustain long-term growth competing on fast & cheap
& THIS is the 1 place AI actually can come in & take your job

This can work as a starter baseline, but only if you systematize it.
& it has to be an income stream, not the income stream

That could be good when you contract with an agency or a smaller retainer
→ somewhat steady, reliable, & repeatable work
→ quicker turnarounds on things you’re not needing to research/learn

2. Good + Fast (NOT Cheap)
This is premium work.

You deliver high quality, quickly & you charge for it.

What this looks like:
→ Rush fees (just like you’d get overtime at a job)
→ Clear boundaries
→ Clients who value speed & results

This is where experienced freelancers should aim.
Yes, even “perfectionists” can find their way here & be happy with their work

🎵 “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad”
When it comes to projects, make this your core strategy.

Choose your 2 & stick to it.

That doesn’t mean you always have to have the same 2
Change them up as needed.
But don’t be sad, ‘cause 2 out of 3 ain’t bad (for your business or your sanity)

Here’s the catch, as customers, we want all 3
I wanted the impossible utopia of fast, cheap, & good gutters
But that’s just human nature

4. Trying to do Good + Fast + Cheap
This is the trap.

You can try to do all 3.
But if you do, you become the 1 paying the price.

It feels like:
“I’ll just work harder.”
“I’ll make it up in volume.”
“I don’t want to lose the client.”

What it actually turns into is:
→ Late nights you didn’t plan for.
→ Scope creep you didn’t agree to.
→ & a slow build of resentment toward work you used to enjoy.

In other words… a business model that eats you alive.

It sucks up your time, energy, & sanity.

🎵 “Bat Out of Hell”
Is the anthem when you try to be fast, cheap, & good.

You’re racing, stressed, everything’s on fire…
…& eventually you crash.

At first, I thought I landed on the Cheap - Fast side with the gutters
Because this overflowing ice dam scenario is NOT good for the unfinished foundation

So I reached out, expecting the usual runaround…
But instead, he replied almost immediately.

He came out the next day
with help
& extra downspouts
for free

& it turns out once those downspouts thawed, they were in pretty good shape - literally & figuratively

It could just be a case of too much water & not enough downspouts
or the downspouts aren’t big enough.

Here’s the thing with this unicorn scenario…
The gutter guy’s got the time because there aren’t many people needing gutter work in the dead of winter.

He was very intentional & clear on reminding me of the wait during summer

Usually, he’s going to be cheap & good
I got lucky with the fast because the work is seasonal

But he knows how to say NO
& he’ll also raise rates (not cheap) if he’s busy & customers are in a hurry.

So now it’s your turn to decide…

Do you want to - mainly - be:
→ Premium & fast?
→ Affordable & flexible on timing?
→ Or fast & standardized?

You need to choose your “2 out of 3” on purpose.
& communicate that clearly to your clients.

Remember, there’s no wrong answer.

There’s only the 1 you choose on purpose.

Because the moment you try to be good, fast, & cheap…
You stop building a business.

Because you’re too busy running yourself into the ground.

🎵 “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)”
This is your boundary-setting anthem.

“I’ll hit your deadline.”
“I’ll deliver great work.”
“But I won’t do rush jobs at bargain prices.”

Every freelancer needs a “won’t do that.”

Because, as I often say…
“You don’t want to be a vegan working for a dairy farm.”

& that’s not sustainable, especially if you’re trying to build something long-term.

You don’t lose in business because you’re not good enough.
You lose because you tried to be everything at once.

Again … just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

So now I’m curious …
is “doing all 3” officially on your “I won’t do that” list?

Also… be honest …
How long is Meatloaf going to be stuck in your head now?

Make it a great “Meatloaf-y“ week!
EG

thumbnail image credit to Tom Richmond

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